In the 1700’s, the main source of news was either newspapers or talk amongst neighbors. Today, we have the internet, television, newspapers, and radio. The past life of the public officials is nipped and picked at, and examined with a fine toothed comb. When George Washington was elected president, he was never questioned on anything in his past on the public stage.
Modern media today looks for any imperfection in a public figure, and attacks it. George Washington, in his youth, was known to be a swindler, or in other words, he stole money. Even as an adult, Washington continues such a practice. This time, he justifies his actions by his seemingly never ending quest to become a gentleman. During the French and Indian War, soldiers were recruited with the promise of land when the war had ended. When the time came for the land to be dealt out, Washington cried foul. While the recruited soldiers were to be given land for there service, the officers, one of whom Washington was, were to have served out of honor for there country alone. Through a loophole in the British doctrine promising land, Washington was able to acquire over 10,000 acres in land. In effect, Washington stole all of the land that was meant for the soldiers under his command. He also had a habit of blaming everyone else except for himself when he failed.
Washington’s military command during the French and Indian War would be a reason of question all its own. Washington’s “Fort Necessity” was plagued with disaster from the day it was built. Besides the fact that it was made up of chopped trees that were 12 feet tall, it also was located in a valley, surrounded by hills. The poor location left it open to French “pot shots”. Also, the French command was able to see every move literally that Washington and his soldiers made. Washington refused to abandon the post until it was flooded.
The Term Paper on understanding behaviour of soldiers during war
How Milgram’s work is relevant to understanding behaviour of soldiers during war. Summary This report will use the work of Milgram to demonstrate an understanding of the implications of obedience. Briefly touch on some of the events throughout the Second World War in a military context today, and the relevance now. Show the implications of adhering to commands from figures of authority and the ...
Washington was very stubborn. As I mentioned above, he was on a never-ending quest to become a gentle man. After he surrendered his army to the French, Washington was presented with the proper papers. The problem was that they were all in French. Washington, who would not admit being unable to read French, a language which was mastered by all gentlemen, signed the papers without reading a single word. This posed a problem. In the body of the surrender agreement, it stated that by signing, Washington admitted to willfully killing a French diplomat. During a past skirmish, before the French and Indian War had even started, Washington’s army had taken prisoner what was believed to be a French officer. This officer was actually a French diplomat. Soon after being captured, a Indian chief who was with Washington and his troops, split open the head of the diplomat with his ax, and then preceded to wash his hands with the brains of his victim. Washington’s refusal to admit he could not read French had basically started the whole war, by causing a liability for Britain.
To conclude, there were several things in Washington’s past for which he would be scrutinized for today by the media.
