The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on June 19, 1775. Washington was selected over other candidates such as John Hancock based on his previous military experience and the hope that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies.
During WW1 (and WW2 to a degree), most young men were often drafted into the military to fight, while most young women worked in factories to produce materiel for the war effort.
The Spirit of the Laws was the book that described a version of Roman government that used the separation of government's power into independent branches as a main principle.
