George Washington-Founding Father? Essay -- essays research papers

George capital letter became President in 1789 and since then has been regarded as Americas Founding Father(10). This grand and hero-like perspective is said to have began gravitating to Washington six months in the lead the Declaration of Independence, when one Levi Allen addressed him in a letter as our political Father.(10). The preservation of Washingtons role as a national hero has been allowed by authors and the media omitting his many flaws as if they had either been forgotten or were no longer important. even by excluding these human faults, they have projected an almost god-like hero and inflicted him upon the nation as their Father, somebody whose life still has the power to inspire anyone(10). When in reality, how fecal matter a slave-owning President be a hero to Black Americans today? Similarly, Americans of native descent today could non worship Washington, if they knew explicitly how he had tough their ancestors. However textbooks do not explicitly reveal these faults, and even if they give some indication the authors make sure to justify Washington to the best of their ability. many a(prenominal) Americans fail to know truly little about the claims of Washingtons greed for wealth, his inability as a politician and President to speak before the Senate and Congress, and the debate to whether he was as good a General as is commonly believed. In addition to these forgotten flaws and human frailties are the purely fictitious tales of Washingtons childhood, which are still retold to children today. As a boy George Washington allegedly accidentally chopped down a cherry tree, which he confessed to his fathers delight. There is also the tale where his father planted some seeds in the garden which grew up to spell GEORGE WASHINGTON so as to demonstrate by analogy Gods design in the universe(10). However these anecdotes are the pure invention of Parson Weems (10) as very little is known about Washingtons early childhood or his relationship with his father. These invented tales, no matter how ridiculous, are less offensive than the authors who drag over or omit Washingtons involvement in slavery. In the moral autobiography of George Washington called Founding Father Richard Brookhiser justifies Washingtons actions by stating slavery was sanctioned by the Bible and by Aristotle. Although Brookhiser underlines the hypocrisy that Washington used the rhetori... ...the senate. He suffered from stage fright and often blushed and faltered, (18) even at his inauguration as President, he trembled and several times could scarce make out to read his speech (18) This weakness of his is often glossed over as it doesnt seem to fit in with his image as the towering, imposing founding father. Yet today, it is essential for a President to be able to kip down impressive and clear speeches to the whole country. Finally there are some criticisms that he was not as effective General as is often believed. doubting Thomas Paine claimed that h e was a bad general whose strategy consisted of doing nothing (19). Although Paine had a personal agenda in condemning George Washington as he resented not being appointed Postmaster-General, and then later by not being rescued from French persecution by the government, it is true that George Washington did lose more battles than he won (20) and often did seem to do nothing for long periods of time. There is also the issue of his harsh treatment towards his own soldiers, any who were caught deserting or loot were flogged (21) and he even a Gallows near forty feet high erected to terrify the rest into obedience.