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George Washington: Fighting for America

Dr Richard Jensen

TAH Imperial 2007

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Virginian Planter

• Wealthy Virginia planter; militia colonel; French & Indian War; leader of largest state

• tour his mansion

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General George Washington• Experience in French and

Indian War• Leading man from largest

colony• Washington as Commander in

Chief– natural leader, with style, grace,

command presence– mediocre in battle; good

strategist– good organizer; excellent

politician; works well w Congress

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His Battles Won and Lost

• !775-6 forces British out of Boston

• 1776: defeated in New York City; nearly captured

• 1777: defeated but keeps the British near Philadelphia during Saratoga campaign

• 1778-80: contains the Brits in NYC

• 1781: brilliant Yorktown victory w French

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Boston: Battle of Bunker Hill: 1775

Note the British warships and the boats that landed redcoats

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Declaration of Independence: A British newspaper report on July 4, 1776

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Crossing Delaware River, 1776wins surprise victory to capture New Jersey

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War moves South in 1777-1781

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British Surrender at Yorktown

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The New Nation

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First President: newspaper reports

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President Washington

• 1783: disbands army; no military rule

• Chairs Constitutional Convention 1787

• First President; elected 1789 & 1792

• Shows what a good president looks like

• World-Class symbol of republicanism & Americanism

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Farewell Address 1796

• How to preserve American unity– avoid getting into European troubles– not to form alliances– Warns against political parties because they divide

the people

• Text & outline: http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=12

• Original text: http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/farewell/transcript.html

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Mt Rushmore

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Online Sources

• Wikipedia entry

• PBS broadcast http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/

• Short biography http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gw1.html

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Best Books

• David Fischer, Washington's Crossing (2004)• Joseph Ellis His Excellency (2004) ch 1 is online• Good, short older book (by a Canadian): George

M. Wrong, George Washington and His Comrades in Arms (1920) complete text is online at http://www.historycarper.com/resources/wahcia/contents.htm