Opinion of George Washington

[ElectionsGuy]

Presidential Series. 3 Days each for 44 presidents (this will take a while; 4 months).

1st president of the United States: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington

Massive Freedom Fighter obviously, as the US wouldn't exist if it weren't for him and others.

[Lambsbread]

FF (not British)

[PJ]

FF, but it's a little sad that you have to provide a link so that people know who he is.

[Sol]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

[Peter the Lefty]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

[ElectionsGuy]

FF, but it's a little sad that you have to provide a link so that people know who he is.

I'm planning to do that for every president. It is sad in this case though....

[Lambsbread]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

Although I'd like to add this as an asterisk to my post. I'd prefer to live in modern America than in some type of future British empire, so GW gets the FF vote from me.

[PJ]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

Although I'd like to add this as an asterisk to my post. I'd prefer to live in modern America than in some type of future British empire, so GW gets the FF vote from me.

Also this, but its only a marginal FF.

[Goldwater]

FF (not British)

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Major FF, although if I had been living in colonial America at the time, I may have been a British loyalist.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Since I have ancestors who had to move to Canada to avoid tar and feathers, HP.

[Sopranos Republican]

FF (Death to Monarchy)

[TDAS04]

Obvious FF, quite literally.

[Cassius]

Enormous FF between 1732 and 1776, treacherous HP from 1776 to 1783 and FF thereafter until his death.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Enormous FF between 1732 and 1776, treacherous HP from 1776 to 1783 and FF thereafter until his death.

He was not an traitor in 1775 whilst leading the siege of Boston prior to even the Declaration of Independence and thus waging war on His Majesty Army prior to any claims to not being a British subject, but was after such a claim was being made?

[H. Ross Peron]

I already have a series running on this (although I keep forgetting to do it regularly...)https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=181795.0

As to the question at hand, Massive FF. Keep in mind unlike Jefferson, Washington actually freed his slaves.

[Mechaman]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

Although I'd like to add this as an asterisk to my post. I'd prefer to live in modern America than in some type of future British empire, so GW gets the FF vote from me.

Also this, but its only a marginal FF.

Yes.

We have to take some of the effects of Washington's presidency, which was basically him enacting Hamilton's agenda.  The idea that he was some non-partisan independent is one of the most hilarious things I've heard.  The only thing non-partisan about him is that he hated the bitching that went on between the two sides.  Other than that, as President he was just a Federalist In All But Name.  If there was any president in the early years who was independently minded, it was John Adams, ironically.

Slavery is pretty horrible, but so was pre-20th century Britain (no offense anyone).  I mean there's quite a bit of evidence.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Not a huge fan of slave-owning elites.

Although I'd like to add this as an asterisk to my post. I'd prefer to live in modern America than in some type of future British empire, so GW gets the FF vote from me.

Also this, but its only a marginal FF.

Yes.

We have to take some of the effects of Washington's presidency, which was basically him enacting Hamilton's agenda.  The idea that he was some non-partisan independent is one of the most hilarious things I've heard.  The only thing non-partisan about him is that he hated the bitching that went on between the two sides.  Other than that, as President he was just a Federalist In All But Name.  If there was any president in the early years who was independently minded, it was John Adams, ironically.

Slavery is pretty horrible, but so was pre-20th century Britain (no offense anyone).  I mean there's quite a bit of evidence.

Washington and Hamilton had a close relationship dating back to the War and it was the case that Washington sort of viewed him as the son he never had. It is not surprising that he sympathized with his approach.

Also, in the absence of the American victory in the Revolution, it is likely such a British Empire would look more like that of what occured in India and less so of Canada and Australia. If I am not mistaken, the dominion format was first offered as too little, too late offer to Ameria around 1778 or so. Ironically, this was basically what was being sought at the start of the War and prior to the Declaration and which Britain had objected to rather strongly at the time.

[Supersonic]

Enormous FF between 1732 and 1776, treacherous HP from 1776 to 1783 and FF thereafter until his death.

This technically. Voted HP (British).

[Redalgo]

I'm not very well-learned in U.S. history so some of these may based on mistaken beliefs, but...

Pros:

• Led revolutionaries in battle against an authoritarian regime
• Oversaw the implementation of a better constitution
• Did not to betray the revolution once in power
• Seemed to work on repairing relations with the British Empire
• Was a protectionist (good for recently emancipated colonies)
• Favoured U.S. solidarity more so than state-level nationalism
• Allowed for the freeing and care of his slaves after his death
• Supported tolerance of most religious minorities

Cons:

• Claimed to favour abolition yet did not campaign for it and owned over a hundred slaves
• Personally gained from the drug trade - albeit more benignly than oft done today
• Described Natives as wild beasts of the forest, and being like wolves, which is disgusting
• Waged cultural genocide against Natives, favoured their assimilation and U.S. expansion
• Opposed the development of parties (they have important roles to play in liberal politics)
• Refused to advocate abolition of European monarchies, even if only symbolically in words
• He seemed to be nationalist, and a realist in perspective when addressing foreign affairs
• Claimed that religion is necessary to keep society moral

Verdict:

No vote - President Washington seemed well intentioned but was nonetheless at times horrible.

[7,052,770]

Slave owner.  Automatic HP.

/thread

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

FF (not a troll, British, or a British troll.)