Editing George Washington (section)

== Philosophy and views ==
=== Slavery ===
{{Main|George Washington and slavery}}
{{further|Slavery in the colonial United States|Slavery in the United States|Abolitionism in the United States}}

[[File:Junius Brutus Stearns - George Washington as Farmer at Mount Vernon.jpg|thumb|alt=Washington the farmer is shown standing on his plantation talking to an overseer as children play and slaves work. Work is by Junius Stearns.|''Washington the Farmer at Mount Vernon'', an 1851 portrait by [[Junius Brutus Stearns]]]]
During Washington's lifetime at least 577 slaves lived and worked at Mount Vernon.<ref name="Mount Vernon Slaves">{{cite web |title=The Growth of Mount Vernon's Enslaved Community |url=https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/the-growth-of-mount-vernons-enslaved-community/ |website=George Washington's Mount Vernon |publisher=Mount Vernon Ladies' Association|accessdate=July 13, 2021 |archivedate=July 13, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713012318/https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/the-growth-of-mount-vernons-enslaved-community/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfnm|Morgan|2000|1p=279|Ellis|2004|2p=45}} He inherited some, gained control of 84 [[Dowry|dower]] slaves upon his marriage to Martha, and purchased at least 71 slaves between 1752 and 1773.{{sfnm|Morgan|2000|1pp=279–280|Morgan|2005|2pp=405, 407 n7|Hirschfeld|1997|3p=12}} From 1786, he rented slaves as part of an agreement regarding a neighboring estate; they totaled 40 in 1799.{{sfn|Hirschfeld|1997|p=19}}

Slavery was [[History of slavery in Virginia|deeply ingrained]] in the economic and social fabric of the [[Colony of Virginia]].{{sfn|Henriques|2006|p=146}}{{sfn|Willcox|Arnstein|1988|pp=41–42}} Prior to the Revolutionary War, Washington's views on slavery matched those of most Virginia [[Planter class|planters]] of the time: "his principal interest was still their contribution to the economic life of the plantation."{{sfn|Twohig|2001|p=116}} Beginning in the 1760s, however, Washington gradually grew to oppose it. His first doubts were prompted by his choice to transition from tobacco to grain crops, which left him with a costly surplus of slaves, causing him to question the system's economic efficiency.{{sfn|Morgan|2005|p=413}} In a 1778 letter to [[Lund Washington]], he made clear his desire "to get quit of Negroes".{{sfn|Morgan|2005|pp=416–417}}

His growing disillusionment with the institution was spurred by the principles of the Revolution and revolutionary friends such as Lafayette and Hamilton.{{sfnm|Twohig|2001|1p=121|Morgan|2005|2p=426}} Most historians agree the Revolution was central to the evolution of Washington's attitudes;{{sfn|Furstenberg|2011|p=260}} Kenneth Morgan writes that after 1783, "[Washington] began to express inner tensions about the problem of slavery more frequently, though always in private".{{sfn|Morgan|2000|p=299}} As president, he remained publicly silent on the topic, believing it was a nationally divisive issue that could undermine the union.{{sfnm|Ellis|2004|1p=202|Twohig|2001|2p=126}} He gave moral support to a plan proposed by Lafayette to purchase land and free slaves to work on it, but chose not to participate in the experiment.{{sfn|Twohig|2001}} Washington privately expressed support for emancipation to prominent Methodists [[Thomas Coke (bishop)|Thomas Coke]] and [[Francis Asbury]] in 1785 but declined to sign their petition.{{sfn|Morgan|2000|p=292}} In personal correspondence the next year, he made clear his desire to see the institution of slavery ended by a gradual legislative process, a view that correlated with the mainstream antislavery literature published in the 1780s.{{sfnm|Morgan|2005|1pp=418–419|Furstenberg|2011|2pp=273–274, 284–285}} Washington emancipated 123 or 124 slaves, which was highly unusual among the large slave-holding Virginians during the Revolutionary era.{{sfnm|Morgan|2005|1pp=1404–405|Wiencek|2003|2pp=352–35|Hirschfeld|1997|3p=20}} However, he remained dependent on slave labor to work his farms.{{sfnm|Twohig|2001|1pp=122–123|Morgan|2000|2pp=283, 289}}
[[File:Oney Judge Runaway Ad.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|alt=Runaway advertisement from the May 24, 1796, Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|left|Runaway advertisement for [[Oney Judge|Ona Judge]], enslaved servant in Washington's presidential household]]

Based on his private papers and on accounts from his contemporaries, Washington slowly developed a cautious sympathy toward abolitionism that ended with his will [[manumission|freeing]] his long-time valet [[William Lee (valet)|Billy Lee]], and freeing the rest of his personally owned slaves outright upon Martha's death.{{sfnm|Hirschfeld|1997|1pp=3, 108, 209|Morgan|2000|2p=29}} On January 1, 1801, one year after George Washington's death, Martha Washington signed an order to free his slaves. Many of them were reluctant to leave; others refused to abandon spouses or children still held as dower slaves by the Custis estate.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|p=802}} Following Washington's instructions in his will, funds were used to feed and clothe the young, aged, and infirm slaves until the early 1830s.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|p=815}}<ref name=anb/>

=== Religious and spiritual views ===
{{Main|Religious views of George Washington}}
[[File:George_Washington,_freemason_02796u_originalFXD.jpg|thumb|upright=1|alt=Washington with Masonic symbolism|Washington as a [[Freemason]]]]

Washington was baptized as an infant in April 1732 and was a devoted member of the [[Anglican Church]].{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=6|Morrison|2009|2p=136|Alden|1996|3pp=2, 26|Randall|1997|4p=17}} He served for more than 20 years as a [[vestryman]] and churchwarden at the [[Fairfax Parish, Virginia|Fairfax]] and [[Truro Parish, Virginia|Truro]] parishes in Virginia.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=130|Thompson|2008|2p=40}} He privately prayed and read the Bible daily, and publicly encouraged prayer.{{sfnm|Frazer|2012|1pp=198–199|Chernow|2010|2pp=119, 132|Vicchio|2019|3p=27|4a1=Novak|4a2=Novak|4y=2007|4p=xvi}} He may have taken [[eucharist|communion]] regularly prior to the Revolution, but he did not do so afterwards.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=131, 470|Holmes|2006|2p=62|Frazer|2012|3pp=201–203}}

Washington referred to God in [[American Enlightenment]] terms, including ''[[divine providence|Providence]]'', the ''Almighty'', and the ''Divine Author''.{{sfnm|Randall|1997|p=67|Vicchio|2019|2p=101}} He believed in a divine power who watched over battlefields, influenced the outcome of war, protected his life, and was involved in American politics and specifically in the creation of the United States.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|p=131|2a1=Novak|2a2=Novak|2y=2007|2p=152}} Chernow has argued that Washington avoided evangelistic Christianity, hellfire-and-brimstone speech, and anything inclined to "flaunt his religiosity", saying that he "never used his religion as a device for partisan purposes or in official undertakings".{{sfn|Chernow|2010|pp=131–132}} At the same time, Washington frequently quoted from or paraphrased the Bible, and often referred to the Anglican ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]''.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=131–132|Morrison|2009|2p=136}}

While president, Washington acknowledged major religious sects, gave speeches on religious toleration, and opposed [[state religion]].{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=131|Vicchio|2019|2p=60}} He adopted the ideas, values, and modes of thinking of the Enlightenment,{{sfn|Wood|2001|p=313}} but he harbored no contempt for organized Christianity and its clergy.{{sfn|Wood|2001|p=313}} In 1793, speaking to members of the [[The New Church (Swedenborgian)|New Church]] in [[Baltimore]], Washington said, "We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition."{{sfn|Novak|Novak|2007|p=117, n. 52}}

[[Freemasonry]] was a widely accepted institution in the late 18th century, known for advocating moral teachings.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=132, 500|Morrison|2009|2p=136|Stavish|2007|3pp=XIX, XXI|Tabbert|2022|4pp=2&ndash;3}} American [[Masonic lodge]]s did not share the anti-clerical views of the [[anticlericalism and Freemasonry|controversial European lodges]].{{sfn|Chernow|2010|pp=27, 704}} A Masonic lodge was established in [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]], in September 1752, and Washington was initiated two months later at the age of 20 as one of its first Entered Apprentices. Within a year, he progressed through its ranks to become a Master Mason.{{sfnm|Randall|1997|1p=67|Chernow|2010|2p=27}} In 1777, he was recommended for the office of [[Grand Master (Freemasonry)|Grand Master]] of the newly established [[Grand Lodge of Virginia]]; sources differ as to whether he declined or was never asked, but he did not assume the role.{{sfn|Tabbert|2022|pp=58&ndash;59}} He served as the charter [[Masonic lodge officer#Worshipful Master|Master]] of Alexandria Masonic lodge No. 22 in 1788–1789.{{sfn|Tabbert|2022|p=103}}