What Made George Washington Great? | 5 Minute Video
There would have never been a United States of America without George Washington. John Rhodehamel, author of “George Washington: The Wonder of the Age,” details how Washington successfully guided the budding nation through war and nurtured her in peace.
This video was made in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust. Learn more about the George Washington and America’s Battlefields at https://www.battlefields.org
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Script:
It’s hard to imagine there would have been a United States of America without George Washington.
He was there at the birth of the nation. He successfully guided it through war and nurtured it in peace.
How did he do it?
Not by being a great general, a potent political theorist, or even a clever politician. He was none of those things.
And yet, he was admired by generals, political theorists and politicians. Why?
Because he was a man great men trusted. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and so many others looked up to him—literally. He was one of the tallest men of his era at six-foot-three. Add courage, integrity, and wisdom, and you have a truly impressive figure.
Let’s start with his courage. That was never in doubt. If anything, he had too much of it.
Bold to the point of rashness as a young man, he fought for the British against the French over control of the Ohio Valley, then the Western-most point of the American wilderness.
Throughout that conflict, known as the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution, Washington was always in the thick of the action. His aides often struggled to keep him from surging too far ahead of his own troops. In one battle, his coat was pierced four times by musket fire. Horses were shot out from under him. Amazingly, some would say miraculously, he was never wounded—not so much as a flesh wound.
By the time the revolution broke out in April of 1775, Washington was firmly committed to the cause of American independence. He arrived in Philadelphia in May of that year to offer his services to the Continental Congress. He was quickly made commander of the new rebel army. There was only one problem: there was no army to speak of. There was just a rag-tag collection of state militias. How was Washington going to defeat the greatest military force in the world with that?
It was a problem the general struggled with for eight and a half years. That he managed to hold the army together, organize it into a disciplined fighting force and guide it to victory was testament to his fortitude, his patience, and his personal bravery.
Of his integrity, one need only to look at what he did when the war ended: exactly what he promised to do when the war began. He resigned his military command and went home to Mt. Vernon.
By stepping down, Washington raised himself up as the embodiment of republican heroism. It is said that King George III asked the London-based American painter Benjamin West what Washington was likely to do when peace came. West replied that Washington would probably return to his farm. The king was astounded. “If he does that,” His Majesty declared, “he will be the greatest man in the world!”
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I LOVE George Washington! If I could meet one man from the past, if would be His Excellency. Happy 292nd bday, Mr. Washington.
He WAS a great general though!!!
Lol what made him Great? Britain because without his British ancestors he wouldn't have existed.
That map at the 1:00 mark is kfuc dup.
He's the definition of a great leader. Someone who's taken bullets for his country, has more courage than anyone else, is rational not impulsive, is less talk and more action, is humble, has his ego in check and so much more.
I just wish I could follow his example and have the teeth of my slaves ripped out so I could use them in my own mouth like he did. A man of honor and integrity.
He’ll save children but not the British children
George Washington IS the OFFICIAL FIRST BLACK 🖤 President Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
Such a revered man. I hope we never forget the story of our great nation, and the exceptional men and women who were part of its birth.
We started out with Washington. Later we had Lincoln. And look at what we have now. It's enough to make you cry.
The only man to WILLINGLY walk away from absolute power and that makes him more powerful than any king, emperor, dictator, PM or president to have ever lived. So incredibly rare not just in the the modern age, but throughout all of human history. America's 1st and best founding father.
Yes sirrrrr
Washington was one of the greatest leaders in the history of mankind.
Jeorge washminkton
Oddly, it was George who personally started the French and Indian war, after signing a statement that he was the guilty party in the slaughter and scalping of 13-50 Frenchmen and their Commander, Joseph de Jumonville. (He had been taken prisoner after he was bested in a revenge battle.) Washington blamed the natives afterward, claiming he didn't know what he signed- which led to the French and Indian war, and eventually the 7 year War (between the French and English). This is what depleted the money thtat King George II used to defend the colonies and the nearby British East Indies. The colonists had always cheated on their taxes – but at that point King George II was desperate- so he reduced he taxes to 50% their previous level- but was also adamant that people like George Washington (who owned 60,000 acres of land and hundreds of slaves at his peak) would be required to obey he law and start actually paying his taxes. You know the rest. [On the other hand, George did have his slaves released after he died. So morally, maybe he was an 'F+']
What made George Washington great? A shitload of public school propaganda. The guy was a frickin British officer, and never really changed sides.
"It's hard to imagine any nation had a better one (President". The US has only been around for 350 years. There have been great leaders throughout time that weren't born in the US.
America's Original Big Daddy… George Washington…
He was great, but unfortunately he leaned more and more politically Left the older he got.
Abraham Lincold is the true father of nation and creator of the republic, before then have only caudilhismo.
Washington could have been our king for life, but he willingly gave up power. Of all the leaders of the great revolutions of history, he was the only leader to do that. All the others were killed, overthrown, or died in office.
Unfortunately he is doing summersaults in his grave over what we’ve become. We need a another revolution