THE MAKING OF A NATION #28 - New Nation /George Washington
By Harold Braverman
Broadcast: Thursday, September 04, 2003
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
THE MAKING OF A NATION -- a program inSpecial English by the Voice of America.
(THEME)
Graphic Image
The United States Constitution went intoeffect March Fourth, Seventeen-Eighty-Nine. The Constitution was the newnation's plan of government. There was much to be done to make it work. Themachinery of government was new, untested. Strong leadership was needed. It wasprovided by the man chosen to be the new nation's first president: GeorgeWashington.
I'm Harry Monroe. Today, Kay Gallant and Itell the story of George Washington.
VOICE TWO:
Many historians believe there would neverhave been a United States without George Washington. He led the American peopleto victory in their war for independence from Britain. He kept the new nationunited in the dangerous first years of its life.
Washington had a strange power over theAmerican people. His name still does. During his lifetime, he was honored forhis courage and wisdom. After his death in Seventeen-Ninety-Nine, he becamealmost god-like. People forgot that he was human, that he had faults and mademistakes.
For well over one hundred years, Americansfound it difficult to criticize George Washington. He represented the spirit ofAmerica -- what was best about the country.
VOICE ONE:
Recent historians have painted a morerealistic picture of Washington. They write about his weaknesses, as well as hisstrengths. But this has not reduced his greatness and importance in the makingof the nation.
The force of Washington's personality, andhis influence, was extremely important at the Philadelphia convention thatwrote the new Constitution. Had he not agreed to attend, some say, theconvention would not have been held. Later, as the first president, he gave thenew nation a good start in life.
VOICE TWO:
Washington was able to control politicaldisputes among officials of the new government. He would not let such disputesdamage the nation's unity.
Washington often thought of the future. Hewanted the first government to take the right steps.
He said, some things may not seem importantin the beginning, but later, they may have bad permanent results. It would bebetter, he felt, to start his administration right than to try to correctmistakes later. . .when it might be too late to do so. He hoped to act in sucha way that future presidents could continue to build on what he began.
VOICE ONE:
Washington had clear, firm ideas about whatwas right and what was wrong. He loved justice. He also loved the republicanform of government.
Some people had difficulty seeing this partof the man. For Washington looked like an aristocrat. And, at times, he seemedto act like one. He attended many ceremonies. He often rode through the streetsin a carriage pulled by six horses. His critics called him 'king'.
Washington opposed rule by kings anddictators. He was shocked that some good people talked of having a monarchy inAmerica. He was even more shocked that they did not understand the harm theywere doing.
VOICE TWO:
Washington warned that this loose talkcould lead to an attempt to establish a monarchy in the United States. Amonarchy, he said, would be a great victory for the enemies of the UnitedStates. It would prove that Americans could not govern themselves.
As president, Washington decided to doeverything in his power to prevent the country from ever being ruled by a kingor dictator. He wanted the people to have as much self-government as possible.Such government, Washington felt, meant a life of personal freedom and equaljustice for the people.
VOICE ONE:
The Eighteenth century has been describedas the age of reason and understanding for the rights of people. Washington wasa man of his times. He said no one could feel a greater interest in thehappiness of mankind than he did. He said it was his greatest hope that thepolicies of that time would bring to everyone those blessings which should betheirs.
Washington was especially happy and proudthat the United States would protect people against oppression for theirreligious beliefs.
He did not care which god peopleworshipped. He felt that religious freedom was a right of every person. Goodmen, he said, are found all over the world. They can be followers of anyreligion. . .or no religion at all.
Washington's feelings about racial oppressionwere as strong as his feelings about religious oppression. True, he owned Negroslaves. But he hated slavery. "There is not a man alive," he oncesaid, "who wishes more truly than I to see a plan approved to endslavery." By his order, all his slaves were freed when he died.
VOICE TWO:
From the beginning, George Washington wascareful to establish a good working relationship with the Congress. He did notattempt to take away any powers given to the Congress by the Constitution. Byhis actions, he confirmed the separation of powers of the three branches of thegovernment, as proposed in the Constitution.
The Congress, too, was ready to cooperate.It did not attempt to take away any powers given to the president by theConstitution. The Congress, for example, agreed that President Washington hadthe right to appoint his assistants. But Congress kept the right to approvethem.
VOICE ONE:
Washington asked some of the nation'swisest and most able men to serve in the new government.
For Secretary of State, he chose ThomasJefferson. At the time, Jefferson was America's representative to France.
While Congress was considering Jefferson'snomination, Washington heard of threatening events in France. He learned that amob had captured the old prison called the Bastille. Washington was worried.The United States had depended on France for help during its war forindependence. And it still needed French help. A crisis in France could be badfor America.
The information Jefferson brought homewould prove valuable if the situation in France got worse. Washington alsothought Jefferson's advice would be useful in general, not just on Frenchdevelopments.
VOICE TWO:
For Secretary of the Treasury, Washingtonchose Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton had served as one of Washington's assistantsduring the Revolutionary War.
For Chief Justice of the United States, hechose John Jay. Jay helped write the Federalist Papers, which are consideredthe best explanation of the Constitution ever written. Two delegates to theConstitutional convention were named Associate Justices of the Supreme Court:James Wilson and John Rutledge.
For Attorney General, Washington wanted agood lawyer and someone who supported the Constitution. He chose EdmundRandolph, of Virginia. It was Randolph who proposed the Virginia Plan to thePhiladelphia convention. The plan became the basis for the nationalConstitution. Randolph refused to sign the document, because he did not believeit could be approved. But he worked later to help win Virginia's approval ofthe Constitution.
VOICE ONE:
President Washington named his assistants,and the Congress approved them. The president was ready to begin work on thenation's urgent problems. And there were many.
One problem was Spain's control of thelower part of the Mississippi River. American farmers needed to use the riverto transport their crops to market. But the Spanish governor in Louisianaclosed the Mississippi to American boats.
There also were problems with Britain. TheUnited States had no commercial treaty with Britain. And Britain had sent norepresentative to the new American government.
Equally urgent were the new nation'seconomic problems. Two major issues had to be settled. One was repayment ofloans made to support the American army in the war for independence. The otherwas creation of a national money system. Both issues needed quick action.
Finding solutions would be the job ofPresident Washington's Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton. AlexanderHamilton will be our story next week.
(THEME)
VOICE TWO:
You have been listening to THE MAKING OF ANATION, a program in Special English by the Voice of America. Your narratorswere Harry Monroe and Kay Gallant. Our program was written by Harold Braverman.
用户评论