George Washington became the first president under the U.S. Constitution, a founding figure highlighted by America250.
Washington took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789. He had previously commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and had presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. His reputation for military leadership and restraint made him a broadly acceptable choice for the new office.
Washington served two four-year terms, from 1789 to 1797. During his presidency, the federal government established executive departments, addressed public debt, and adopted policies that shaped the early republic. He declined to seek a third term, helping establish a tradition later codified by the Twenty-Second Amendment.
Washington is sometimes confused with John Adams, who was the first vice president and the second president, or Thomas Jefferson, the third president and principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence. America250 connects Washington’s military, constitutional, and presidential roles across the founding era.