George Washington's strength as a leader depended on his ability to put the general good ahead of personal gain (his incorruptible conduct).
Overview
George Washington played a central role in the shaping of the early American history as a soldier and a statesman. He is remembered as the first President of the United States as well as a key member of the founding fathers of the American nation (O'brien 19). His key roles in the American history were in the American Revolution War as the Continental Army’s Commander in Chief and the drafting of the US Constitution during the 1787 convention. He was instrumental in taking Boston and driving out the British. In New York he was defeated by the British forces but did not suffer major causalities that would have otherwise forced him to surrender. His victories owe to his military knowledge and careful planning whereby his strategy and tactics gave him victories against the British yet they had more personnel.
His incorruptible conduct is evident in the discipline he instilled into his army units and some of the great deeds he performed thereafter. He never had the desire to seize power despite the victories that he handed the continental forces. When the wars concluded, he resigned his post rather than using it to step into authority. During his time in the army, all his generals were carefully chosen and supervised by him in order to command and preserve the forces. He was able to coordinate to great effect with the state governors, and the congress as well as their militias (Flexner 397). His attention to detail regarding training, logistics and supplies helped him to prevent large defeats and sustain the revolution even when the British seemed to have the upper hand in battle due to their larger numbers.
As mentioned before, Washington had no desire to seize power by using his influence as the commander in chief of the continent forces. He played an important role in devising the federal form of government for the United States during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 which he presided over (O'brien 22). In the initial two national elections, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the president due to his recognized leadership qualities. His reign saw the increased unification of rival factions within the young nation. He was in support of Alexander Hamilton’s idea of creating a national bank, implanting an operational tax structure for the country, instituting a stable seat of government, and the satisfaction of all debts (Washington 43). He oversaw a period of peace with Great Britain while facilitating trade between the two nations hence ensuring stable financial growth that profited the nation.
Washington retired from presidency just after two terms only despite being widely accepted by the American people (Bordewich 210). As a founding father he did not use his influence to stay in office until his death hence created the two-term tradition that is still in use today. In the years that followed he maintained a non-partisan stance on political matters even though he supported the Federalist Party’s policies.
The Incorruptible Man
Flexners’s portrayal of George Washington is that of a human being of impeccable personal qualities although not without blemish in entirety. He always sought to protect Tories as long as they did not commit treason since he believed that they were all Americans (Flexner 138). With all the power in his hands during the revolutions, Washington only focused on fighting for the greater good than going for his own personal desires. He gallantly led the continental forces against the British and after victory spearheaded the creation of a one country opposing any form of sectarianism. When offered the opportunity to be the king, he rejected it and instead focused creating a federal government system. He was able to talk the officers out of a rebellion against the continental cabinet since it would have served no greater good.
Washington was not born into riches but he learned that through hard work he could rectify his situation. His family was what could be considered today as middle class, which is moderately prosperous during that period rather than the elite and wealthy (Flexner 28). For instance, his close friend, William Fairfax, came from a wealthy family considered to be the major landowners in Virginia. His early love interest was Sally and she was later married to the Fairfax family by William but he still wrote to her letters even in his adulthood. Washington inherited a farm from his father and another from his older brother who had served as his surrogate father. He worked hard on his farm like any other hardworking farm owners at the time. Even though he owned slaves as it was a norm during those days in the colonial America he treated them well.
At the age of 15, Washington had the opportunity to be secured an appointment into the Royal Navy (Flexner 38). His mother who was a widow at the time objected the offer, a simple gesture that would later shape his destiny and character as a man. He accompanied his older brother, Lawrence, to the Barbados believing a change of climate would help his ailing brother recover from tuberculosis (45). While on the trip his face became scarred after he contracted smallpox. Washington practiced land survey as a profession before he joined the army. As the Culpeper County surveyor just at the age of 17, he was in a position that many could use to illegitimately acquire land for themselves but he did not. He instead saved up money from his work and was able to legally buy land in the Shenandoah Valley after a while (65). All of the subsequent land that he purchased in Western Virginia was acquired through hard work.
When the French advanced into the British controlled territories of Ohio County in 1953, Washington was sent as a representative of the British Crown (Flexner 339). He was to deliver a letter to the French requesting their vacation from the Ohio Valley. Washington was only interested in carrying out his responsibilities as an adjutant general of the militia, a role that was novel to him. He carried out the orders issued to him travelling a far as Erie to the north in Pennsylvania. Washington gained recognition in Virginia due to his ambassadorial role which was spread through the printing of his diary under the governor’s order. He was able to get a commission that saw him raise his company to 100 men to begin his military trade as a result of his increased popularity. He led a successful ambush against a detachment of the French forces but was soon captured and released together with his troops. When he returned to Virginia he resigned the commission after he did not accept to be demoted from major to captain.
During the Braddock expedition against the French, Washington was General Edward’s senior American assistant. He served as a staff volunteer after he was told that he could not be appointed as a major since only London could give that rank and above (Bordewich 102). During the confrontation with the French, Washington suffered severe fever and headache but fought on regardless of the illness rallying the remaining troops into an organized retreat. His conduct in the face of flying bullets while riding on a horse around the battlefield was a show of bravery that ensured redemption of his reputation after a first disastrous command when he was captured at the battle of Fort Necessity.
Washington was given unlimited power to carry out offensive and defensive military acts as he saw fit when he was commissioned as Virginia Regiment’s Colonel (Flexner 420). He was the commander in chief of all the forces of the colony. However, he coveted the rank of an officer in the British forces and the pay that accompanied it but he never got the chance. Nonetheless, he happily accepted the offer and the Virginia Regiment were never integrated into the British military ranks despite pleas from the governor. Washington never sought to protect his skin as he guided his men in campaigns against the Indians. He lost many men but it was less significant as compared to other colonies as a result of his strenuous efforts in training, discipline, and strategy and tactics. He was always the first man in battle and the last one as well. He showed great courage in battle even in the face of retreats and disaster hence demonstrating his natural leadership qualities to his men for the follow him without question.
Washington married Martha Custis who was a wealthy widow and helped her raise her children and grandchildren even though they never had children of their own together (Flexner 104). His marriage increased his wealth and improved his social status in Virginia as he became a wealthy man. After acquiring part of the Custis estate, he continued caring for Martha’s children dearly while managing the remaining land for her. He went to the new governor and pleaded with him to fulfill land bounties promised to volunteers who took part French and Indian war. He bought more land in his name along with that rewarded to him and other soldiers. He was able to increase Mount Vernon twice as well as its slave population.
Conclusion
His involvement in the military and wealth gained respect for him leading to his election into the legislature. He was critical of the British policies regarding mercantilism and taxation. He never used his influence as a leader to acquire material possessions (O'brien 42). He exported tobacco which he used to pay for the luxuries he imported from overseas. As a successful farmer and a member of the elite he usually hosted people of rank at his estate. He preferred to treat other people civilly citing the need to keep them at proper distance for their familiarity would grow as authority increased. When the revolution broke, he joined the war without being asked and did not even seek to be commander citing that he was not equal to it. When he was made the general and commander, he did not accept a salary. He also worked closely with the congress always ensuring public insight. He directed the Congress to provide the army with essentials only rejecting its purview to get supplies.
After the war, Washington voluntarily resigned and decided to disband his army after victory instead of choosing to institute himself as a monarch (O'brien 36). His personal character s a military leader was praised by British papers. When he lost in New York, he devised a strategy for retreat that ensured no loss of life. His decision to use variolation as inoculation against smallpox helped to significantly reduce deaths among his troops Flexner 412). He was also first in peace taking part in signing peace treaties that ended the war altogether.
Works Cited
Bordewich, Fergus M. The First Congress: How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government. Simon and Schuster, 2017.
Flexner, James Thomas. Washington: The indispensable man. Open Road Media, 2017.
O'brien, Conor Cruise. First in Peace: How George Washington Set the Course for America. Da Capo Press, 2009.
Washington, George. "Farewell address." September 19 (1796): 1796.
