Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take any leave of all the employments of public life. Today in 1783, after successfully leading the Continental Army during the American War of Independence, George Washington stood before the Continental Congress and resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief. Three days earlier, however, he sent this note to the Congress, asking how they would like him to officially resign, as it had never been done before. His voluntary abdication of a position that some wished he would hold for life set a precedent for the peaceful transition of governance in America. Six years later, Washington would be elected the first President of the new United States and would continue to set precedents that are followed to this day. This document is featured in the Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures exhibition ebook. Download it and learn more about the exhibit at archivesfoundation.org/signatures
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:01:29 +0000
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