Washington, George

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Washington, George (1732–99) American general and statesman, commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1775–83), and first president of the United States of America (1789–97). A wealthy Virginian, Washington fought with distinction in the last of the French and Indian Wars (1754–63). He served in both Continental Congresses (1774, 1775), the latter appointing him commander in chief. Washington retired after securing victory over the British, but was recalled to preside over the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. In 1789, he was elected (unopposed) as President of the new republic. Washington proved unable to heal the divisions between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton that resulted in the creation of the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. Re-elected in 1793, the Federalists dominated his second administration, and the Jeffersonians criticized what they regarded as his pro-British policy during the French Revolutionary Wars. Washington declined a third term as president, and retired to his family estate at Mount Vernon. See also Continental Congress

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