How George Washington became 'the father of his country' - ShareAmerica
Article by Charles Hoskinson
Feb 11, 2026
Like the monument standing in the U.S. capital that bears
his name, George Washington’s place in American history is towering.
As a general, his commanding presence inspired the Army that won independence from Britain. As a statesman, he presided over the Constitutional Convention that shaped the United States. And as the country’s first president he established lasting traditions, forging a reputation as “the father of his country.”
Washington’s journey to greatness was no coincidence.
When he showed up for the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in his militia uniform in 1775, Washington helped the other delegates to see him as a natural choice for Army commander.
Though he resigned his commission after the Revolution, he stayed involved in political affairs, arguing for a stronger national government. This made him a natural choice to lead the Constitutional Convention.
“He was the moving force for the Constitution,” says Edward J. Larson, a law professor at Pepperdine University and author of George Washington, Nationalist. Other delegates had trust in Washington, according to Larson, and that trust moved the effort along.
Washington’s central role in developing the Constitution, in turn, would make him a favorite choice for president among the leaders in attendance.
