George Washington was the Father of Our Country and our First President. He defeated the British
in the Revolutionary War, and he could have been our king. But he chose be President of the United States for two four-year terms instead. He was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen.
These were his orders to his soldiers at the beginning of the Revolutionary War:
“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be
freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their
houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of
wretchedness from which no human effort will deliver them.”
“The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this
army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most
abject submission. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die.”
“Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in
whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions—The Eyes of all
our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are
the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny meditated against them.”
“Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman
contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”
“The hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of
our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers and Soldiers, that you are Freemen, fighting for
the blessings of Liberty that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not
acquit yourselves like men.”
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
“Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven, can never be
expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has
ordained.”
“And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model
of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked on the experiment
entrusted to the hands of the American people.”
President Washington also warned the American people to beware of foreign entanglements. He said:
“Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why… entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?”
“It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances…”