General George Washington Calls for a Standing Army, 1783 - Assignment Example

Summary of General George Washington Call for a Standing Army, 1783 Summary of General George Washington Call for a Standing Army, 1783General George Washington proposed a list of principles which were relatively new ideas. He is insistent on the establishment of a regular army not only during the war but also in time of peace. General George Washington recommends that for a future military system to have the ability to counter react to a surprise attack from the European powers. The military in such a scenario would act as the first line of defense, countering any surprise conquest and quick defeat and property destruction.

1 In addition to the regular army, he also proposed a national militia force to be established in the country. This is in line with the military whose overall goal was to maintaining the peace and tranquility of the American people. The militia is to be observed and governed by a certain code of conduct that would regulate their operations and use of arms.Military schools equipped to train people on the arts of weaponry, engineering and science with their utmost goal being manufacture of advanced military weapons was also another proposal by George Washington.

This kind of information was at the time scarce and difficult to obtain. Establishing such institutions, would give more advantage to the American military in comparison to that of Europe. George Washington goes on to say, “It may be laid down, as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.” 1Every young and able bodied man was to have the zeal and passion of defending his country.

He is also expected to respond to the calls for war even in emergency situations without negation.BibliographyChambers John Whiteclay, Piehler Kurt, General George Washington calls for a standing army, Major Problems in American Military History: Documents and Essays, (Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1998).