7 The 100 Most Influential World Leaders of All Time 7his unremitting activity, and his strong common sense con-
stituted the chief factors in achieving American victory.
He was not a great tactician, but he did succeed in keeping
a strong army in existence and maintaining the flame of
national spirit. When the auspicious moment arrived, he
planned the rapid movements that ended the war.
Constitutional Convention to Presidency
With the war over, Washington returned to Mount Vernon,
but he was a delegate to and presiding officer of the
Constitutional Convention (1787). His weight of character
did more than any other single force to bring the conven-
tion to an agreement and obtain ratification of the
Constitution afterward. He did not believe it perfect, but
his support gave it victory in Virginia
When the state electors met to select the first presi-
dent in 1789, Washington was the unanimous choice.
Slowly feeling his way, Washington defined the style of the
first president of a country in the history of the world. The
people, too, had to adjust to a government without a king.
Even the question of how to address a president had to be
discussed. It was decided that in a republic the simple
salutation “Mr. President” would do.
During Washington’s administration, the authority of
the federal government was greatly strengthened.
Washington and Alexander Hamilton chartered the Bank
of the United States in 1791, and the federal government
assumed responsibility for both national and state debts.
Taxes were placed on imported goods and certain private
property within the states, and money was deposited into
the national treasury for paying debts. Also in 1791 the
states ratified the Bill of Rights—the first 10 amend-
ments to the Constitution—which granted U.S. citizens
their basic rights. Elected to a second term, Washington