On February 22, 1732, George Washington was born into a world of vast inequality — where slavery was entrenched, women had no rights, and political power was concentrated among wealthy landowning men.
As a slave-owning member of the Virginia planter class and a respected military hero of the French and Indian Wars (1754–1758), Washington was elected in 1758 to the Virginia House of Burgesses. By the 1760s, he had become a vocal critic of Britain’s taxation and mercantilist policies toward the American Colonies. Opposing taxation without representation, Washington joined other revolutionaries in the struggle to overthrow British rule and establish a government based not on monarchy, but on self-rule by its citizens.
During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington was essential in securing American independence against formidable British forces. Despite limited resources, inexperienced troops, and initial strategic setbacks, Washington’s resilience, adaptability, and strategic acumen were instrumental in turning the tide of the war. On December 25, 1776, from Philadelphia he launched a daring, surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, defeating them and revitalizing his troops’ morale.
During the war’s eight-year duration, Washington’s perseverance and the Continental Congress’ alliance with the French led to a decisive victory at Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending the war. When, in the aftermath of this success, some suggested he assume monarchical powers, Washington firmly rejected the proposal, famously stating, “I did not fight against King George III to become King George I.” Instead, he resigned his military commission in 1783, reinforcing the principle of civilian governance and paving the way for the American colonies to become a republic rather than a monarchy.
As the first President of the United States, Washington took office on April 30, 1789, leading the development of a new nation founded in contradictions. While the Declaration of Independence proclaimed liberty and equality for all, the US Constitution sanctioned the enslavement of African Americans, and state laws granted voting rights only to white male property owners, disenfranchising women, people of color, and the poor. Under Washington’s leadership, these inequalities became embedded in the nation’s legal and political framework, shaping the struggles for social justice that have continued for generations.
After serving two terms, Washington voluntarily stepped down, resisting calls to remain in office indefinitely. His 1796 Farewell Address underscored his commitment to republican government and set a standard for future leaders. When John Adams (1735 – 1826) assumed the presidency in 1797, it marked the first orderly transition of executive power in American history — a tradition that remains a cornerstone of American democracy.
Within the first year of the new republic, women like Judith Sargent Murray (1751–1820) advocated for women’s rights and equality. Her widely read 1790 essay, On the Equality of the Sexes, challenged the common belief that women were intellectually inferior, thus incapable of participating in political life. Yet the government Washington helped establish did not allow women to vote for another 131 years.
While Washington’s views on slavery evolved as he witnessed the courage of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War and listened to growing abolitionist sentiment, throughout his lifetime he profited from the labor of more than 500 enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Mount Vernon. Among them was Ona Judge (c. 1773–1848), who courageously escaped in 1796 rather than be forced into continued bondage by the President and First Lady, Martha Washington (1731–1802).
Though in his 1799 will he ordered the freedom of the 123 enslaved people he personally owned — but only upon Martha’s death – the majority of enslaved people at Mount Vernon, Martha’s dower slaves, remained in bondage. Fearing unrest, in 1801, Martha freed Washington’s 123 enslaved workers, while dividing those she enslaved among her heirs.
As we commemorate Washington’s birthday, we acknowledge his contributions to the founding of a new republic in the US based on citizen self-rule, as well as his part in laying within the foundations of the new US government unresolved contradictions – the proclamation of freedom for all while denying it to so many – that have required generations of struggle to move closer to realizing the promise of liberty and equality for all, continuing even into 2025. His legacy is complex, inviting us to reflect on both his leadership and the ongoing work necessary to ensure liberty and justice for all.