Download - PRESIDENT’S DAY
George Washington
• FIRST President• Set the “standard” and
rules for the presidency.
• First to voluntarily surrender power
George Washington – Rebel?
• Richest man in the colony of Virginia and in the top 5 richest in America.
• Why would he choose to throw that all away by fighting the most powerful country on earth? (England)
George Washington – Commander of the Continental Army
• Dealt with not enough ammunition, food, shelter, or money.
• Dealt with defections.• After the war the
Continental Congress – owed two years of pay to all the army.
Congress acts on the problem
• DISBANDS the army.– After all, they aren’t
“needed” anymore.
– They’d “pay up in the future.”
George Washington’s First Act of Giving Up Power
• Convinced his officers not to start a rebellion.
• Voluntarily gave up power.
• Had NEVER been done in history!
• Rule of Law – even if not a good one.
Washington as First President
• Had to establish what the powers of the office would be.
• Had to establish the “traditions” of being Mr. President.– “His Excellency”?– “His Temporary
Majesty”?– Uniform or not?
George Washington’s SECOND act of voluntarily surrendering power
• Giving up the presidency. – Walked away from
power.
– NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!
Abraham Lincoln’s LegacyBBuilt the Republican Party.FFreed the slaves.FFought the Civil WarRReminded people that we were a country “by the people, of the people and for the people.”KKept the Constitution intact.
Abraham Lincoln
• One of the founders of the Republican Party– A “one issue” party in
1856 – end slavery.– Lincoln made the party
mean more than just Abolition of Slavery.
– Made it mean Federalism.
– Made us think of our selves as Americans.
Abraham Lincoln
• Freed people of color.• 15 Presidents before
had not been able or willing to do that!– A couple presidents
after didn’t like Lincoln’s actions, either!
– 4 million men, women and children freed.
Any President’s nightmare: Civil War
• Abraham Lincoln faced a nation at war.
• Did not give in or give up.
• Did not throw out the Constitution and become a dictator.
Lincoln’s Vision
• Followed the Constitution the best he could.
• Never removed the rebel states from the American flag.
• Continued Washington DC as the capitol.
Lincoln’s Legacy
• Never has a president faced the problems that Abraham Lincoln did.
• He is the “Gold Standard” for all presidents since to measure themselves against.