Fascinating Fact: America Nearly Became A Dictatorship In 1783, Too

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

Fascinating Fact: America Nearly Became A Dictatorship In 1783, Too
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=250&sid=bab3651a8a4debf6be4e0bcf042b9ce2

Did you know America at its founding nearly became a dictatorship? Few people know this but it's true. Here's what happened:

Under the leadership of the Continental Congress, the American Revolution was fought from 1775 to 1783 under George Washington who Congress appointed Commander in Chief.

The Congress was comprised almost entirely of rich white men who with a successful revolution would replace the British as rulers and profit handsomely from what had been British lands, while avoiding British taxes. But to fight and die in a revolution to make rich men richer did not capture the public's heart.

To convince Americans to fight, the revolution was sold as "freedom," something that would not in fact be offered to women, slaves, Native Americans and only with great limitations to the mass of poor white men, many of whom fought in the war. The rich would not surrender power, regardless of what The Declaration of Independence said.

For eight brutal years, the American soldiers froze in the ice and snow of winter and died of disease or from bullets and bayonets and were demoralized by battle fatigue and by long absences from their families.

They also saw the privileges the rich, including Congress, bestowed on themselves and their lack of personal sacrifice or risk. Meanwhile, despite Washington's pleas to Congress the soldiers saw little if any pay and as a result, many quit Washington's army and discouraged others from joining.

It was all Washington could do to not only fight the British, but to keep his army together and stop them from forming militias and attacking the rich.

But out of respect for Washington and with the hope they and their families would live better lives, most of the troops remained loyal and fought on. However, many Americans were disgusted with Congress and as the war ended, they called for Washington to overthrow it and rule the nation.

The breaking point came on March 15, 1783. Washington's officers demanded to rebel against Congress and put Washington in charge, but he refused. Having just overthrown the rule of King George, he convinced his officers making him a dictator would be a mistake, and that America's future should be as a democracy. With major reservations, they finally agreed.

A frightened Congress was relieved Washington didn't seize power and on December 23rd, with the war over, Washington addressed them. He resigned as Commander in Chief, surrendered the army to them and said goodbye.

But unlike the Congress, Washington had the confidence of the American people and in 1789, he would be called back to public service as the first President of the United States.

(by Dick Kazan of http://www.saneramblings.com - posted with permission)

[L. Coyote]

1. And then they invaded Ohio, killed the Indians, and sold the land, floating their failing

banking system.

It was so profitable to steal Indian land, it took the Pacific Ocean to stop them, for a while anyway!

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

2. You're right! I wonder how US citizens would like the real ...

...history of the united states?

Might shock a few "patriots"

[bean fidhleir]

3. I'm just now reading Beard's "Economic Interpretation of the Constitution"

Fascinating reading. The 1787 Convention was, essentially, a coup d'etat, and the Framers were nearly all men who were going to personally profit from the changes to be made by the new Constitution.

[hootinholler]

4. kick n/t