Accomplishments
In War: Brave General
In truth, Washington was not a great military strategist, but he did have an instinctual ability to rally his troops, and did so despite frequent shortages of supplies throughout the War of Independence (Carter, 144). During his darkest days at Valley Forge in the Winter of 1777 to 1778, Washington wrote a desperate letter to the Continental Congress in hope of securing more supplies for his troops. He worried that "few men [had] more than one Shirt... and Some none at all." (Washington). Washington felt his army could hardly "perform the common duties of Soldiers" - some of his men were "confin'd [sic] to Hospitals for want of Shoes." (Washington). Colonial forces were no match for the better trained and better equipped British Redcoats, but they managed to hold their own (“Biography of George”). Once French allies arrived to fight alongside the American colonialists, Washington and his troops gained the upper hand. They defeated British General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, and secured American independence (“Biography.com Editors”).
In truth, Washington was not a great military strategist, but he did have an instinctual ability to rally his troops, and did so despite frequent shortages of supplies throughout the War of Independence (Carter, 144). During his darkest days at Valley Forge in the Winter of 1777 to 1778, Washington wrote a desperate letter to the Continental Congress in hope of securing more supplies for his troops. He worried that "few men [had] more than one Shirt... and Some none at all." (Washington). Washington felt his army could hardly "perform the common duties of Soldiers" - some of his men were "confin'd [sic] to Hospitals for want of Shoes." (Washington). Colonial forces were no match for the better trained and better equipped British Redcoats, but they managed to hold their own (“Biography of George”). Once French allies arrived to fight alongside the American colonialists, Washington and his troops gained the upper hand. They defeated British General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, and secured American independence (“Biography.com Editors”).
In Peace: President and Statesman
After the war, Washington wanted to return to life as a quiet country farmer, but was once again called upon by his nation ("Biography.com Editors"). His balanced leadership at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia convinced many that he was the perfect choice to lead the nation as its first president ("Biography.com Editors"). He served two terms as the nation’s president, keeping the new nation out of foreign conflicts between England and France, and did his best to govern with the type of even hand that would avoid undermining the spirit of republicanism and fairness (“George Washington”).
After the war, Washington wanted to return to life as a quiet country farmer, but was once again called upon by his nation ("Biography.com Editors"). His balanced leadership at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia convinced many that he was the perfect choice to lead the nation as its first president ("Biography.com Editors"). He served two terms as the nation’s president, keeping the new nation out of foreign conflicts between England and France, and did his best to govern with the type of even hand that would avoid undermining the spirit of republicanism and fairness (“George Washington”).