Perhaps the most consequential moment of the American Revolutionary War came not on the battlefield, but at its conclusion—when General George Washington voluntarily resigned his military commission. In doing so, he set a powerful precedent: that the American military would remain subordinate to civilian authority. The act also revealed Washington’s deep commitment to republican ideals and his sincere desire to return home to Mount Vernon.
To take a closer look at this historic moment, I’m visiting the Maryland State House in Annapolis, where Washington formally resigned his commission before Congress on December 23, 1783.