You probably think you know George Washington. He’s the guy on the dollar bill with the powdered hair and the stoic expression that looks like he’s judging your spending habits. But honestly, the story of how he became the first president of United States of America is a lot messier, more stressful, and weirder than what you likely learned in fifth-grade history.
He didn't actually want the job.
Seriously.
By 1789, Washington was tired. He’d spent eight years leading the Continental Army, dodging smallpox, and freezing at Valley Forge. He wanted to go back to Mount Vernon, sit on his porch, and figure out how to get his farm out of debt. But the country was a disaster under the Articles of Confederation. It was like a group project where nobody does the work and everyone is arguing about who owns the poster board. The people knew there was only one person they all trusted not to turn into a king.
The Reluctant Election of 1789
When we talk about the first president of United States of America, we often treat the election like it was a modern campaign. It wasn't. There were no rallies. No "I'm George Washington and I approve this message" commercials. In fact, Washington didn't even "run" for office in the way we think about it today. He basically waited at home while the Electoral College did its thing.
On February 4, 1789, the electors cast their votes. Washington won unanimously. Every single one of the 69 electors wrote his name down. That has never happened since. Not once. John Adams came in second, which, according to the rules at the time, made him the Vice President—a job he famously described as "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived."
Washington didn't get the news until mid-April. Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, had to ride all the way to Virginia to tell him officially. Washington wrote in his diary that he felt like a "culprit who is going to the place of his execution." That's a bit dramatic, sure, but it shows the weight he felt. He knew that every single move he made would set a precedent for centuries.
Setting the Tone for the Presidency
Everything was a first.
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How should people address him? Some people, like Adams, wanted something fancy like "His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of their Liberties." Washington thought that sounded too much like a monarch. He settled on the simple "Mr. President." It’s a choice that sounds small now, but back then, it was a massive signal that this was a republic, not a kingdom.
He also started the tradition of the Cabinet. The Constitution doesn't actually say the President has to have a group of advisors; it just says he can ask for written opinions from department heads. But Washington liked to talk things out. He brought together Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton—two guys who absolutely hated each other’s guts—and forced them to work in the same room. It was basically the 18th-century version of a high-stakes corporate retreat that never ends.
The Massive Problems the First President Faced
When Washington took the oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, he was looking out at a nation that was broke. Truly broke. The Revolutionary War left the states in massive debt.
Hamilton, his Treasury Secretary, wanted the federal government to take over all that debt. Jefferson thought that was a power grab. This disagreement basically created the two-party system we’re still stuck with today. Washington hated the idea of "factions." He thought political parties would tear the country apart. In his Farewell Address, he warned us about it. Looking at the news today, it’s safe to say he was onto something.
Then there was the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. To pay off the war debts, the government put a tax on distilled spirits. Farmers in Western Pennsylvania, who turned their grain into whiskey because it was easier to transport, were furious. They started harassing tax collectors.
Washington didn't mess around. He personally led a militia of nearly 13,000 men to put down the rebellion. It was the only time a sitting first president of United States of America actually commanded troops in the field. The rebels dispersed before the army even got there, proving that the new federal government actually had teeth.
Foreign Policy and the Neutrality Trap
While the domestic stuff was exploding, Europe was also on fire. The French Revolution had started, and soon France and Britain were at war. Americans were split. Jefferson’s crowd wanted to help France because they helped us during our Revolution. Hamilton wanted to stay on Britain's good side for trade reasons.
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Washington chose a third path: Neutrality.
In 1793, he issued the Proclamation of Neutrality. It wasn't popular. People called him a traitor. But Washington knew the U.S. was too young and too weak to get sucked into a European meat grinder. He was focused on the long game. He wanted the country to grow strong enough to stand on its own two feet before getting involved in global drama.
The Legend vs. The Reality
We have to talk about the myths. No, he didn't chop down a cherry tree and say, "I cannot tell a lie." That was a story made up by a guy named Mason Locke Weems to sell books after Washington died. And no, he didn't have wooden teeth. His dentures were actually made of ivory, gold, lead, and—this is the uncomfortable part—teeth taken from enslaved people and animals.
As the first president of United States of America, Washington’s legacy is inextricably tied to the institution of slavery. While he spoke privately about wanting to see slavery abolished, he never did anything about it publicly during his presidency. At the time of his death, there were over 300 enslaved people at Mount Vernon. He did include a provision in his will to manumit (free) them after his wife Martha passed away, making him the only slave-holding Founding Father to do so, but it remains the great contradiction of his life as a "freedom fighter."
Why He Stepped Down
Perhaps the most important thing Washington ever did was leave.
After two terms, he was done. He could have been president for life. People wanted him to be. But he knew that if he died in office, it would look like a lifetime appointment. By walking away in 1797, he established the two-term tradition (which wouldn't become law until the 22nd Amendment in 1951).
He headed back to Mount Vernon, finally getting that retirement he wanted. It didn't last long, though. He died only two and a half years later, in December 1799, after catching a throat infection while riding across his farm in a snowstorm.
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What We Can Learn from the First President Today
So, why does any of this matter in 2026? Because Washington’s presidency was an experiment that easily could have failed.
If you’re looking to apply "Washington-style" leadership to your own life or career, here are a few actionable takeaways:
- Surround yourself with people who disagree with you. Washington didn't want a "yes-man" cabinet. He wanted the smartest people in the room, even if they fought. It leads to better decisions.
- The power of the "graceful exit." Knowing when to step aside is just as important as knowing when to lead. Whether it's a job, a project, or a role, leaving at the right time preserves your legacy and allows for new growth.
- Character over charisma. Washington wasn't a great public speaker. He was actually quite awkward in person. But he was consistent. He did what he said he would do.
If you want to dig deeper into the actual documents from this era, check out the National Archives or the Library of Congress. They have digitized thousands of Washington's actual letters and orders. Reading his messy handwriting makes him feel a lot more like a real human and a lot less like a statue.
To truly understand the first president of United States of America, you have to look past the myths. He wasn't a god. He was a guy trying to build a country from scratch with no blueprint, a lot of debt, and a bunch of colleagues who couldn't stop arguing. The fact that it worked at all is the real miracle.
Next time you’re in D.C. or looking at a map, consider visiting Mount Vernon or Federal Hall in New York. Standing in the spot where he actually stood makes the history feel a lot less like a textbook and a lot more like a lived reality.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs:
- Read the Farewell Address: It’s long, but his warnings about political parties and foreign entanglements feel incredibly modern.
- Visit the Sites: If you're on the East Coast, the trail from Mount Vernon to Philadelphia to New York City covers the "Presidential Path."
- Cross-Reference: Don't just read one biography. Compare Ron Chernow’s Washington: A Life with perspectives from historians like Erica Armstrong Dunbar to get a fuller, more honest picture of the man and his era.