7.4: George Washington
Summary of Stories
-Fable of the Cherry Tree:"Truth, George" (said he) "is the loveliest quality of youth. Glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. -Acceptance Speech as Commander in Chief:I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with. I do not wish to make any profit from [this appointment]: I will keep an exact account of my expenses. -Letter to Martha:I go fully trusting in that Providence which has been more bountiful to me than I deserve. I retain an unalterable affection for you, which neither time or distance can change. -Resignation as Commander in Chief:The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest.
Washington's First Inaugural Address
-In 1789 George Washington was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States of America under the new Constitution. For him, that meant leaving his beloved Mount Vernon and traveling by carriage to New York City, then the temporary capital of the United States. -delivered on April 30, 1789 to a joint session of Congress assembled in the Senate Chamber at Federal Hall on Wall Street.
How do we study the character of George Washington today?
-The character of George Washington that we celebrate today is most directly tied to the fables1 that were circulated about him even before he was dead. For example, the fable of George Washington and the cherry tree has been around since 1809. -Mason Locke Weems was a preacher who wanted to encourage Americans to have high morals, and he felt using a man known for his integrity as an example would be one of the best methods for teaching this important quality. -Through the cherry-tree fable, the fable of Washington throwing a stone across the Rappahannock River, and the story of General Washington kneeling to pray in the snow at Valley Forge have no proven historical basis, the characteristics these fables illuminate were definitely present in the father of our country. The absolute truth of that statement is evidenced by the many letters and journals he left behind.
Fun facts
-The six white horses in Washington's stables had their teeth brushed every morning on Washington's orders. -The nation's capital was located in Philadelphia during Washington's administration, making him the only president who didn't live in Washington, DC, during his presidency.
Acceptance Speech to commander in chief
-an example of George Washington's modesty. -When John Adams nominated Washington for commander in chief on June 14, 1775, George Washington very modestly slipped out the side door. The next day, when he was unanimously elected, he was discreetly absent. -formal acceptance speech in Philadelphia on June 16, 1775. -Interestingly, when Washington was asked to lead the armies, he had never commanded large bodies of men, led troops into battle in an open field, or handled artillery or cavalry. Many said that candidates such as Charles Lee, Israel Putnam, Artemas Ward, or others should be in charge, but before the end of the war each of these men lost the country's trust through ineptitude, inappropriate behavior, and costly mistakes, and even those that had originally been skeptics realized that Congress had made the right decision in appointing George Washington, a man of integrity, humility, and wisdom. -Even with his lack of experience, Washington demonstrated amazing leadership ability and courage in the face of the enemy over the next several years. Indeed, he led a group of colonials to a victory against one of the strongest military powers in the world, and yet he was very humble about his accomplishments.
George Washington and the Cherry Tree
-by Mason Locke Weems in his book The Life of Washington, written in 1809 -The passage recounts a supposed encounter between young Washington and his father. Whether the incident described in the story really happened has not been proved or disproved; when Washington was eleven years old, his father died, and Washington said very little of his father after that. But the story is enjoyable, and it has become a unique part of American folklore.
Washington's Resignation Address to the Continental Congress
-formal resignation of the commander in chief position on December 23, 1783. -After this speech, Washington returned home for a few quieter years at Mount Vernon before the retired public servant was called up by his country for active duty. However, this time he was given the even more overwhelming and taxing duty of leading the entire country.
George Washington to Martha Washington-Letter
-illustrates Washington's tenderness, faith, and loyalty. -The following is the last letter he wrote to his wife, Martha, before embarking on his assignment as commander in chief. -George and Martha Washington remained faithful to each other throughout their lives. Although much has been said of George Washington, little has been said of his wife, Martha. -In an attempt to preserve their privacy after her husband's death, Martha burned the letters she and he had written to each other -one of the only three remaining letters written between the two
Martha Washington
-known for her warmth and hospitality and her ability to put strangers at ease. -Abigail Adams once described Martha Washington as "one of those unassuming characters which create Love and Esteem." -Martha, like George, valued private life, a luxury neither she nor her husband were able to enjoy during George's many years of public service
Case Study
-taken from Mary Antin's book The Promised Land, demonstrates the ways George Washington's character and example can inspire people to greater citizenship. -Mary Antin, born in a Russian ghetto in 1881 and the descendant of generations of persecuted Jews, certainly took Washington's example to heart and determined to live up to his example. -Title: My Country
