> he didn't 'instigate' the war of American independence
No, of course not, that was King George III :)
George Washington played a large role though.
> In May 1769, Washington introduced a proposal, drafted by his friend George Mason, calling for Virginia to boycott British goods until the Acts were repealed.
> Washington regarded the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 as "an Invasion of our Rights and Privileges".
> As tensions rose in 1774, he assisted in the training of county militias in Virginia and organized enforcement of the boycott of British goods instituted by the Congress.
Right, Washington was upset about what he felt was British overreach. He 'regarded' things, as you quote. But he was no instigator or radical. Those were elsewhere, I don't think it's sensible to say 'Washington played a large role'. He played almost no role in that.
