Washington: Man of Passions, Man of Ambitions

MY HERO

While this paper was not one of my better papers, it was a paper in which I learned a lot.  George Washington is one of my few mortal heroes.  After reading Joseph Ellis's book, "His Excellency, George Washington," I have even more respect and admiration for this man.  I firmly believe that there is no way he could have been the great leader he was if he had been younger.  At the time that Washington enters the Revolutionary War, he has become a seasoned individual; married, successful profession, a military veteran, and a man that has almost mastered self-discipline.  By reading Ellis's book, you gain an insight into the wild heart of Washington.  History knows him to be a stoic and wise man, but underneath that stone cold expression is a man with a fury of passions.  What makes him different is that he learned to bridle his passions.  There is much more to Washington than this, but in order to learn you will have to read more than just my article.  Hope you Enjoy!

Chris Fosburg

February 15, 2008

History 414

Washington: Man of Passions, Man of Ambitions

George Washington, the Founding Father of our Nation.  Who is this man?  How did he come to be the central figure of the American Revolution starting in 1775?  Was it fate, coincidence, or were there logical steps that led to Washington as the Commander of the Continental Army?  These are questions that the renowned author Joseph J. Ellis endeavors to address.  Ellis creates a vivid picture for us of the man George Washington, not physically, though he does do that, but of his character and personality.

Joseph J Ellis is a distinguished scholar who has writing extensively about the American Revolution.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and is a professor at Holyoke College.  He has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize once, and won an American Book Award.  His approach to the biographies he writes is to ride the line between demonizing them and sanctifying them.  Rather he conveys the men he writes about with all their strengths and yet they remain human (Gale 113).

The book His Excellency, George Washington is a comprehensive book that explores the life of Washington from the time he was 16 to the day that he died.  The book achieves the task of letting you inside the life of a giant.  The early years of Washington reveal a courageous and bold beginning.  Washington not only loved the wilderness America had to offer, it was his obsession (Ellis 22).  Once Washington stepped into the wild world of the Ohio he never took his eye off it.  From exploring uncharted territory to investing large amounts of money into land ventures, to training his Virginian Regiment, all the way to addressing the issue in his second term in office, Washington always had his eye fixed on the frontier (212).  The Ohio shaped much of the views and personalities of Washington.  It is for this reason that Ellis uses this as the starting ground for getting to know the man (7).

Throughout the book Ellis lays out a path of thoughts and events that molded Washington’s political views.  Views of the British, views of current affairs, views the rising tide of the soon to be Revolution, and views on what a government should be.  The American Revolution author states that Washington came up with all of his opinions without a fine education.  In fact he argues that it was because of his common education that he could come up with his conclusions (271).

One of his most impressive moments was when the Lord of Mount Vernon decided to become an entrepreneur, instead of a planter.  He defied the tide of Virginian Planters sinking into debt by turning the tables and becoming ‘economically independent’.  This demonstrates the innovative mind of Washington, his determination, his defiance to being defeated, and the genius it took to turn his finances around and flip his living upside down (52).  In fact Washington died as one of the wealthiest men in the United States (264).     

Ellis declares that “The American Revolution was the central event in Washington’s life”.  He calls it the “crucible” that changed Washington into the man history knows him as.  Ellis goes on to say “the character of the man and the character of the nation congealed and grew together” (73).  Washington’s greatest moment, in the eyes of Ellis, is when this warrior of ambition faced his “Last [and greatest] Temptation.

”It was this moment that separated him from all the other great men of history, giving up his commission and command.   It was surrendering the sword that elevated him higher in history, and saved the new born republic.  The other two times a republic was attempted ended in a dictatorship (141). One of the primary qualities of Washington was his ambition.  Throughout the life of Washington case after case is made for showing the flaming ambitions of this man (109).  Yet, when all is said and done Washington transcended past his ambitions to turn down the most coveted role of all, that of a dictator.  A Churchman once stated, “When your energies are harnessed, your dreams are focused, marvelous things happen.” (Hinckley)  Indeed this describes Washington down to the bone.  It was his self-control that governed him.  His sound judgment guided each and every decision.  Yet, without his passions that stirred his soul, both of his traits would mean little.  It was the combination of these qualities that forged Washington as a giant in history.

 

Bibliography

Ellis, Joseph J.  His Excellency: George Washington.  New York.  Alfred A Knopf, 2004.  

Gale Group.  Contemporary Authors New Revised Series.  Vol. 103.  Farmington Hills, MI.  2002.

Hinckley, Gordon B.  Ensign.  “To The Boys and To The Men”.  November 1998.

McDonald, Forrest.  www.anb.org.