Washington Owned Over 50000 Acres And Was A Strong Promoter Of Westward Expansion

George Washington was allegedly the wealthiest president in American history. In the western regions of Virginia and what is now West Virginia, as well as in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and the Ohio Country, Washington possessed more than 50,000 acres.

Washington had a strong vision of how a western expansion would not only benefit the young nation but also strengthen national unity long before Lewis and Clark set out on their journey.

Washington envisioned a continental transportation network that would make it simple for future goods from the Ohio Valley to move to the Atlantic ports by connecting the headwaters of the east-flowing Potomac and the west-flowing Ohio.

Even Washington's decision to locate the nation's capital near the Potomac River's banks was made with this westward orientation in mind. These have proven the insight of a talented strategist.