Robert E. Lee: An American Icon

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“Theodore Roosevelt, with characteristic restraint pronounced Lee ‘ the very greatest of all the great captains that the English- Speaking people have brought forth’( Cobb). Even though Robert E Lee was a southern general, he was still a great general. Although General Robert E Lee was considered the most hated general of his time, he had outstanding job skills, overcame a horrible childhood, and most importantly had a great moral upbringing, to make him into a great general.

Robert E Lee’s childhood shaped him into the man he grew up to be. Robert E Lee was the fifth child to Harry and Ann Lee (Thomas 30). Mr. Lee only had one presentent parent, that being Ann Lee. His dad was in and out of prison for the majority of Robert E Lee’s childhood.Also Robert E Lee’s older brothers were off at college. His brothers weren't there, therefore they were not able to be his role models. Mr. Lee unlike most children had no pent up anger or even hated his dad for leaving him. After Robert E Lee’s dad left he never saw him again. His father died when Mr. Lee was only 18 years old. Instead of Robert E Lee slaking about never having a real father he turn around and became his own role model, or ‘ the old man’ (Thomas 95). For most kids when both parents aren't in the picture, it can tend to cause the children to act out. He did not let his father leaving him and his mother and siblings ruin his life. Mr. Lee couldn't do that anyways, because he had to tend to his ill mother. Lee grew up faster then most children do nowadays. Even though Mr. Lee’s mother was deathly ill ,his mother kept pushing forward. One lesson Mr. Lee learned from his mother,helped him throughout his childhood. General Lee’s mother ingrained her

Christian values onto h...

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...that was looked down on because he fought for the south. Even though he fought for the south, he was still consider an amazing general in the eyes of many. Robert E Lee consist of the qualities and traits for being an outstanding general. Outstanding job skill, overcoming a horrible childhood, and great moral views, helped make Robert E Lee into the amazing general that many view him by.

Work Cited
Cobb, James “How Did Robert E. Lee Become an American Icon?” Humanities. July/ August 2011: volume 32, Number 4.NEH.Gov. Web. 12 Feb 2014.
Lee, Robert “Robert E Lee’s Opinion Regarding Slavery. Son of the South. 2014:n.pag. The Civil War. Web. 12 Feb 2014.
Sobel, Brian “Battlefield Leader: General Robert E. Lee.” Armchair General. May 2007: 58-65. SIRS Issues Researches. Web. 8 Feb. 2014.
Thomas, Emory m. Robert E Lee New York: W∙W∙ Norton & Company, 1997. Print.

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