Introduction
The theme of independence is one of the fundamental themes in American history. Recently, it has been very actively developed by Russian American scientists. Special attention is paid to the people who made the transition of the United States from a colony to a state possible. A huge amount of literature is devoted to the people who made the independence of the United States possible, as well as those who laid the foundation for the great state that has come down to our days. A lot of attention is paid to the development of culture and political and economic systems. Many trends and currents represent the historiography of these events and people. For two centuries, historians have been arguing about the prerequisites, driving forces, the nature of the revolution, its historical significance and consequences, and the role of individuals in historical processes.
The US Development
The First Settlers
The first settlers from England did not find gold in North America, but they were convinced that the fertile land inhabited by Indian tribes would give them income and food and therefore seemed easy prey. Agriculture, in contrast to the pursuit of gold or expensive furs, required a constant influx of workers and the application of capital (Peckham, 2019). The British expedition to North America was accompanied not by the export of natural resources to the metropolis but by the colonists’ development of them in their interests.
A Separation of Powers
An oligarchic type of government has been established in America. From generation to generation, it was ruled based on existing charters by the most prosperous and influential family clans. However, unlike the European states of that time, not to mention the rest of the world, the power in the colonies was soft. Life was much less constrained and regulated – of course, only among free colonists and excluding the first years of the struggle for survival and more than half a century of theocracy in Massachusetts (Peckham, 2019). There was, albeit imperfect, a separation of powers – legislative in the person of the assembly or assemblies of Fremen and executive, carried out by the governor.
The War for Independence
The War of the North American colonies for independence was a natural result of those complex processes that took place both in America and in England itself. By the middle of the XVIII century, the colonies had grown significantly economically (Peckham, 2019). Internal trade was being established, and the former economic disunity and isolation were being overcome. In Boston, on March 5, 1770, there was a clash of townspeople with British soldiers, who, defending themselves, killed several people. One of the most active participants in these actions was the Boston employee Samuel Adams, on whose initiative a group of colonists, disguised as Indians, threw a cargo of English tea to the bottom of Boston Harbor in 1773 (Peckham, 2019). England increased the pressure by taking drastic administrative measures, closing the port of Boston, and annexing the American northwest to its province of Quebec.
The Peace Treaty
All Americans did not share the very idea of independence. There were many who, for economic, political, and other reasons, did not want separation from England. This is a large part of the landlords, royal officials, and merchants who were afraid of breaking business ties with England. The USA and England signed a preliminary peace treaty in Paris in 1782, and the final one was signed on September 3, 1783 (Peckham, 2019). Its main result is the official recognition of the United States of America as an independent state with a western border along the Mississippi River.
George Washington
Biography
George Washington played an outstanding role in the independence of the United States of America. It significantly contributed to forming a young state on a solid development path. As commander-in-chief of the American forces, he led a long struggle with Great Britain, which ended in the colonies’ victory. Washington largely contributed to the beginning of the transformation of the United States into a modern federal state. He took an active part in drafting and adopting the Constitution, where his signature stands as a delegate from the state of Virginia (Irving,2022). As President, Washington consolidated the achievements of the War of Independence, implemented the Constitution, and laid the foundations of the American state and the institution of presidents, largely determining their further development. Being an opponent of slavery, he advocated its consistent abolition; in his will, he ordered the release of his slaves after the death of his wife.
The President’s Goals
One of Washington’s main goals as head of state was to preserve democratic transformations, instill respect for the Constitution among the people, and from the very beginning, create a state apparatus based on the principles won by the revolution. As the first president, George Washington tried to create precedents to clarify the very concept of office. Throughout his reign, he constantly demonstrated respect for the Constitution, trying to promote the self-consciousness of the American people. Washington helped to improve the functioning mechanisms of the three branches of government and laid the foundations of the political structure of the United States (Irving,2022). Washington tried to build cooperative relations with Congress and very economically used the right of veto, guided by the compliance of laws with the Constitution and not by a personal position. The first US President initiated presenting messages to the US Congress. The most important achievement was the adoption of the Bill of Rights passed through Congress by Madison. This disarmed the Constitution’s critics, who believed it did not provide broad rights and freedoms.
The Second Term
The President was overcome by serious doubts about whether to nominate his candidacy for a second term. Numerous persuasions of friends, the instability of the Union, and the threat of its collapse forced the weakening Washington to give in. In 1792, Washington was unanimously re-elected for a second term, which confirmed his enormous popularity. In his second inaugural address on March 4, 1793, Washington promised to help ensure that the constitutional form of government took root “in the virgin soil of America” (Irving,2022). The second term in office was focused on stabilizing the situation. Washington’s soberly calculated, cautious course prevented the involvement of the United States in European conflicts and stimulated economic recovery. George Washington was asked to run for a third term, but he refused, explaining that the President should not hold office more than twice a row. In his farewell address, he confirmed that he would leave the post of President.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to note that George Washington stands at the origins of American national history. He was largely involved in all the undertakings that forced the transformation of the thirteen colonies into a union of sovereign republics and then into the first modern federal state. He went down in history as a progressive politician, becoming a key figure in the armed struggle for the independence of the British colonies in North America, which ended in a complete victory for the Americans.
References
Irving, W. (2022). Life of George Washington: Vol. V. BoD–Books on Demand.
Peckham, H. H. (2019). War for independence: A military history. University of Chicago Press.