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PLOT
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Though he eventually came into great wealth at his Mount Vernon estate, George Washington was born to more modest
roots as a fifth-generation Virginian. Adamant in his desire to climb to higher social circles, he mastered
physical skills and rules etiquette, then joined the military in search of the prestigious life of an officer. He
gained a good reputation by completing dangerous missions on behalf of the British, but a series of missteps and
defeats in 1754 led directly to the onset of the French and Indian War and held Washington up for public ridicule
for the first time.
But he stood tall and received a second chance a year later when he assumed battlefield command of the Virginia
Militia after its commander had been killed, dodging bullets on the front lines at Monongahela and forever gaining
the respect of his men. From there he matured as a commander and helped drive the French from the Ohio Territory
before retiring to Mount Vernon at age 27. Little did Washington know at the time that his military life had only
just begun.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Other than the most basic of facts, what do the majority of Americans really know about George Washington? Were
you aware that he lost more battles than he won and that his first major battle was a major disaster? That he was
second-guessed by Congress and ridiculed by enemy commanders?
Narrowing its focus on his military career, Washington the Warrior takes a close look at George
Washington and how he saw himself. He was an ambitious young man, not from a wealthy family, who had to make it
on his own. It was a challenge that he readily accepted, and despite his early setbacks (including various
near-death experiences), he never let himself become humiliated. His overconfidence and naiveté took a hit as
he lost his sense of invincibility, but it ultimately shaped him into the respected leader and warrior that he
would become.
Featuring carefully researched re-enactments, journals, historical documents, and interviews with noted
experts, historians, and authors; Washington the Warrior looks closely at not only how the military shaped
George Washington's life but also at how Washington's military career would eventually shape America. The hard
lessons he learned as he strived to climb the military ranks would benefit him throughout the rest of his life's
endeavors.
If your knowledge of George Washington doesn't extend beyond the basics of "the father of our country" and "America's
first president" then this should be required viewing. Even if you fancy yourself well-educated in America's
history, there's still most likely something here for you to learn. I personally came away with more knowledge
regarding Washington and what truly made him who he was. I particularly like the exploration of the military
perspective.
Celebrate Memorial Day by watching Washington the Warrior with the whole family. You might be surprised at
how well a little education goes with those hotdogs and hamburgers.
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WASHINGTON THE WARRIOR HIGHLIGHTS (from the publicity notes)
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The skills he learned and challenges he faced while running the Mount Vernon Estate, including the sudden death
of his stepdaughter Patsy and growing antagonism toward the British and their business and taxation practices.
Hoping to delay formal party warfare, Washington had to accommodate the opposing views of Thomas Jefferson and
Alexander Hamilton within his cabinet.
Washington's time in the Continental Congress, during which his remarkable charisma and resolve earned him the
role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the fight against the British.
Washington's efforts to pull together the discipline and attention of his undermanned army to fight the most
powerful force in the world, a task that would be revisited several times over the course of the Revolutionary War
as he struggled to keep the army from total disintegration.
His Revolutionary War triumphs as Boston, Trenton, and Princeton, and the lowly disappointments of Manhattan,
Long Island, and Kip's Bay.
The brutal winter at Valley Forge, during which American soldiers died by the dozen from bitter cold, disease,
and a lack of supplies, but where Washington cemented his status as a beloved leader by staying with his men day
in and day out throughout the winter.
His final masterstroke at Yorktown, where Washington’s army turned the tide of the entire war in the eleventh
hour, delivering a knockout blow to his rival Cornwallis with the help of a French Naval fleet.
After defeating the British, Washington again proves his immeasurable worth to the American dream with steady,
unassuming guidance through an uprising in his own ranks, from soldiers seeking better pay and benefits from the
government.
His almost unprecedented decision to relinquish power back to Congress after conquering the mighty British, a
move that many feel ultimately defined him as the most unique of all warriors: a man who preferred liberty to power
and justice to glory.
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