From History.com: This day in history: George Washington Resigns as Commander in Chief

OK, so this isn't this day in history, it's yesterday in history, but whatever. I like using this episode in a few different places in class to ficus on the problematic nature of executive power. The story goes that one of the reasons that George Washington was trusted with the executive power was because he had refused the opportunity to become a monarch following the end of the American Revolution. Revolutionary wars tend to result with someone not only claiming executive power, but doing so with the support of the general population - the ones that supported the revolution anyway.

Here's Washington refusing to do so despite the insistence of his officers. The story goes that this gave him a degree of trust - the participants of the Constitutional Convention designed the executive branch with the assumption he would occupy it. As president he was noteworthy in many ways for what he did not do as what he did. Not claiming the right to serve for life was top among them.

I find it worth noting the he pushed for pensions for the officers, not the rank and file soldiers.

Look at past posts tagged presidential powers and George Washington for more. Take note of the comparisons made of Washington with the Roman General Cincinnatus.

- Click here for the article.

Washington’s willingness to return to civilian life was an essential element in the transformation of the War for Independence into a true revolution. During the war, Congress had granted Washington powers equivalent to those of a dictator and he could have easily taken solitary control of the new nation. Indeed, some political factions wanted Washington to become the new nation’s king. His modesty in declining the offer and resigning his military post at the end of the war fortified the republican foundations of the new nation.