First President

Want to know what Washington did on his first day as President?  Find out in our interactive timeline.

Just as her husband realized that his every action might set a precedent for future presidents, so was Martha Washington aware that her behavior as first lady would become the template for the wives of future chief executives.

After the American victory in the Revolution, George Washington repeatedly voiced opposition to slavery in personal correspondence. He privately noted his support for a gradual, legislative end to slavery, but as a public figure, he did not make abolition a cause.

President Washington confronted crises
and set the template for presidential leadership.

As the first president, and since there were no sitting justices at the beginning of his term, George Washington had the unique opportunity to fill the entire body of United States federal judges with his selections-- including the Supreme Court.

On January 8, 1790, President George Washington delivered to Congress the first State of the Union address in American history. This precedent setting address presented defense, foreign policy, economic, education, and immigration related topics.

In 1793, a yellow fever epidemic hit the city hard, and sent George Washington and the federal government packing.

Today we judge our modern Presidents by how much they achieved in their first 100 days.  See how Washington stacked up to the others.