Washington hated tyranny as much as anyone in America,
but he supported a stronger national government. Like most men
of wealth, he feared for his property and status. Shay's Rebellion
terrified him. But unlike many of his fellow planters, who spent
their lives secluded on their plantations, Washington understood
the value of continental unity. It was this unity that had won the
war, and it was this unity that would allow the frontier to be
safely settled. Most importantly, it was unity that made the nation
virtuous. "This is the moment," Washington wrote in an open letter
to the state governors, "when the eyes of the whole World are turned upon
[Americans]; this is the moment to establish or ruin their national
Character forever." In Washington's mind, the question of American
unity was not simply political or economic, it was also a moral
question.
Though Washington contributed relatively little to the
Constitutional Convention, his support was crucial. His prestige
(and that of Benjamin Franklin, who also attended) among Americans
gave the Convention legitimacy. This allowed it to meet in secret–were
it to meet in public the delegates probably could not have agreed
on a document. Washington's support was most important when it came
to the question of the presidency. Many delegates feared a strong
president, believing he would behave like a monarch or tyrant. Others
believed a strong president was needed to balance the power of
Congress. Supporters of a strong president won the day because
everyone at the meeting knew Washington would get the job. They
trusted him to uphold the government rather than make himself a
dictator.
It is difficult to say how Washington felt about becoming
President. He clearly enjoyed his status as a hero, but privately
he doubted whether he was capable of leading the country. He worried about
the challenges ahead and was reluctant to leave home again. Worst
of all, Washington knew that the success or failure of the new government
rested largely on his shoulders, which created conflict in his
decisions between his personal interests the interests of the nation.
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