Who was George Washington 1731 -1799 General

Who was George Washington? (1731 -1799)

General of the Continental Army • The Continental Army was formed after the Declaration of Independence and the declaration of war by England on the colonies.

George Washington as a General • While he wasn’t a great general, George Washington managed to pick some great commanders and eventually win the Revolutionary War. • He was hailed as a war hero, and named the first President of the United States.

George Washington as President • George Washington as President was important because of the PRECEDENTS he set. – He refused offers of a 2 nd term – He presided over the FIRST peaceful transfer of power in the new USA. – He was a strong supporter of a Federal system, which had a huge influence on both contemporary and modern politics.

Why is George Washington important to us today?

Because today is his birthday (sort of), and Americans get the day off work!

Important figures from American History Core American values and the people who represent them!

The Core values of American Society • • Freedom Individuality Inegenuity Hard work

Freedom • Freedom (at least the word, if not the reality) is a pervasive aspect of American society. – Cowboys – Minutemen – Patrick Henry – Pioneers – Benjamin Franklin

Cowboys

Who were cowboys? • Cowboys were cattle herders! (cow boy!) • Historically, the image of cowboys as bandits and sheriffs was an exaggeration. • Cowboys generally just rode around herding cattle. • How do they represent freedom?

LONE RANGERS

The lone ranger • The idea of a lone cowboy riding across the desert is very attractive to Americans – He has the freedom to go where he will – He lives off of his own skill and ability – He has no special advantages, he must overcome all dangers alone – He relies on nobody

Political ad, 2010

Famous Cowboy: Buffalo Bill • Buffalo Bill is a household name • Despite being famous for his cowboyishness, Buffalo bill was never a cowboy. • He was a soldier and showman, known for his colorful character.

Pioneers • During the early exploration of North America, pioneers were romanticized for many of the same reasons as cowboys – Freedom to go where and when they pleased – Dependence upon nobody but themselves – Ability to make do with only the materials they had, and not outside help – Curiosity and excitement about the unkown

Famous Pioneer: Daniel Boone • Daniel Boone is not famous for what he actually did, but famous more for what was written about him in the book The Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boone. • Boone -along with all other explorers of the period- became well known for a free, pioneering spirit. • Stereotype as the “natural man, ” who lives a free and uncomplicated life in the wild.

Ingenuity and Hard Work • While not every American loves hard work, being a diligent worker is something that is very respected in American society. • In addition, the ability to think up interesting and creative solutions to problems is something that most Americans associate with our culture

Macgyver

A couple of people who embody this ideal • Henry Ford • John Henry • Abraham Lincoln

Henry Ford (1863 -1947) • Henry Ford was born on a farm in Michigan, but when he died there was a line of people several hours long to walk past his coffin. • He began his work as a simple machinist, but eventually ran his own company (Ford motors), a company which is still around today.

Some things that made Henry Ford Famous and Popular • He more than doubled wages for his factory workers • He improved factory conditions • He drove down the price of cars and made them accessible to everybody • MOST IMPORTANTLY: he demonstrated that anybody could be successful if they worked hard enough. – Question: How could this attitude be a bad one?

• "Any man can learn anything he will, but no man can teach except to those who want to learn. "

John Henry • A folk legend, John Henry was a gigantic black man who sought to prove that hard work was the greatest form of human achievement.

Workin’ on the railroad • John Henry was a railroad worker who was afraid that he would soon be replaced by a rail-laying machine • He made a bet with the boss of the railroad crew that he could hammer spikes faster than the machine, and the contest begun. . .

Guess who won!?

JOOOHHHHNNN HENRY!!

and then, he immediately died.

Yep.

Why is that important? • Because Americans DO tend to believe that hard work is important • Americans do believe that if you work hard enough, you can overcome any obstacle • This does mean, however, that people in America that fail to do as well as others are considered “failures, ” and not unlucky.

So, in conclusion: • American history had a lot of interesting people.

American values: • • Freedom Individuality Inegenuity Hard work • What values do you think define Ukraine?