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The Newburgh Conspiracy: George Washington Resists a Chance to Be King
The Newburgh Conspiracy represents a time when our nation came closest to deviating from our core revolutionary principles of representative government with civilian control of the military. Because of a weak Confederation Congress and unhappiness within the officer ranks of the Continental Army, the stage was set for our new nation to drift into a military dictatorship or monarchy.
The Newburgh Conspiracy: Horatio Gates Stirs Up Controversy
By early 1783, America was close to finalizing its peace agreement with England, but the Confederation Congress had some issues to resolve with its own discontented Continental Army. At that moment, the internal threat of mutiny appeared worse than the external one posed by British forces.
The Newburgh Conspiracy: How Widespread Unrest Almost Caused a Mutiny
We take civilian control of the military for granted today in America. However, were it not for General George Washington’s actions and words in the so-called Newburgh Conspiracy, things might be quite a bit different.
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was our nation’s first constitution and essentially served as the basis for our government from 1777 to 1787. It was the precursor to our present Constitution and, though it was flawed, it proved to be instructive to our Forefathers.