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 he United States was one of the first nations to achieve independence as a result of a successful revolution against colonial rule. During the 1790s and early 1800s, severe economic problems, domestic political conflicts, and foreign policy challenges faced the new nation.
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George Washington to Francis Mercer, September 9, 1786.
GLC 3705
In this brief note, written at a time when there were some 277 slaves at Mount Vernon, George Washington expresses his hope for the gradual abolition of slavery. In his will, Washington provided for the emancipation of his slaves following his wife's death.
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Draft Constitution of the United States, with handwritten notes of Pierce Butler, August 6, 1787. GLC 819.01
The oldest written blueprint of national government in the world, the U.S. Constitution was the product of four months of secret negotiations and dozens of compromises, which resulted in a system flexible enough to withstand more than two centuries of change.
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George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, April 1, 1789. GLC 2437.53.74
Just as he was about to assume office as President, Washington, who longed to return to his beloved Mount Vernon, wrote to General Henry Knox expressing his reservations about heading the new government.
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