On This Day

US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress

George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief marked the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War and his return to civilian life at Mount Vernon. His voluntary...

George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief marked the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War and his return to civilian life at Mount Vernon.

His voluntary action has been described as "one of the nation's great acts of statesmanship" and helped establish the precedent of civilian control of the military. After the Treaty of Paris ending the war had been signed on September 3, 1783, and after the last British troops left New York City on November 25, Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to the Congress of the Confederation, then meeting in the Maryland State House at Annapolis, Maryland, on December 23 of the same year.

Historical Significance

George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief marked the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War and his return to civilian life at Mount Vernon.

Key People

George Washington

Events Before

  1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)" premieres in Vienna wi

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)" premieres in Vienna with Mozart conducting

  2. Musician Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (26) weds Constanze Weber in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria

    Musician Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (26) weds Constanze Weber in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria

  3. Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military

    Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit (now the Purple Heart). First time military awards are presented to common soldiers.

  4. Romantic Age poet and artist William Blake (24) marries Catherine Boucher (19) in St. Mary's Church, Battersea, London

    Romantic Age poet and artist William Blake (24) marries Catherine Boucher (19) in St. Mary's Church, Battersea, London

  5. The Grand Assault on Gibraltar by the allied French and Spanish fleets, including ten floating batteries and land forces

    The Grand Assault on Gibraltar by the allied French and Spanish fleets, including ten floating batteries and land forces, is heavily defeated by the British garrison, with all floating batteries destroyed and allied casualties of 1,473 compared to only 83 for the British

Events After

  1. US Congress of the Confederation ratifies the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ending the American Revoluti

    US Congress of the Confederation ratifies the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ending the American Revolutionary War, and forwards it to the British government

  2. American Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen (46) weds second wife Frances Montresor Brush Buchanan

    American Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen (46) weds second wife Frances Montresor Brush Buchanan

  3. The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand

    Wat Phra Kaew, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and officially as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

  4. Turkey and Russia sign a treaty in Constantinople

    Turkey and Russia sign a treaty in Constantinople

  5. 1st US seed business established by David Landreth, Philadelphia

    1st US seed business established by David Landreth, Philadelphia

More from the 1780s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 23, 1783?
George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief marked the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War and his return to civilian life at Mount Vernon. His voluntary action has been described as "one of the nation's great acts of statesmanship" and helped establish the precedent of civilian control of the military. After the Treaty of Paris ending the war had been signed on September 3, 1783, and after the last British troops left New York City on November 25, Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to the Congress of the Confederation, then meeting in the Maryland State House at Annapolis, Maryland, on December 23 of the same year.
Why is US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-... significant?
George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief marked the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War and his return to civilian life at Mount Vernon.
Who was involved in US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-...?
Key figures include George Washington.

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