The Most Influential Man in History
Why did George Washington emerge as the most significant leader in the founding of the United States of America, even to the extent of being called the Father of the Country? This is a question that inevitably arises out of the mind of anyone who studies, even on a casual basis, the founding the US nation. Washington lived and worked with brilliant thinkers, writers, orators and organizers, such as Franklin, Mason, John and Sam Adams, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Hamilton, Madison, Dickinson, almost all of whom were far better educated than he. George Washington is one of the most influential people because he was the first president of the United States; he had moral character, and military experience.
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George Washington had a natural moral character. (“ It was his moral character that set him off from other men ” Don Higginbotham. George Washington Reconsidered. US Virginia: The university press of Virginia, 2001,page 313.).”George Washington was a true man of character, which kept him to the higher places that everyone dreamed of. But George Washington had the benefit of mental and moral culture at home, from an excellent father .His moral character that he had he learned from his excellent father helped him to become a great man of character. (“ Simple rules of decent conduct, he always held formed the back bone of good character ” Morton J. Frisch, Richard G. Stevens. American Political Thought: The Philosophic Dimension of American Statesmanship, New Jersey: Charles Scribner’s sons, 1971.) What made George Washington was the most remarkable man of an extraordinary generation? he was not an intellectual like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, or James Madison. Compared with most other founders, he was not well educated but Washington was intelligent, well informed. Many scholars contend that Washington’s genius lies principally in his character. He was a true man of character compared to a contemporary
He was a General, a Quartermaster, and one of Washington’s most trusted men. His ingenuity lead to the hit-and-run tactic that lead us to win the Revolutionary war. And his leadership was truly shown by being ables to guide his men with his new tactic to carry it out and do so expertly. These qualities make an intelligent, initiative-taking person. But it takes a special kind of person to do something with those qualities.
Each honorable man is award his own chapter in this book and it is very educational to read about them. For example, George Washington is portrayed as a great leader and an honorable, humble man. According to this book, he seemed to truly care for his country and the well-being of his people. Some more specific details include the fact that Washington was a fourth generation American and he was homeschooled but well educated. McClanahan writes, “He was a man among men.” (91) George Washington was said to be a wise politician and a great general. He had character, honor and integrity—all characteristics that a person holding a federal position should have. There is no doubt that Washington was not only a wonderful president, but also a great man of
Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different, by Gordon Wood, is a book showing what made the founding fathers of our country so great. Gordon Wood wrote the book to exhibit how much character mattered. Wood writes about each founding father: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison, and Paine individually displaying what made our founding fathers different. Present day we often ask, “why don’t we have such leaders like the founding fathers now?”, the book informs us how the founding fathers were different, making it easier to answer the question, by comparing them to their candidates. The book has received high praised, having a bunch of outstanding reviews from notable sources like The New York Times, The New
Washington’s real quality was the American Revolution. One case was the point at which he took order of the troops encompassing British man armed force and attempting to secure
If it was not for him we might still be living in a British colony under British rule. Without his integrity and character our country might be ruled under a monarchy instead of a democracy. The first offer made to Washington by key members of congress was for a kingship not for President. He replied why would I become what I have fought so hard to be rid of? I have enjoyed learning about him because of his major impact on US history. I also enjoyed learning about him because he had a very interesting life. The multiple deaths in his family leading his half-brother Lawrence to raise him, marrying the widower Martha, serving in the military, and as president all while just wanting to be a simple farmer at Mount Vernon.
Edward G. Lengel, author of Inventing George Washington, brings a different approach to writing historical books. He has collected and sifted through virtually all mediums of Washington’s life. Through his work I found a central theme of how Washington’s role and legacy has been manipulated by society. Lengel displays the way writers, critics, and religious leaders changed George Washington’s identity for their own personal benefits; they have altered his religious orientation and his public image in both good and bad ways.
George Washington has major difference from the other big leaders of the time because he didn’t have a formal education. It was a very rare thing at the time because many of the powerful people were rich with a quality education whereas Washington didn't come from a very wealth family and had a low quality education. Nonetheless he still grew his power and became the first president of the United States.
In the book Revolutionary Characters by Gordan Wood, the degree in which he portrays the personality and personal philosophies that informed the politics of these early American leaders, especially Thomas Jefferson, shows that contrary to popular belief that these men were not some unflawed perfect beings, but they are just like us with their many fears and insecurities. These flaws appear in all of the founding fathers and this adds a level of realism to them. It also shows that flaws are a part of human nature.
George Washington, the first president of America set up the country with valuable principles to ensure the prosperity of the country. Currently America is a leading country in the world in many aspects due to the foundation Washington provided. Washington’s legacy inspired others to do their best to ensure America still stands in the glorified ways it did before. The dedication and leadership Washington displayed was so influential that many others tried to emulate him, to live up to his actions while leading the country.
Alexander Hamilton is known as a great statesman, but he also exhibited the epic hero trait of a great warrior. He volunteered to fight in the Revolutionary War, then was promoted to lieutenant colonel and aide-de-camp under George Washington. During his time as a secretary and aide-de-camp for Washington, he longed deeply for military glory. Hamilton’s traits as a great warrior are demonstrated in abundance throughout the Revolutionary War:
One of the most obvious, and in my opinion, most important factors to Why George Washington is the greatest president of all time, is the fact that he was the very first president ever. With John Adams at his side, George Washington started the country on its way to become the great and wonderful country that we call home today. George Washington is perhaps the single president who can truly call himself a “founding father” of the United States of America. Many people would’ve have looked at the situation and thought that it wasn’t their place to correct a whole country, or much less to lead the country to greatness. It takes great courage to lead an entire country, without anyone to look back on for experience advice or mistakes that have been made. I, myself, couldn’t or wouldn’t have even thought about doing that, I would’ve let someone like George Washington step up to the plate.
The Measure of A Man Plato once said, “ The measure of a man is what he does with his power”. When America was recognized as its own country, George Washington was the most powerful and the wealthiest man in the country. If Washington had ambitions of being a tyrannical ruler or king, he could have easily done so. The American public sought Washington as to be the Moses, who set them free. Astonishingly, George Washington was a humble man.
George Washington as America's Greatest Leader An independent country requires a strong, wise and dignified administration to guide a highly emotional population through a tough phase while establishing a stable relationship with other nations. At the same time, the first president, guided by his administration, must create a charter to govern the nation. Being the first president of the United States of America and a new face on the world stage, George Washington along with his administration created an excellent blueprint for the recently formed nation. Washington was successful as the first president because his administration maintained peace and neutrality in European affairs, consisted of men
In 1789, when George Washington was elected president, he became an important figure who later impacts American history and future generations, because he symbolizes all the virtues this nation believes in and stands for. People visualize Washington as a hero for all his acts of bravery, leadership and dedication to the United States. He fought to build and expand the reputation of America. Washington’s mythology inspires America due to his morals, being highly respected and his passion for his beloved nation.
George Washington is considered the greatest because he effectively formed the United States of America. He was the first president so the floor was wide open for him to do almost anything. According, to an article it states, “As one scholar has said, he "invented tradition as he went along." His actions, more than those of any other Founding Father, became a part of the "unwritten Constitution” (Stephen Knott, George Washington:Impact and Legacy, Paragraph 3). Washington was