George Washington: Reluctant Politician

An analysis of George Washington’s political views.

This paper describes George Washington and outlines his ironic dislike of politics and his attempt to prevent the formation of political parties, following his belief that politics were a divisive and potentially dangerous development for the future of the new United States of America. The paper discusses how despite his firm views, he served as president of the United States for two terms.
George Washington, although unanimously elected to two terms of the Presidency by the Electoral College, disliked politics and believed them to be a divisive and potentially dangerous development for the future of the new United States of America. In this view he may have blamed the politics and not the underlying, varied needs and desires of the various groups, but it was a view he held to steadfastly throughout his political career. He worked hard to minimize the effects of politics while he was in office, but ultimately failed, with political parties forming before his second term as President ended.