In the aftermath of our Revolution against the British, we won the right to govern ourselves. We did not choose to have a monarchy. We had just finished a war against one! Our new Constitution required an election and the choosing of a new leader every four years. George Washington had chosen to run for re-election only once. He wanted to return to his home and private life.

The world was watching this new experiment in government. Not many people believed that the first President would give up his office and go home. After all, the rest of the world did not elect their leaders. Monarchs, Czars, Kings, Queens, Sultans, Chiefs and Emperors ran most other countries. Our new Constitution was different. The true test came when Washington followed the Constitution and became a private citizen after his term of office had expired.

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