There are many individuals in American History, whom we as Americans regard for their courage and audacity in shaping our nation. We learn in our history classes the great accomplishments of our founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Ben Franklin. One other great founding father and our First President, George Washington was one whom we learned much about. We learn in school that he is as a prime example of leadership, citizenship, and overall individual achievement for his many contributions to our nation’s earliest struggles. But although we are taught that George Washington was this man of great disposition, no man is without his flaws. Many scholars have sought to enlighten individuals to these cracks in the Nation’s …show more content…
At the age of 23 years old Washington would become commander of the Virginia Regiment, ( Ellis, Joseph J, His Excellency, 24) although his men both more experienced and senior sought after him as their leader. His character and patriotism led directly to his selection as Commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army. As commander-in-chief George led his army to a number of very important victories to include the capture of Boston with few defeats such as the trouncing of New York City. George lost many battles, with only one surrender, he continuously and persistently fought the British with unrelenting tactics he conspired the general strategy of the war. He oversaw the training and the organization of the army. Being unanimously elected upon Washington began his first term as President in 1789. He went on to serve for a second term ending his presidency in 1796. All that being said George Washington sounds like a stand up guy and that is why many Americans consider him to be a hero, but there are limits to the stories that are told. During the early times in American society, it was not uncommon or taboo for individuals to have slaves. Many wealthy whites have slaves in their household. Even some of our founding fathers had slaves. Thomas Jefferson is one such politician who is known for the number of slaves he had as well the illegitimate children he produced with some of these
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He attended school for approximately eight years. Washington lived with his mother until the age of 16. At the age of 15, Washington took a job as an assistant land surveyor. In 1748, he began working in the Shanandoah Valley to help survey the land holdings of Lord Fairfax. By 1749, he established a good reputation as a land surveyor and was appointed Culpeper counties official land surveyor.
Everyone knows George Washington as the first president, but most people do not know his other roles in the creation of the United States of America. In Joseph J. Ellis’s book, His Excellency George Washington, Ellis tells about Washington’s life. He includes his time as a general in the Revolutionary War, his life in retirement after the war, and also his time as the president. Ellis’s main focus in the book is to paint a picture for the reader so it almost feels like they are right next to Washington as his life is explained. The information in his book allows for readers to have a better understanding of what Washington went through in his life and also ,at times, gives educated guesses on what Washington might have been thinking. Through this book, it is easy to see why George Washington is referred to as one of the greatest Americans to ever live.
History Essay George Washington was the president that left the biggest impact on America because he was the first, so he set many precedents. George Washington was loved by the people of America. “First in the hearts of his countrymen.” (Document 1)
George Washington, a man of many military achievements, brought ragtag farmers to military men, and destroyed the most powerful army in the world. Washington was appointed the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. Washington, who had military experience before serving in the Continental Army, had never commanded an army of this size. He was appointed leader of the Continental Army because John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress, thought of him as a man of great character who would help unite the colonies. Brilliant character and leadership help George Washington win battles over the British, and make farmers into true military men.
The colonies decided to elect a president on the year 1789. Washington was the first choice for president. During the American Revolution , he was one of the best generals. For example, he was usually fighting along with his soldiers, not just giving orders. Also, Washington was never severely wounded in battle. Many people believe we would have lost the war without George Washington.
George Washington had early influences as a child. His childhood wasn’t easy, his mother passed away when he was eleven years, then later on his father passes away also. The
When George Washington was elected President in 1789 by members of the fledgling United States of America, he was setting into motion a tradition that has stood the test of over 225 years - the presidential election. Even as the United States has seen dozens of wars, made hundreds of scientific advances, and selected thousands of politicians to seats everywhere from small town councils to Congress, the principles of the election have remained the same; the people band together to determine who will best protect their interests at home and assure that the US will always remain on top in foreign policy. Oftentimes, this is found to be a difficult decision, as public opinion is constantly wavering. One sees this in action particularly during the 1992 election - a battle of wills between Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ross Perot; complete with lead changes, major vote swings, and Perot’s unprecedented initial success - ultimately a false alarm to the bipartisan establishment.
The king of England, George III, was fond of farming. His favorite diversion was to ride about his lands, chatting with the tenants about the crops. "Farmer George," he called himself. His arch-opponent, George Washington, had the same fondness for farming. He too enjoyed riding about his lands and talking about the crops. Indeed there was nothing else he enjoyed quite so much. But there the likeness ceased. And among the many other matters that differentiated George Washington from George III, none was more striking than his greater dignity and reserve. George Washington would never have taken the liberty of calling himself "farmer George," nor would he have allowed anyone else to do so. Even his close friends took
George Washington became President in 1789 and since then has been regarded as America’s “Founding Father”(10). This grand and hero-like status is said to have “began gravitating to Washington six months before the Declaration of Independence, when one Levi Allen addressed him in a letter as ‘our political Father.’”(10). The preservation of Washington’s role as a national hero has been allowed by authors and the media omitting his many flaws as if they had either been forgotten or were no longer important. Yet by excluding these human faults, they have projected an almost god-like hero and inflicted him upon the nation as their Father, somebody whose “life still has the power to inspire anyone”(10).
Many people often think about who was the one president who really did our country justice. Who was the one president who, out of all forty-two, beats everyone and takes the gold for best president in the history of American presidents? Not everyone who agrees with these thoughts is going to agree with the answer each other gives. However, I bet many of those same people would argue that George Washington was the best president out of all of them.
Back in 1775, George Washington, who would later become America 's first president, accepts the assignment to lead the Continental Army. The Second Continental Congress unanimously voted and offered him the role of commander in chief. Washington was the perfect choice, because of his military experience from the Virginia Militia in 1753. George Washington 's childhood days are not like the average young boy in the 1700s. He had lost his father at 11 years of age, and lived the rest of his childhood moving from several homes with his mother, Mary Ball Washington. After 3 years, Washington
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
he began to appreciate the uses and value of land, an appreciation that grew the
George Washington was born February 22, 1732. He was elected as the first president by the Electoral College unanimously in 1789. Washington is commonly called the "Father of his country" since he played a major role in fighting for independence and helped form the government we now have. Many of his leadership practices became the template for the way politics have proceeded following his terms. For example his use of a group of counselors known as a "cabinet" is still in practice today. He only served for two terms and then stepped down which became, for the most part, the accepted norm for future presidents. George Washington is associated with some folklore tales such as being widely known for admitting to his father that he chopped
June 1755, George Washington Became Commander in Chief but to many patriots he was much more than the Commander in Chief. He became the calm voice to those who needed it, George Washington was known to be strongly determined and held a heavy load of the patriotic duty to country. George Washington was the real backbone into the Revolution war and kept it from going under during the hardships and unexpected trials and tribulations that occurred during the long years of war. Without General Washington as the commander and chief, it’s believed that the unthinkable and imaginable could never have succeeded. His faith in the cause and his devotion to the ideals it embodied made him the symbol of America — the spirit of the Revolution. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/george2.html