Favorite US President

[Anomalocaris]

obviously the legitimacy of the governing authority depends on who one asks.   one does not rebel if one thinks the authority is governing legitimately, or is legitimate in any other important sense.    So I think the key here is what was George washington’s own perception of what legitimate governing authority he operated under just before the possibility of his being crowned king is raised, and in view of that perception whether his conduct after that was raised would be praise worthy.

The colonists who supported rebellion never questioned whether George III was a legitimate authority, just that he was going about it arse upwards.

And Washington’s (or anyone else’s) perception of a governing authority does not alter the legitimacy of that authority.


Boru

The declaration of independence signed on july 4 1776 renounced any recognition of sovereignty  of george III.  Washington affirmed his agreement with renunciation of Hanoverian sovereignty by  reading the declaration to his army on july 9.  The much larger number who subsequently acted under the authority of the congress of confederation arising out of the signing of declaration of independence also de facto no longer recognize Hanoverian monarchy’s sovereignty.  These would include washington’s army, and those who would make him king.