A window into Washington’s own words, drawn from a careful selection of letters, state papers, and writings.
This edition collects the most significant and enduring writings of the nation’s first president, presented with introduction and notes by Lawrence B. Evans. It illuminates Washington’s thoughts on governance, foreign policy, finance, and national unity, offering readers a direct link to the ideas that shaped early America.
From cautions about foreign influence and permanent alliances to reflections on the power and structure of the federal government, these documents reveal the principles and concerns that guided the Republic at its birth. The edition provides context to help readers understand how these words relate to the country that followed.
- Read Washington’s cautions about foreign influence and the balance between peace and preparedness.
- Explore discussions on the role of Congress, revenue, taxes, and national power.
- See how treaties, diplomacy, and commercial policy are framed in the early Republic.
- Gain perspective on the ideals and tensions that shaped early American political thought.
Ideal for students, history lovers, and readers seeking a direct, primary-source view of the nation’s founding ideas.
George Washington was born in Virginia in 1732. As a young man, he learned the morals, manners, and knowledge necessary to become a Virginia gentleman. He was particularly interested in the military arts and western expansion. At the age of 16, he helped survey Shenandoah lands. At the age of 22, he was commissioned a lieutenant colonel and fought in the first battles of what became the French and Indian War. Unanimously elected as the first President of the United States, Washington served two terms before retiring to Mount Vernon. He passed away on December 14, 1799.