"Everyone loved George Washington, until he became president" Topic

"The dissatisfaction became so severe during Washington's second term that Congress declined to adjourn to celebrate his birthday…."

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Hard to imagine nowadays since George Washington is so revered in American history. I guess sooner or later people turn on their leaders. Political office has always been divisive. You can't please everyone all the time.

Everyone didn't 'love' George Washington before he was president. Certain Continental officers, such as Lee, Conway, Gates and others tried to get him superceded as commander of the Continental Army.

Coe is one of the talking heads on the History Channel miniseries on Washington and I've ordered the book to take a look at it.

At first look, this seems to be revisionist history written to degrade, not to enlighten, but I'll read the book first…

Familiarity often breeds contempt.

Today, I'm much more inclined to "enjoy" viewing news from other parts of the globe (allowing a bit more detachment from the home front). Even that viewpoint is "risky behavior"…..

"In an extraordinary show of executive overreach," Coe writes, Washington called the state militia to federal service. He showed up in Pittsburgh in a military uniform to lead the charge against the tax opponents, becoming "the first and only president to take up arms against his own citizens."

That description is clear evidence that this author is 1) peddling revisionist, PC history and 2) doesn't know what she is talking about. First, "executive overreach" is a modern term that no one of that era would have recognized. As the first chief executive Washington was literally making it up as he went along. Did his actions result in dissatisfaction, sure, but his actions did not represent an excessive use of authority compared to the what the kings of Great Britain, France, Prussia, etc. could do in the same period.

As fare as her second contention, there are plenty of examples of the government taking up arms against its own citizens…can anyone say American Civil War?

"As fare as her second contention, there are plenty of examples of the government taking up arms against its own citizens…can anyone say American Civil War?"

Huh – the ACW came near a hundred years later…..

…..and taking up arms against its own citizens?

The South seceded severing the Union and said citizenship.

A case of the US government taken up arms against its own citizens.

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It does not get much play, but there was substantial opposition to Washington during his presidency. Anti-administration representatives were a majority in the House of Representatives in both the third and fourth U.S. Congress.

"A case of the US government taken up arms against its own citizens."

How about "Tin Soldiers and Nixon's" coming?

"How about "Tin Soldiers and Nixon's" coming?"

Not the U.S. government; IIRC the military unit involved was from the National Guard and under control of the Governor of Ohio-- not the Federal government.

A nasty business nevertheless.

Spot-on khanscom.

his actions did not represent an excessive use of authority compared to the what the kings of Great Britain, France, Prussia, etc. could do in the same period.

Oh, I dont know. The last time a British monarch bore arms against his subjects, we cut his head off.

I thought the last one was James II.

Monmouth's rebellion? Well, he had to do something.

Charles Stuart committed the unforgivable sin of plotting with the Scots against the English. Tactless really.

James Stuart didn't get caught. Fortunately for him he at least had wit enough not to trust the Scots.

The '15 and '45 were really subtle acts of Stuart revenge.

Thanks, USAFpilot, and FlyXwire, for those details. 42Flanker, you'll understand why I'll argue that the last time a (legitimate…) British monarch took up arms against some (rebellious) subjects was in 1745.

I recognise that you do. Understand, not so much.

They couldn't catch Charles Edward, so they cut off Lord Lovat's head instead.

Appropriate emoticon.