Analysis Of The Book ' His Excellency George Washington ' By Joseph J. Ellis

George Washington was the first president of the United States and is known as “the Father of Our Country. He was a man with much conviction, humility, and integrity. George Washington trusted in God, was willing to sacrifice much, and he was selfless. All of these qualities were important to his success as a military leader and as the leader of the nation. It is apparent by how revered Washington is today that he was a man of honor.

Joseph Ellis has written a very readable and concise synopsis on the life of George Washington. Though more recognizable for his works "Founding Brothers" and "American Sphinx" (about Thomas Jefferson), Ellis successfully undertakes the task of illuminating probably the most important figure in American history.

Ellis presents Washington as a selfless, indispensable historical figure. Ellis really highlights Washington’s generosity with excerpts from his Farewell Address. Washington stepping down from potentially being president for life shows his sacrifice for the future of the nation. Washington lived up to the mythology that surrounded him by sacrificing a lot for the countries benefit. Washington was a loyal and brave man of the people, which is exactly was the struggling nation needed. Altruism, loyalty, and his willingness to sacrifice for the country are the qualities that prove how Washington was

According to “George Washington” by Dennis J. Mahoney, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at Bridges Creek, Virginia, United States. He was the third son of a prosperous planter and he learned the trade of surveying in his teens. At the age of twenty-one he was appointed to the rank of major in the Virginia Militia, and at the start of the French and Indian War he was appointed to lieutenant colonel and by the end of the war he was promoted to the rank of coloned and named commander in chief of all the Virginian forces. In 1759 he married the widow Martha Custis, their combined wealth gave him financial independence, allowing him to spend the rest of his life in a career of public service. He was a member of the House of Burgesses

The book “1776” by David McCullough, tells the story of the revolutionary war and the leaders who led us to the victory. In the book, McCullough shows George Washington in a way I haven't seen before. He depicts Washington as a very popular person while being a great leader and father for our country. McCullough argues how critical and how important Washington and the year 1776 was to American history. McCullough shows this importance with the resilience of the American soldiers, the strong leadership, and the fight for independence against Great Britain.

In this chapter, Joseph J. Ellis tells us about how George Washington’s retirement for being the president. He thinks that it was a good thing because there was no sign of failure and everything got stronger and they were ready for what the future held for the nation. George Washington knew that, from his powerful influence, the country was going to be strong because of the two years he served as president. Joseph J. Ellis also looks at how George Washington’s bad health and his hate towards the press criticism influenced the decision. Then, in the end, the chapter concludes with Washington’s Farewell Address and the discussion of the major points in the text.

The following chapters portray the sections of Washington life when he was a soldier, his days as a general, and his duty as the president. The book details the military plights Washington faced as a leader. Ellis says that Washington “lost more battles than he won; indeed, he lost more battles than any victorious general in modern history.” The War for Independence emerged as the most significant milestone in George Washington's life, a time in which he evolved into a grown man, a notorious politician, and a national icon. Ellis does not take us through each battle in detail, but describes the events that shaped Washington’s life and made him a human

The first point concerning his decision not to be considered for a 3rd term was something that Washington had given a lot of thought to and had even decided to do before the beginning of his 2nd term. He had even gone so far as to write a farewell address at the end of what he believe to be his first and only term as President, the reason he accepted the 2nd term was due to the uncertain stability of the young country, the uncertain status of

Washington didn’t return to civilian life for very long before he was drawn back into politics. As a delegate from Virginia, he was involved in writing the Constitution. After the Constitution was ratified, Washington was harmoniously elected for

My name is George Washington and I am the first United State president and a general (1732-1799). I George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Washington served as a general and commander-in-chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution, and later became the first president of the United States; I was serving from 1789 to 1797. Then on December 14 I died, 1799, in Mount Vernon, Virginia. I used to study at home I was homing schooled and studied with the local church sexton and later a schoolmaster in practical math, geography, Latin and the English classics. But much of the knowledge I use the rest of my life through my acquaintance with backwoodsmen and the plantation foreman. By my early teens, I had mastered growing tobacco,

Some new information, like how after the death of his wife he took his wife’s half-sister as a lover and how one thinks of him as being progressive and open-minded in regards to slavery, he himself owned many slaves. This chapter tries to define Jefferson’s complex idea of liberty and does a decent job of it. George Washington is the most well-known man in all of the United States and the chapter that is presented in the book is about how he rose from a failed general to a military and political hero. The chapter also goes over certain personality traits that many people probably do not know the first president possessed, like how fragile Washington’s ego was; he was constantly worried about his image and did not want to do anything to damage it. It talks about how shy Washington was and that he knew he was not as educated as some of his fellow founding fathers. It also addresses Not normally what one would think when they think of the greatest military and political leader of America. This new information along with his ability to be humble and even human help to make this a fascinating

As the first president to guide, lead and protect what was very much a youthful, vulnerable, hopeful and energetic nation, George Washington will always hold a special and inalienable place in the minds and hearts of all Americans. However, other historians would assert that it was his achievements as an unflinching and courageous military leader was really equated to his most lasting and important contribution to American history: 'As the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army the services and achievements of George Washington are unique in the world's history. He was much more than the Commander in Chief. He was the one necessary person, whose calm, unswerving, determined sense of patriotic duty to country, and ability put real backbone into the Revolution and kept it from collapsing or merging into a civil conflict, under the hardships and unexpected privations encountered during the eight years of war" (ushistory.org, 2011). Some scholars go so far as to posit that the Revolutionary war would never have been successful had it not been for his brave leadership and devotion to the cause (ushistory.org, 2010). Regardless of the pivotal and singular contributions George Washington made to the corridors of history, when he decided to leave office after two terms, this decision no doubt marked a melancholy and somewhat uncertain moment for young America. Washington's Farewell Address often embodies the "warnings from a parting

George Washington is seen, to the general public, as a larger than life figure. As a society, Americans have a tendency to view him as a legend, even to the point of creating stories that tell us false stories about his childhood and adulthood. Myths are taught to us from a young age about how the very first president had wooden teeth, and that he was somehow so pure that he could not tell a lie, and that he had such magnificent upper body strength that he threw a silver dollar across the Pontiac. George Washington was both an experienced military leader and a strong political leader, but in which field did he have the most impact?

There are many fascinating events and people that make up American history. Some events have changed the very ways that American values have formed and many people have risen to the challenges of their time to make a better country for every American citizen. George Washington was one of those people. He is widely known as one of the founding fathers of America. George Washington was born February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Augustine and Mary Washington. George Washington lived through and was part of many of America’s first couple defining moments in history. He served as a politician, Army officer, and became the first President of the United States. His time as an Army officer had its ups and

In his biography of America's founding father and first president, George Washington: The Patriot President, author William M. Thayer describes the heroic acts of leadership that Washington displayed while fighting in the American Revolution and during his two terms as President. Using a personal style that appeals to young readers, Thayer provides many glimpses into the private life of George Washington that give a better impression of the man behind one of history's most legendary figures. By tracing the path of Washington's incredible life, from his childhood farm on Mount Vernon to his participation in the French and Indian War of 1754, the author successfully recreates the key events in Washington's development. The book is filled with tales of Washington's bravery on the battlefield, his natural ability to lead men during both war and peace, and his fierce sense of patriotism in the face of British aggression. After reading George Washington: The Patriot President the lesson that greatness is earned through hard work and determination is made clear.