Who Is George Washington A Good Leader

Douglas MacArthur, an American five-star general, describes a true leader as someone that “has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent”(Kruse). This quote accurately describes one of the greatest military leaders in American history, George Washington. Many history books glamorize Washington by referring to him as the “Father of the Country”, but very few Americans know about the man behind the glorious reputation. To understand the man behind the infamous dollar bill image, one must first understand his origins. Long before he served for his countrymen,
George Washington was an ambitious Virginia gentleman who strived to earn an honorable and courteous status and reputation. Due to living in an era where social status was the quickest path to rank and influence, Washington strategically mastered skills that would distinguish him from the rest. His aspiration to achieve success climbing the military ranks accelerated his career at the age of twenty.
From his early years as lieutenant colonel, George Washington was not very successful.
It appears from his military combat that he gradually developed a style of leadership often from trial and error. During one military encounter, a force of 600 French soldiers and 100 Indians ambushed his Virginia regiment at Fort Necessity. By “taking advantage of Washington’s mistake, the French were able to occupy high ground along the tree line allowing them to fire into the fort. Consequently, Washington was forced to surrender at Fort Necessity” (French and Indian War). Although this defeat was a bruise to his ego, Washington continued on another expedition to remove the French from the Ohio River Valley under the command of General Braddock. The battle that followed would give rise to many of Washington’s greatest military leadership
qualities.
George Washington demonstrated incredible personal courage to keep the army together at all costs during times of defeat. “With two horses shot beneath him and four bullets through his coat, he not only continued his duties as aide but when General Braddock was mortally wounded and most of the other officers either killed or wounded, it was the young provincial colonel who took command of the remnant of the brilliant English Army and brought the wounded leader out of the terrifying forest ambush of Indians to safety”. The heroism and bravery exemplified in this successful retreat helped further shape Washington’s character as a future military leader. While some officers would have been discouraged and given up, George Washington continued to inspire the loyalty of his surrounding soldiers by fighting until the end. Even on the edge of collapse, he exhibited no fear in the face of death.
Although his experiences in the French and Indian War extended him the knowledge of “border warfare, invaluable experience in training, disciplining, and subsisting his men far from their base of supplies”(Wildman), it was as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army where George Washington gained most of his military insight on successful strategy and leadership.
He altered the course of history by leading his troops across the icy Delaware River into Trenton, New Jersey to attack the Hessian forces. His daring attack resulted in the capture of nearly one thousand hessians and the cities of Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey (“Washington”). This battle was a small but tremendous victory for the confidence and morale of Washington and his army. This led to another successful strategic plan by Washington to engage the British in one final battle at Yorktown. In a long fought battle, the British finally surrendered and George Washington was forever the symbol of the American
Revolution.
George Washington accomplished many great things for America, such a leading the victory over the most powerful military in the world. However, the most important of all was that Washington rejected the nomination to become dictator or king. This refusal of military power caused him to be revered by all Americans as the “Father of the Country”. George Washington will always be remembered as an indispensible leader, one of the greatest leaders the United States has ever seen.