George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 24 Aug. 1774

George Washington corresponds with Bryan Fairfax and explains his reasons for opposing the acts of the British Parliament, while recognizing that Fairfax does not agree with Washington’s sentiments of opposition. This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “The Road to Revolution” page. Please […]

Draft of the Federal Constitution, Report of Committee of Style

On 8 Sept. the Convention chose William Samuel Johnson, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, and Rufus King “to revise the stile of and arrange the articles which had been agreed to by the House (Madison’s Notes in Farrand, Records of the Federal Convention, 2:553). On 12 Sept. Johnson, “from […]

George Washington to John Armstrong, 25 April 1788

This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “George Washington and the Making of the Constitution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original manuscript images of Washington’s letter to Armstrong at the Library of Congress: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | […]

George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 9 Nov. 1787

This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “George Washington and the Making of the Constitution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original manuscript images of Washington’s letter to Bushrod Washington at the Library of Congress: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 […]

George Washington to James Warren, 7 Oct. 1785

This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “George Washington and the Making of the Constitution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original manuscript images of Washington’s letter to Warren at the Library of Congress: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 […]

Washington’s First Inaugural Address

By early 1789 GW reluctantly accepted the inevitability of his election as president, and as early as January he began consideration of the remarks to Congress that would serve as his first inaugural address. Evidently he requested David Humphreys, at this time in residence at Mount Vernon, to draft for […]

Washington’s Third Annual Message to Congress and Congressional Responses

Washington’s Farewell Address

“When Washington early in 1796 determined to retire in March, 1797, he revived the idea of issuing a valedictory address to the American people. He reverted to Madison’s draft of 1792, and wove it into the structure of a new address he was preparing. This new holograph manuscript of Washington […]