What Is George Washington's Early Examples Of Forbearance

Following George Washington’s early example of forbearance, United States military leaders between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars honored the spirit of the Constitution by deferring to civilian leaders. However, this deference did not preclude pursuing personal or institutional political goals by courting politicians and playing branches of government against each other. Although military leaders sought to informally influence political decisions regarding force structure, promotions, and budgets, they did not seek to usurp power or take control when decisions unfavorable affected institutional interests. This pattern of civil-military relations became the norm, even when wartime conditions add additional complexity to the relationship.