What is one challenge that George Washington and the nation faced during his presidency?

One of the most significant challenges faced by the Washington Administration was the outbreak of war between France and Great Britain in 1793. While the wars of the French Revolution had been ongoing for more than two years at this point, Great Britain's declaration of war on France was significant because it raised the possibility that the United States might get dragged into the war. France hoped, due to a treaty with the United States, that the United States would side with them. But many Americans favored Great Britain, in particular wealthy merchants, and so Washington faced a great deal of foreign and domestic pressure on the issue. In response, he issued a proclamation of neutrality that affirmed the right of the United States to remain neutral in the conflict. Washington feared the new country would have been destroyed just a few years after its creation had it become involved in the war. Over time, this position was challenged by both Great Britain and France, as the navies of the belligerent nations attacked American ships that sought to maintain commercial relationships with each. The war became a major domestic political issue, as well, as many Americans overtly favored supporting the French, whose revolution espoused ideals not unlike those that motivated the American revolutionaries.