To most Americans he's just an old, dead, white guy, whose weird-looking picture is on the dollar bill. Oh yeah, he was the first president and fought in the revolution. So what? Well, this informative but occasionally awkardly written book reminds us of the huge debt that we all owe George Washington.
He was born in 1732 in Virginia to a rather unremarkable family. His mother, Mary, seems to be the one who instilled his character, but was so possessive that, even when he was general of the army and president of the United States, she complained to him that he didn't spend enough time with her.
His first public service was to lead an unsuccessful exploratory/military mission against the French in the western Pennsylvania area; later, he accompanied the English general Braddock to the disastrous battle against the French at Fort Duquesne. Despite the rather dubious nature of his achievements, he was nevertheless welcomed back to Virginia as a hero.
It was at this time that he married Martha, a match which brought him more land, and enabled him to create the great plantation which became Mt. Vernon. This is where he spent his time before the outbreak of the revolution. He was made general of the army by the Second Continental Congress arguably because he simply showed up: his mission was only to show that the cause would be supported by the Virginia coalition. In fact his election was a political decision: it was recognized that he was the one man in the country most likely to unite the disparate states, north and south, into one cohesive force.
Washington, typically, did not feel himself up to the task, but also typically, he accepted it. He refused to accept pay for his service.
In fact, he was not up to the task. Who would be? His compatriots expected him to lead an army--an unsupplied, unpaid, untrained army--against the greatest military power in the world. He did not receive unanimous support. Gates, the American victor at Saratoga, worked against him. Arnold was not under his control. In early efforts, even his subordinates did not trust him, ignoring his orders. It must also be remembered that the colonies as a whole were by no means united in their cause against the British. The Tories in number were probably equal to the Patriots, with the remainder of the unwashed masses willing to go with the victor.
But Washington, through his courage and daring, won two early victories in New Jersey, giving confidence to a discouraged army and an indifferent populace. The war seemed to be at a stalemate, which is where it remained until yet another daring and decisive victory at Yorktown in 1781, which effectively ended hostilities. Washington would later recall that the war was won because of the colonist's, "secret resource," the, "unconquerable resolution of our citizens."
It wasn't to be until 1787 that an effort was made to unite the disparate and selfish colonies into a union. Imagine that, for six years, there was no government in this country. What was there was weak and without authority. And in the meantime, the army, which had not been paid for the entirety of the war, was threatening to destroy the nation before it even started. George Washington was again called in. It is difficult to believe that any other human being could have diffused this situation. He appealed to their highest nature, and stated to them that they should not, "afford for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example [they] have exhibited to mankind, `had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.'" The last stage of perfection he was referring to was human freedom, a concept which in the entire history of humanity had not yet been realized. It was his concept, his desire, to establish in a nation which did not exist when he was born a government that would be of the people, by the people, and for the people.
When the government was formed, after excruciating pain, he was called upon, again, to lead it. Here is what he had to deal with when first becoming president: his two most trusted aides, Hamilton and Jefferson, hated each other; his vice-president, Adams, distrusted him, fearing his power; two states, Rhode Island and North Carolina, selfishly refused to attend the Constitutional Convention; New York was making separate deals with the Indians; the English were pirating American ships and impressing their sailors; and when the English and French went to war, huge contingents of Americans sided with the French, some of whom attempted to become privateers for them. This would be a problem since it was tantamount to declaring war. Of course, there continued the Indian problem in the west, now agitated by the British. Fun stuff, huh?
But Washington persevered, even agreeing to sit for a second term, despite the enormous toll this took on his family, his wealth, and his health. Indeed, the best years of his life were sacrificed to the idea that there should be a country on the earth which was free.
In the end, this is what endures about Washington. It would have been very easy for him to simply spend his time at Mt. Vernon, where he would have enjoyed prosperity whether under British or American control. He could have easily spent the winter at Valley Forge in a townhouse somewhere. He did not wish to be President at all. Yet he did these things, and he did these things with the heavy knowledge that every single thing he did would be recorded for posterity. "I walk on untrodden ground," he said. "There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent." He gravely held himself to the highest standard.
This is why he is known as the father of our country. The first twenty-eight years of it was presided over by either Washington himself, or by men who were intimately acquainted with and in awe of his character. This country--the first free and most prosperous nation in history, and which stands today as a beacon of freedom to every single human being on the earth--came into existence primarily due to the almost unbelievable strength of the character of George Washington.
Yes. Character.
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Top reviews from other countries
Sam Mattina
Fast paced sweep of Significant American Life.
Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2013
Marc Ranger
Remove George Washington from history, the US, as you know it, woudn't exist.
Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2016
Sandra Street
I imagine this could be a good read but the book I received was very old
Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2015