George Washington: Fighting for America

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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/resour
  ces/search/detail.php?ResourceID12
• Original text http//gwpapers.virginia.edu/farewe
  ll/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/cont
  ents.htm