George Washington's Role In The American Revolution
Throughout American history there have been many individuals that have displayed courage in the shaping of our country. One of America’s Founding Fathers and the First President of the United States was one of those individuals. George Washington played an essential role in the American Revolution and leading America to independence from Brittan. Washington also played a vital role in the shaping of the early government of America. The early government and the American Revolution also helped to shape Washington into the man known as His Excellency. Most people think of Washington as a man that could do no wrong, he has been perceived throughout history as a hero. Washington is human though, he had many failures that he was able to learn from,
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thus helping him to become a successful founding father of our nation.
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. There is not much knowledge of Washington’s youth, except that he was born to Augustine and Mary Washington. Washington was born into a life where domestic stability and life could not be taken for granted. Washington’s father Augustine died when Washington was only 11 years old and his half-brother Lawrence became his surrogate father. Lawrence planted the seed in Washington to join the British Navy, and against his family’s desires, it became a dream for Washington. Mary lived long enough to see Washington elected president but never recognized
1
his public triumphs. Washington only received a grade level education. This lack of formal education haunted him in his later career, among the well-educated, American political leaders that he worked with.
The French and Indian war was a foreshadowing to the American Revolution.
This war included many battles, in during this time Washington began to emerge as a leader. During this period, it is apparent that Washington turned from an inexperienced, eager young man into the man that led America to its independence. In 1753, Washington was a 21-year-old brave messenger that was sent on a treacherous mission into the unknown American wilderness. Virginia’s Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, sent Washington with a letter addressed to the commander of the French troops. It was believed that the French troops were building fortresses and settling in Ohio Country, which was British territory. This letter, was the beginning of the French and Indian War. Washington published his excursions in colonial newspapers as well as magazines that reached Britain and Scotland. He called his writings The Journal of Major George Washington. Even though Washington was just a go between for the French and British, he was able to describe unknown territory in his journal. He was adventurous and was able to provide readers with insight into the unknown, which made him appear fearless and courageous. In June of 1752, Washington petitioned Governor Dinwiddie for a post in the local Virginia militia as his brother Lawrence laid dying. Having no qualifications for the job and no military experience, his ties with William Fairfax assured Dinwiddie that Washington was up to the task. Washington stated that, “I am sensible my best endeavors will not be wanting”. The following year, Dinwiddie sent Major Washington out into the western
wilderness.
In 1754, Washington went on his first true military adventure. The Virginia House of
2
Burgess voted for funds to raise a regiment of 300 men in order to protect the Ohio Country settlers from the growing threat of the French. During this endeavor, Washington was second in command with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Washington and 160 troops took the trek toward the British half built fort at the crossroad of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. The French, with a force of 1,000 men had taken over the fort and renamed it Fort Duquesne. Washington had an Indian ally known as Half-King; he was a major source of intelligence for Washington and his men. Half-King assembled a group of warriors and joined Washington in his fight to save their land from the French. Washington and Half-King came upon a camp of French and surrounded them, killing 10, wounding 1, and taking 21 prisoners. Amongst the dead was the French Commander Monsieur De Jumonville, whom Half-King drove a hatchet into his skull. There is much confusion about which side actually attacked who first. Being inexperienced, Washington was shocked that this had happened under his command. He did not report the entire truth about the massacre to Dinwiddie, instead he claimed that while in a dangerous situation, “I heard Bullets whistle and believe me there was something charming in the Sound”. When people heard this statement of bravery, Washington was perceived as America’s first great war hero. Dinwiddie assured Washington that he was sending reinforcement troops to help him defend the Fort. Washington knew better than to rely on British forces, instead he heavily depended on the support of the local Indians. Washington and his troops built Fort Necessity as a place to keep their food and supplies. Again showing his inexperience, Washington built this Fort in a marshy valley. By building his Fort in such a location, Washington placed his troops in great danger. On the morning of July 3, Louis Couldon de Villiers, Jumonville’s brother, led 1,100 French and
Indians to fort Necessity. Villiers and his troops began to set fire upon Fort Necessity. After this
3
9-hour battle ended, almost a third of Washington’s troops were either wounded or killed. Washington’s claims on the event were much different from the actual events. Washington claimed that the enemy had suffered many casualties and that Villiers decided to call a truce. Villier allowed the Washington and his troops to take all of their supplies and leave. After this event, Washington was once again perceived as brave for his attempt of defending his country, even though he had lost this particular battle. The House of Burgess disbanded the Virginia Regiment after this battle and Washington was demoted to lower rank. Rank was extremely important to him, so in November 1754 Washington decided to resign. With his strong passion for the military, Washington again joined in the fight for American under General Braddock’s command in May 1755. Braddock died in the Massacre of the Monongahela making Washington the new man in charge,
At the age of 23, Washington’s ever-growing reputation made him the obvious choice for the newly formed Virginia Regiment. He displayed courage and bravery in times when others may have crumbled. Over the next three years, Washington himself recruited and trained what he considered an elite group of men. He taught them discipline similar to the British Regulars as well as the tactical abilities of the Indians. The Virginia Regiment, he believed was his creation, this was the first time Washington held a position with executive authority. Prior to the creation of the Virginia Regiment and throughout the war to America’s independence, Washington believed that the crown and the British military had given him “responsibilities without the resources to meet them”. Washington’s Regiment was constantly engaged in combat and he believed that no British troops could ever match the Regiments battle tested edge. Washington was a serious young man and he regarded himself as superior to anyone, British or American. He
4
expected others to take him and his regiment seriously. Having no children of his own, Washington often portrayed the image of a strict but caring father figure to his troops. Washington enforced strict disciple over his regiment, he made the lines very clear. If his rules were not followed, discipline was harsh and there was no forgiveness. One of Washington’s greatest legacies was his “insistence on strict obedience to the principle of civilian control over the military”. Unlike the British Regulars, Washington’s regiment promoted officers and rangers based on their performance rather than their societal status.
thus helping him to become a successful founding father of our nation.
George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. There is not much knowledge of Washington’s youth, except that he was born to Augustine and Mary Washington. Washington was born into a life where domestic stability and life could not be taken for granted. Washington’s father Augustine died when Washington was only 11 years old and his half-brother Lawrence became his surrogate father. Lawrence planted the seed in Washington to join the British Navy, and against his family’s desires, it became a dream for Washington. Mary lived long enough to see Washington elected president but never recognized
1
his public triumphs. Washington only received a grade level education. This lack of formal education haunted him in his later career, among the well-educated, American political leaders that he worked with.
The French and Indian war was a foreshadowing to the American Revolution.
This war included many battles, in during this time Washington began to emerge as a leader. During this period, it is apparent that Washington turned from an inexperienced, eager young man into the man that led America to its independence. In 1753, Washington was a 21-year-old brave messenger that was sent on a treacherous mission into the unknown American wilderness. Virginia’s Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, sent Washington with a letter addressed to the commander of the French troops. It was believed that the French troops were building fortresses and settling in Ohio Country, which was British territory. This letter, was the beginning of the French and Indian War. Washington published his excursions in colonial newspapers as well as magazines that reached Britain and Scotland. He called his writings The Journal of Major George Washington. Even though Washington was just a go between for the French and British, he was able to describe unknown territory in his journal. He was adventurous and was able to provide readers with insight into the unknown, which made him appear fearless and courageous. In June of 1752, Washington petitioned Governor Dinwiddie for a post in the local Virginia militia as his brother Lawrence laid dying. Having no qualifications for the job and no military experience, his ties with William Fairfax assured Dinwiddie that Washington was up to the task. Washington stated that, “I am sensible my best endeavors will not be wanting”. The following year, Dinwiddie sent Major Washington out into the western
wilderness.
In 1754, Washington went on his first true military adventure. The Virginia House of
2
Burgess voted for funds to raise a regiment of 300 men in order to protect the Ohio Country settlers from the growing threat of the French. During this endeavor, Washington was second in command with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Washington and 160 troops took the trek toward the British half built fort at the crossroad of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. The French, with a force of 1,000 men had taken over the fort and renamed it Fort Duquesne. Washington had an Indian ally known as Half-King; he was a major source of intelligence for Washington and his men. Half-King assembled a group of warriors and joined Washington in his fight to save their land from the French. Washington and Half-King came upon a camp of French and surrounded them, killing 10, wounding 1, and taking 21 prisoners. Amongst the dead was the French Commander Monsieur De Jumonville, whom Half-King drove a hatchet into his skull. There is much confusion about which side actually attacked who first. Being inexperienced, Washington was shocked that this had happened under his command. He did not report the entire truth about the massacre to Dinwiddie, instead he claimed that while in a dangerous situation, “I heard Bullets whistle and believe me there was something charming in the Sound”. When people heard this statement of bravery, Washington was perceived as America’s first great war hero. Dinwiddie assured Washington that he was sending reinforcement troops to help him defend the Fort. Washington knew better than to rely on British forces, instead he heavily depended on the support of the local Indians. Washington and his troops built Fort Necessity as a place to keep their food and supplies. Again showing his inexperience, Washington built this Fort in a marshy valley. By building his Fort in such a location, Washington placed his troops in great danger. On the morning of July 3, Louis Couldon de Villiers, Jumonville’s brother, led 1,100 French and
Indians to fort Necessity. Villiers and his troops began to set fire upon Fort Necessity. After this
3
9-hour battle ended, almost a third of Washington’s troops were either wounded or killed. Washington’s claims on the event were much different from the actual events. Washington claimed that the enemy had suffered many casualties and that Villiers decided to call a truce. Villier allowed the Washington and his troops to take all of their supplies and leave. After this event, Washington was once again perceived as brave for his attempt of defending his country, even though he had lost this particular battle. The House of Burgess disbanded the Virginia Regiment after this battle and Washington was demoted to lower rank. Rank was extremely important to him, so in November 1754 Washington decided to resign. With his strong passion for the military, Washington again joined in the fight for American under General Braddock’s command in May 1755. Braddock died in the Massacre of the Monongahela making Washington the new man in charge,
At the age of 23, Washington’s ever-growing reputation made him the obvious choice for the newly formed Virginia Regiment. He displayed courage and bravery in times when others may have crumbled. Over the next three years, Washington himself recruited and trained what he considered an elite group of men. He taught them discipline similar to the British Regulars as well as the tactical abilities of the Indians. The Virginia Regiment, he believed was his creation, this was the first time Washington held a position with executive authority. Prior to the creation of the Virginia Regiment and throughout the war to America’s independence, Washington believed that the crown and the British military had given him “responsibilities without the resources to meet them”. Washington’s Regiment was constantly engaged in combat and he believed that no British troops could ever match the Regiments battle tested edge. Washington was a serious young man and he regarded himself as superior to anyone, British or American. He
4
expected others to take him and his regiment seriously. Having no children of his own, Washington often portrayed the image of a strict but caring father figure to his troops. Washington enforced strict disciple over his regiment, he made the lines very clear. If his rules were not followed, discipline was harsh and there was no forgiveness. One of Washington’s greatest legacies was his “insistence on strict obedience to the principle of civilian control over the military”. Unlike the British Regulars, Washington’s regiment promoted officers and rangers based on their performance rather than their societal status.