What if Washington had become a dictator?

Hamilton and Jefferson, even old Ben Franklin would have united all of the Continental Congress against him. He would be deposed before he even had the chance to utter the words "Absolute power".

Now if Aaron burr somehow makes it to the presidency.....
 
"I call Heaven to witness, that this very act (accepting the presidency) would be the greatest sacrifice of my personal feelings & wishes that ever I have been called upon to make.”

Washington said that to Alexander Hamilton when he was offered the presidency of the United States. All he wanted was to return to Mount Vernon after he served his time as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He didn't want to be President, so I don't see him becoming a dictator.

You'd have better luck with Alexander Hamilton. He's the one who proposed the United States effectively become a elective monarchy with a all-powerful leader at the head.
 
If he becomes a tyrant the country and the very experiment of the revolution collapses in it's infancy and the British laugh and take the colonies back over. If Washington accepts the position of King in a constitutional monarchy similar to the British, some die-hards would be pissed but the country might have turned out even better.
 
If he becomes a tyrant the country and the very experiment of the revolution collapses in it's infancy and the British laugh and take the colonies back over. If Washington accepts the position of King in a constitutional monarchy similar to the British, some die-hards would be pissed but the country might have turned out even better.

Until the issue of succession comes up. If Washington doesn't decide who's going to be his successor, it's going to be Game of Thrones, North American 18th Century edition.
 

Marc

Donor
What if Jefferson had freed his slaves?

From what we understand of Washington's character, while not innocent of original sin, his sense of republicanism ran deep. Unless you can come up some rationale this question is just too implausible I think...
 
Washington said that to Alexander Hamilton when he was offered the presidency of the United States. All he wanted was to return to Mount Vernon after he served his time as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.
"Would you enforce me to a world of care? Well, call them again. I am not made of stone, but penetrable to your kind entreats, albeit against my conscience and my soul."
 
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