Primary sourceSpeech15 March 1783
Statement before delivering response to the first Newburgh Address
George Washington · 15 March 1783
Washington's own statement to his officers at Newburgh in 1783, delivered to calm anger over unpaid wages and avert a crisis for the new nation.
Washington delivered this statement himself, a defining moment of his leadership after the Revolutionary War.
About this source
What it is
This is a statement written and delivered by George Washington on 15 March 1783 to army officers gathered at Newburgh, New York. He addresses an anonymous call for an unauthorized meeting among the officers and appeals to their sense of honor and discipline.
Why it matters
The officers were angry over unpaid wages and feared Congress would not honor its promises after the Revolutionary War. Washington's intervention is seen as a turning point that helped prevent a possible mutiny or coup, showing his influence over the army and his commitment to civilian control of government.
Look closer
- Why does Washington call the earlier meeting "irregular and hasty"?
- How does he use his own record of service to persuade the officers?
- What does this episode reveal about the fragility of the new United States at this moment?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of George Washington on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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