George Washington to New Hampshire, 29 December 1777 (Detail, GLC03706) The Era of George Washington: Washington Urges Support of the Republic by Lanny J. Westerman West Jordan High School, West Jordan, UT George Washington, Circular to the States http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch7s5.html As the American War for Independence came to a conclusion, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, George Washington, considered it his duty to write and distribute his opinions concerning the situation of the United States of America as he prepared to disband the army that had won independence. Accordingly, he and his aides composed a circular letter that was sent to all thirteen state governors setting forth his thoughts and fears about the issues and challenges facing the new nation. The following excerpt from that document presents Washington's request that the states and citizens of the United States support the union and its established constitution, "The Articles of Confederation." Head Quarters, Newburgh [NY], June 8 1783 The Citizens of America, placed in the most enviable condition, as the sole Lords and Proprietors of a vast Tract of Continent . . . acknowledged to be possessed of absolute freedom and Independence . . . They are, from this period, to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous Theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by Providence for the display of human greatness and felicity . . . by giving a fairer oppertunity for political happiness, than any other Nation has ever been favored with . . . For, according to the system of Policy the States shall adopt at this moment, they will stand or fall, and by their confirmation or lapse, it is yet to be decided, whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing or a curse; a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn Millions be involved. [Upon the pillar of] an indissoluble Union of the States under one Federal Head . . . the glorious Fabrick of our Independency and National Character must be supported; Liberty is the Basis . . . Under the first head, altho' it may not be necessary or proper for me in this place to enter into a particular disquisition of the principles of the Union, and to take up the great question which has been frequently agitated, whether it be expedient and requisite for the States to delegate a larger proportion of Power to Congress, or not, Yet it will be a part of my duty, and that of of every true Patriot, to assert without reserve, and to insist upon the follwing positions, That unless the States will suffer Congress to exercise those prerogatives, they are undoubtedly invested with by the Constitution, every thing must very rapidly tend to Anarchy and confusion, That it is indispensable to the happiness of the individual States, that there should be lodged somewhere, a Supreme Power to regulate and govern the general concerns of the Confederated Republic, without which the Union cannot be of long duration. That there must be faithfull and pointed compliance on the part of every State, with the late Proposals and demands of Congress , or the most fatal consequences will ensue, That whatever measures have a tendency to dissolve the Union, or contribute to violate or lessen the Sovereign Authority, ought to be considered as hostile to the Liberty and Independency of America, and the Authors of them treated accordingly, and lastly, that unless we can be enabled by the concurrence of the States, to participiate of the fruits of the Revolution, and enjoy the essential benefits of Civil Society, under a form of Government so free and uncorrupted, so happily guarded against the danger of oppression, as has been devised and adopted by the Articles of Confederation, it will be a subject of regret, that so much blood and treasure have been lavished for no purpose, that so many sufferings have been encountered without a compensation, and that so many sacrifices have been made in vain. Many other considerations might here be adduced to prove, that without an entire conformity to the Spirit of the Union, we cannot exist as an Independent Power. [If the national government is not supported] We shall be left nearly in a state of Nature, or we may find by our own unhappy experience, that there is a natural and necessary progression, from the extreme of anarchy to the extreme of Tyranny; and that arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of Liberty abused to licentiousness. 1. In this excerpt, is Washington enthusiastic or pessimistic about America's future and potential? Explain why. 2. Why did he include "an indissoluble Union of the States under one Federal Head" as one of the pillars upon which the nation was supported? 3. What issues divided the states and Confederation government as the War for Independence came to an end? 4. How did the decisions of the founding fathers ultimately affect "the destiny of unborn Millions?" 5. In what ways did Washington's "Circular to the States" foreshadow or predict the need to strengthen the national government with the Philadelphia or Constitutional Convention of 1787?