Biography on our First President
...ngton was considered to be Episcopalian, which is Christian in today’s term. Washington was also considered to be a Federalist during his presidency. On January 6,1759, Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis, whom was a wealthy widow and a mother of two. Their names were John “Jack” Parke Custis and Martha “Patsy” Custis. Washington was the first president of the United States of America. Therefore, there was no presidential campaign. Washington did not have a running mate nor did he have an opponent. But there was an issue. The inability of Congress to solve problems because of lack of authority under the Articles of Confederation worried him. So he became a delegate on the Virginia legislature to help mend the Constitution. Several years followed before the states ratified the constitution. When the Electoral College met in New York City on February 4, 1789, Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States. Washington remains the only president unanimously elected by the Electoral College. Washington was inaugurated into office on April 30,1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. During his presidency, Washington accomplished so much. But also faced five major issues by assuming the role of president. Washington’s first issue was to establish and develop the executive departments. He saw the departments as a way he could govern and execute the laws. Washington created two rules at governing the seat of the department heads. Five months later, Congress approved the legislation needed to start the five executive departments. Washington chose two liberals and two conservatives to form his cabinet. General Henry Knox led the war department. Alexander Hamilton was appointed Secretary of Treasury. Thomas Jefferson was appointed Secretary of State. Samuel Osgood led the office of postmaster general. And the last department was appointed to Edmund Randolph as attorney general. His second major issue was that he felt betrayed when Jefferson and Hamilton resigned from his Cabinet. The reason for this was because he supported many of Hamilton’s controversial fiscal policies resulting in attacks by Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans. Washington was then re-elected president in 1792. This is when Washington’s third major issue comes up which was America’s neutrality during the war between Great Britain and France. Washington, whose policy of neutrality angered the pro-French Jeffersonians. They were horrified by the excesses ...