George Washington
The Impact of Washington on the Course of the Revolution
The Study of History
Section 3 Danielle Mann
Professor Pastor December 20, 2010
In 1776, the colonialists of the thirteen colonies of Great Britain and it’s king rose up to protest against absolute rule. After the colonists rebelled and declared independence, a war erupted as King George III wished to crush the “rebellion” leading up to the War of Independence or most commonly referred to as the Revolutionary War. The War of the American Revolution was a time of patriotism, nationalism, and an era of combat and battle. A primary figure from this time period was the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Continental Army, George Washington. Washington’s leadership role in the American Revolution was extremely successful and without his military strategies, the continental army would not have been victorious.
In this paper, I will examine the strengths and weaknesses of George Washington as man, a general, and as the first president of a new nation. It will describe why Washington was the perfect “candidate” to lead the Continental army. It will also describe his military tactics, strategies, and accomplishments during the Revolution. Lastly, I will compare and contrast his strengths to his weaknesses and conclude that no one else was better suited for this role than Washington.
Before the Revolutionary War, Washington was already on his way to becoming a great leader. While he lived at Mount Vernon with his brother Lawrence, Washington learned through observation and study that he could put himself on an equal plane with those he admired. In adolescence, he underwent a metamorphosis from a callow youth into a more polished young man who could easily and comfortably fit into the
The Study of History
Section 3 Danielle Mann
Professor Pastor December 20, 2010
In 1776, the colonialists of the thirteen colonies of Great Britain and it’s king rose up to protest against absolute rule. After the colonists rebelled and declared independence, a war erupted as King George III wished to crush the “rebellion” leading up to the War of Independence or most commonly referred to as the Revolutionary War. The War of the American Revolution was a time of patriotism, nationalism, and an era of combat and battle. A primary figure from this time period was the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Continental Army, George Washington. Washington’s leadership role in the American Revolution was extremely successful and without his military strategies, the continental army would not have been victorious.
In this paper, I will examine the strengths and weaknesses of George Washington as man, a general, and as the first president of a new nation. It will describe why Washington was the perfect “candidate” to lead the Continental army. It will also describe his military tactics, strategies, and accomplishments during the Revolution. Lastly, I will compare and contrast his strengths to his weaknesses and conclude that no one else was better suited for this role than Washington.
Before the Revolutionary War, Washington was already on his way to becoming a great leader. While he lived at Mount Vernon with his brother Lawrence, Washington learned through observation and study that he could put himself on an equal plane with those he admired. In adolescence, he underwent a metamorphosis from a callow youth into a more polished young man who could easily and comfortably fit into the
Bibliography: Santa Barbara, California, 1975. Documents “Journals of the Continental Congress, Saturday, June 17, 1775.” United States Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875. Washington, George. “The Papers of George Washington”. © 2010 Alderman Library University of Virginia. http://www.gwpapers.virginia.edu/index.html. (Accessed October 24, 2010). Washington, George. “George Washington papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799. Continental Congress to George Washington, June 19, 1775, Commission as Commander-in-Chief”. Library of Congress. Coakley, Robert W. the War of the American Revolution. Library of Congress, Washington D.C., 2004. Ferling, John. The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon. Bloomsbury Press, NY, 2009. Palmer, Dave R. The Way of the Fox; American Strategy in the War for America, 1775-1783. Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press 1975. LaVO, Carl. "Showdown on the Delaware." Naval History 23, no. 6 (December 2009): 66. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 14, 2010).