What Made George Washington Great? | 5 Minute Video

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There would have never been a United States of America without George Washington. John Rhodehamel, author of "George Washington: The Wonder of the Age," details how Washington successfully guided the budding nation through war and nurtured her in peace.

#georgewashington #history #ushistory #foundingfathers

Script:

It’s hard to imagine there would have been a United States of America without George Washington.

He was there at the birth of the nation. He successfully guided it through war and nurtured it in peace.

How did he do it?

Not by being a great general, a potent political theorist, or even a clever politician. He was none of those things.

And yet, he was admired by generals, political theorists and politicians. Why?

Because he was a man great men trusted. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and so many others looked up to him—literally. He was one of the tallest men of his era at six-foot-three. Add courage, integrity, and wisdom, and you have a truly impressive figure.

Let’s start with his courage. That was never in doubt. If anything, he had too much of it.

Bold to the point of rashness as a young man, he fought for the British against the French over control of the Ohio Valley, then the Western-most point of the American wilderness.

Throughout that conflict, known as the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution, Washington was always in the thick of the action. His aides often struggled to keep him from surging too far ahead of his own troops. In one battle, his coat was pierced four times by musket fire. Horses were shot out from under him. Amazingly, some would say miraculously, he was never wounded—not so much as a flesh wound.

By the time the revolution broke out in April of 1775, Washington was firmly committed to the cause of American independence. He arrived in Philadelphia in May of that year to offer his services to the Continental Congress. He was quickly made commander of the new rebel army. There was only one problem: there was no army to speak of. There was just a rag-tag collection of state militias. How was Washington going to defeat the greatest military force in the world with that?

It was a problem the general struggled with for eight and a half years. That he managed to hold the army together, organize it into a disciplined fighting force and guide it to victory was testament to his fortitude, his patience, and his personal bravery.

Of his integrity, one need only to look at what he did when the war ended: exactly what he promised to do when the war began. He resigned his military command and went home to Mt. Vernon.

By stepping down, Washington raised himself up as the embodiment of republican heroism. It is said that King George III asked the London-based American painter Benjamin West what Washington was likely to do when peace came. West replied that Washington would probably return to his farm. The king was astounded. “If he does that,” His Majesty declared, “he will be the greatest man in the world!”

This story may be apocryphal, but the Newburgh Rebellion, and how Washington handled it, is not. With experience had come wisdom.

As the revolution wound down, a group of officers refused to give up their arms until they were paid. If they didn’t get their money, which Congress didn’t have, they would take control of the government. It was not an idle threat. No less a figure than Alexander Hamilton was in a panic.

Washington, no great orator, sought to defuse their anger. They had risked everything to create a republican society, he told the officers. To abandon the cause now, when true victory was so close, would mean all their sacrifices would have been in vain.

However convincing the speech may have been, it was a simple gesture that carried the day. Washington concluded his remarks by reading to them a letter sent to him from a member of Congress. Suddenly, he stopped. From his pocket, he pulled a pair of spectacles. None of the officers had ever seen him wear them. Putting the glasses on, Washington said, “Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in the service of my country and now find myself going blind.”

He finished reading the letter and left the hall without another word. The gesture, sincerely offered with just the right touch of stagecraft, pierced the hearts of his men. Many were moved to tears. They immediately passed a resolution declaring their loyalty to civilian government. George Washington had saved the revolution once again.

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Give the last word to Washington’s great adversary, King George III. The king asked his American painter, Benjamin West, what Washington would do after winning independence. West replied, “They say he will return to his farm.”
“If he does that, ” the incredulous monarch said, “he will be the greatest man in the world.”

Skyfly
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A genuine embodiment of the American heart.

AverageYTer
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Not only does this video do him justice, it also has the best animation of all of them.

raphaelrae
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Thank you. I’ve learned so much from these short series of videos on the founding fathers.

georgeleinberger
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He also never aspired to the presidency. He saw it as his duty. And he refused to serve more than 2 terms because he didn't want the presidency to start resembling a monarchy like FDR (one of the worst American presidents, IMO) tried to do.

intoalivinghope
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Given that George means farmer, it's wonderful that this man, perhaps the greatest President of the United States, chose to relinquish power after two terms and go back to farming

Thus setting humility as the example and avoiding the excesses of the European kings that so strongly contrasted what the USA was all about

🔥

willhooke
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Washington wasn’t perfect, but he understood the nature of power and set precedent for the young nation that our most powerful position was meant to be only a temporary role for the person in charge. Like the Roman Dictator Cincinnatus our politicians were expected to relinquish power and return home after a brief period in office.

Rainy_Day
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Great, moral, noble and fascinating individual beyond comprehension.

paulmiller
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We NEED men like this NOW more than ever!

TheConstitutionalConservative
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I loved listening to this. Clarified a few details for me. Thank you ❤️🇺🇸❤️

cynforrest
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I truly love GW. He was the man for the hour. Selected for his time. He did partly limit his time as president because he was going broke at home. That's a strong motivation to leave. And besides, JA and TJ did some pretty awesome stuff too. (Ok haters. Line up. All people have flaws. Some worse than others. "Let me look into your deepest actions and thoughts????)

rdgznce
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This video about George Washington made me even more proud to be an American! This is why George Washington is my favorite president of all time! ❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

dannybethers
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Comment section for prageru is so polarizing. A whole bunch of haters who come to just hate on the video or bunch of fanboys and girls to sing the praises.

As for video, he got the job done best he could just as all of us are suppose to do in our circumstances. And if someone who hates on him so much can come up with a person of interest at the time who would have done a better job given their track record of accomplishments can explain why they didn't and should have that would be a fascinating story.

mrnekomaneki
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No man with a grain of self respect should stand idle and let the heritage of the founding fathers be tarnished.
Let's get off the couch and safe the greatest country on earth.
God bless America

Herzankerkreuz
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I, too, admire George Washington. Let's be careful to admire such people without idolizing them.

rogermetzger
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Look through the comments to see an endless stream of nobodies clamoring to give the most strident declaration of Washington's flaws. Those who will never rise above mediocrity are the quickest to criticize the great. "It is not the critic who counts..."

ColeDedhand
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He trusted the Word of God, and he was a man God could trust.

KeithWCastleberry
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One of the greatest, and one of my favorite, presidents in American History 💪🇺🇸

JMolKoz
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Honor, Integrity and commitment to Duty.

rkba
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I write this on February 22, 2025 - George Washington's Birthday - and Google has only its generic starting page posted. I am glad PragerU is providing the information (and references) that it does.

derphyn
welcome to shbcf.ru