I am the Star Reporter who is going to visit George Washington at his home at Mount Vernon during the years of 1759-1774. I am interviewing him about his political and personal views, activities, goals, and predictions. Develop 10 questions to ask President Washington.
1. What were the first branches of government you created?
A: I created three branches which were the treasury, state, and Law.
2. What are the purposes of these branches?
A: Well, I needed someone to keep watch over economic affairs so I created a treasury branch. As far as the State branch goes, I needed someone to be called upon to deal with issues and relations with my foreign affairs. The Law branch of government was created for times when declaring war, and organizing armies needed to be addressed.
3. What would you say are the major events that have occurred while you have been in office?
A: Well I was elected to first term with a unanimous electoral vote. The first United States Census was taken. I established the District of Columbia. I ratified the Bill of Rights. I signed the Proclamation of Neutrality and the Whiskey Rebellion.
4. Can you tell me of a personal ambition you may have?
A: One of my person ambitions was to secure a commission in the British Army. I was outraged that as a colonel in the Virginia militia, I could be ordered around by any officer in the British Army. I mean the army's refusal to take American soldiers personally offends me.
5. What are your reasons for supporting the countries fight for independence?
A: There are a few reasons. These being personal, political, and economic. My economic reason relates to my role as a planter. I am constantly in debt to the London-based merchant who buy my tobacco and sell me goods. The British laws put tobacco producers at a disadvantage and leaves me continually short of cash. I feel this system is unfair and needs to stopped. My political reason for supporting independence relates to my personal and economic reasons. I feel that America is developing its own identity, one that revolves around ideas of liberty, equality, and unity. The British tends to ignore, even insult, this identity, using American colonies largely as a way to make their money. I believe America as a whole will never achieve its goals until we are independent of Britain.
6. As President how did you succeed in preserving and expanding the new nation?
A: I kept America neutral in the war between France and Britain, I also supported a system of public finance, and seeking to open the western frontier to settlement.
7. What are your views on federal government?
A: As president I believe that federal government needs to remain strong enough to prevent state or regional interests from gaining to much power.
8. Why do you dislike being affiliated with a specific party?
A: I think the common and continual trouble of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. I feel it always serves to distract the public councils and reduce the strength of the public councils and reduce the strength of the public administration. It just stirs up the community with ill- founded jealousies and false alarms, it creates hostility and resentment of one part against another, which creates rebellion, occasionally riots. It just opens the door to foreign influences and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
9. What are your views on slavery?
A: I wanted slaves who enlisted in the Continental Army, not be repossessed by their owners. I have provided that my slaves be emancipated upon my death. I have also provided that they get an education so that they can be self-supporting as freed men and women. My opposition to slavery deals more with the immorality of one man holding ownership over another.
10. What are some activities you enjoy when not having to run the country?
A: I enjoy fox hunting and fishing. I am a major distiller of whiskey, and I like to breed donkeys. I feel they are a better breed for farm work than horses are.
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