Letter from George Washington to Congress Inquiring About the Preferred Form of His Resignation
12/20/1783
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Gen. George Washington arrived in Annapolis, Maryland, on December 20, 1783, at the end of the Revolutionary War. He penned this note to the Continental Congress asking how they would like him to officially resign, “whether in writing or at an audience” so that he “may regulate his conduct accordingly.” Three days later, before the assembled Congress, he announced his resignation as commander in chief. Washington set many precedents, but this resignation was a precedent in itself: many believed he could have become a king or dictator, but Washington chose to give the power back to Congress.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 5757421
Full Citation: Letter from George Washington to Congress Inquiring About the Preferred Form of His Resignation; 12/20/1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-george-washington-to-congress-inquiring-about-the-preferred-form-of-his-resignation, May 30, 2023]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
