Washington

I recently finished reading Washington by Ron Chernow. One of the many things I learned from the book was that Shay’s Rebellion was the crisis that highlighted the need for stronger national leadership, paving the way for the development of the U.S. Constitution and the office of the president. At that point in history, the country had been governed for three years only by Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

Washington, who was back at his beloved Mt. Vernon after fighting the war, was so concerned about the insurrection of Shay’s Rebellion and the future of the country, that he agreed to take part in the Constitutional Convention, which created the Constitution, and which elected him as the first president of the United States. He didn’t particularly want to be president, especially for the second term, but luckily for us, he accepted.

Seeing the effects of division on our country today, I thought it was interesting that one of Washington’s biggest worries for our fledgling country was unity, and that he didn’t like the emergence of political parties because it threatened that unity.

When the Whiskey Rebellion started, it was Washington who led a militia to put it down, once again protecting the fragile country.

It was very interesting to be reading this book when the riot occurred at the Capitol on January 6th. I couldn’t help but wonder what Washington, who had done so much for our country, who was so careful to set a precedent of not abusing his executive powers, and who urged citizens to “guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism” in his farewell address, would have thought of that.