George Washington: A True Hero
In this day and age, George Washington’s name is so acclaimed and reputable, it holds a significant amount of meaning in itself. Not much has changed in the 239 years since he became a national hero to the people of a land who yearned to be free from British oppression. Far back into the past, becoming a hero may have meant committing dangerous and magnificent feats, and that still holds somewhat true today. George Washington, however, is especially known for his battle strategies, military tactic and leading America to freedom. For Washington, a few of the most dominant traits of heroism his personality encompasses include wisdom in guiding others, loyalty to his people and land, and courage when facing various
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Throughout his years leading the Continental Army, there are scores of examples of his courage, both big and small. Arguably one of the greatest instances was his gift of providing courage for those around him as well as for himself. Even through the bleakest of circumstances for himself and his army, he was able to provide strength and courage for them all. In a British attack on New York, “Washington’s army was routed and suffered the surrender of 2,800 men. He ordered the remains of his army to retreat across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania” (“George Washington Biography”). Washington could have surrendered with the vast majority of his army, but instead he showed courage and decided to fight another day. Washington and his army faced affliction and suffering particularly during the harsh winters they had to undergo. Conditions were horrible due to various reasons: disease outbreaks; frostbite because of lack of housing; and rarely enough food, ammunition, or clothing. Many men deserted the army, but miraculously Washington was able to show courage and bravery in order to keep his army together. With his sheer will and determination, “the soldiers felt perfect confidence in the wise leadership of the Commander in Chief, and his splendid courage, foresight, and marvelous ability to endure won the final liberty of the long-suffering Colonies” (“George Washington: The Commander In Chief”). Finally, under his rule and his valor, the army captured British soldiers at Yorktown, Virginia. “Washington was declared a national hero” (“George Washington”). Washington not only exhibited amazing courage in battles, but he also showed deep courage in simply becoming president. There had never before been a president to the new country, therefore he had no previous examples or precedents. In records of
McCullough describes washington as a leader of many qualities in which makes him successful. After making the British evacuate from Boston, washington is praised for being such a courageous and smart leader, therefore lifting morale around American troops. The war most likely would not have been won without George Washington's help most likely due to his incredible leadership skills. The colonies are virtually nothing without George Washington because he keeps them together by asking congress to support them and as McCullough describes, is relentless about doing so as we're Knox and Greene later on. George Washington was so important that even the loyalists plotted to assassinate him with hopes to derail the American rebellion. However, the colonies success wasn't just off George washington. Mccullough describes the average british soldier as strong and more fit compared to the colonial soldier, superior and overall well trained.The fact that the colonies were untrained made the British cocky, Making them think they didn't have to use their superior weaponry thinking the Americans would surrender out of free will. McCullough gives us an insight to how the Americans tried new things using their resources making great things with what little they
...didn’t over step his authority or attempt to subvert the army for his own purposes. Instead, George Washington sets the example of the military commander who was subservient to civilian political leadership. He also showed patience and coolness in the face of adversity. On many occasions in the book, the author cites Washington’s expressions of doubt and fears of failure, yet Washington never showed fear or doubt in action in front of his troops.
Although unknown to the Congress when they appointed Washington to lead the colonies, he would prove to be a great military genius. Washington was simply selected because he was a rich Virginian with everything to lose. In 1776 at the Battle of Long Island, Washington proved that he was a great military leader. Washington narrowly escaped to Manhattan Island, crossed the Hudson and finally reached the Delaware Rive with the British on his tale. Washington was known as a " sly fox" because of his tricky maneuvers to get his troops out of dangerous situations. A few weeks later Washington showed his sly ways once again when he captured a thousand Hessians the day after Christmas. Without Washington's amazing military mind, and his sly maneuvers the Americans never would have defeated the British.
Washington's selection to be the leader of the Continental Army was the wisest choice that the newly formed Continental Congress could have made. Washington's selection as Commander of the Continental Army did more to win the Revolutionary war than any other decision made during the conflict. His personal character epitomizes perfectly the five traits required in a successful general: wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage, and strictness. (Sun Tzu p. 65) These five crucial traits will become apparent and Washington's strategy to win the War of Independence is elaborated on further
During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...
It was a good year for a revolution, 1776. But it didn't start off quite as well as the colonists would have liked. When George Washington agreed to take command of the American forces in 1775, he probably didn't realize what he was truly getting himself into. Washington took command of an army made up of old men and young boys that had either come from their farms or the street. The army was short on weapons and gunpowder, lacked uniforms, and was racked by disease and drunkenness. Washington understood that what lies ahead would be difficult, considering he would be facing the most powerful country in world. But he probably didn't expect his worst problems to come from his own army, which was an undisciplined and untrained group that would eventually tamper with his great patience. Through it all he would stay determined and always try to stay one step ahead of the enemy.
He suffered from stage fright and often “blushed and faltered”, (18) even at his inauguration as President, “he trembled and several times could scarce make out to read his speech” (18) This weakness of his is often glossed over as it doesn’t seem to fit in with his image as the towering, imposing “founding father”. Yet today, it is essential for a President to be able to deliver impressive and clear speeches to the whole country. Finally there are some criticisms that he was not as effective General as is often believed. Thomas Paine claimed that he was a bad general whose strategy consisted of “doing nothing” (19). Although Paine had a personal agenda in condemning George Washington as he resented not being appointed Postmaster-General, and then later by not being rescued from French persecution by the government, it is true that George Washington did lose more battles than he won (20) and often did seem to do nothing for long periods of time. There is also the issue of his harsh treatment towards his own soldiers, any who were caught deserting or plundering were “flogged” (21) and he even a “Gallows near forty feet high erected” to terrify the rest into obedience.
Despite the low expectations for the American colonies, they amazed the world as they rose to the occasion by taking advantage of their military assets, even those they did not know they had. For instance, George Washington proved to be a valuable asset for the American colonies. Washington was already held in high esteem prior to the Revolution for his few, but impactful, military accomplishments prior to the Revolution and for his praise-worthy character. (Schweikart and Allen 74) Because of his lack of experience commanding, he learned to excel in familiarizing himself with new tactics and responsibilities very quickly. (Mount Vernon) He used strategy to make up for what he lacked in supplies or force. In 1776, he valiantly crossed the Delaware river for a successful surprise attack on Trenton and days later successfully took Princeton, two undertakings which contributed significantly to the American victory along with Washington defeating Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1...
At the end of 1776 the destiny of the Continental Army and its commander, George Washington, were at a low fade. Despite the great optimism inspired by the publication of Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration ...
"Washington: Was George Washington a Great Military Strategist?" History in Dispute. Ed. Keith Krawczynski. Vol. 12: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Detroit: St. James Press, 2003. 301-309. U.S. History in Context. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.
When first looking at George Washington by Horatio Greenough first thought that came to mind was Roman Art! George Washington by Horatio Greenough is a unique piece looking much like many Roman sculptures you may have seen, but upon the statues shoulders dawns George Washington’s signature non-smiling, tightly clenched face. From the neck down you’d never think that this sculpture wasn’t created in the liking of our first president George Washington, but more that of a god like Jupiter. With his bare chest exposed and muscles chiseled, you’d think George Washington was a statue of a god if his face wasn’t so recognizable. With his face determined, brows lifted and his eyes always looking at you at whatever angle, this statue surely grabs your attention.
George Washington was our nation’s first president and a well respected leader, but what gave him this reputation? In David McCullough’s 1776, Washington’s leadership skills that brought the colonies to victory can be easily seen. As British and American politicians struggled to reach a compromise, events on the ground escalated until war was inevitable. McCullough recreates scenes of heroic battles as well as dramatic encounters between diplomats with outstanding details in his writing.
I found the Battle of Boston enthralling. It is a great example of the beginnings of the American Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Peculiarly, a detail I did not have knowledge of was that the Second Continental Congress elected G. Washington as leader of the Army, but he himself did not have much experience in that field. Furthermore, the author states that Washington “purchased several books on military organization and tactics…in the hope of giving himself a crash course on commanding and army.” Although Washington had all the characteristics of a leader, I think Congress took a great risk by choosing him as the Commander in Chief of the military.
George Washington ,who had become the first American president, accepts an achievement of leading the Continental Army. During Washington’s first term in office, Washington combined some of the states together and began to help set up the federal government. George Washington did not get in the way with the guidelines-making powers that he feel the Constitution would give the Congress. Washington soon believed that unfamiliar policy was a main apprehension for the little nation. Washington had been taking care of his family's plantation and portion time in the Virginia House of Burgesses while the second Continental Congress commonly voted to have him guide the revolutionary army. George had earlier renowned himself; in the eyes of his generation he became known as a commander in chief for the British army in the French and Indian War in 1754. While born in British George was known as a British civilian and a former Redcoat, by the 1770s, Washington had joined the growing position of colonists who were troubled by what they well thought-out to be Britain's manipulative policies in North America. In the 1770s, Washington joined the Continental Congress as a hand over from Virginia. The following year, the Congress presented Washington the responsibility of being known as the commander ...
...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).