George Washington: the Man who would not be King by Luke Robinson

There are many people who only remember George Washington as the very first president of the United States or the man on the one-dollar bill. Because of these minimal assumptions people do not care to research or even acknowledge the many other traits and personalities that are of George Washington. As a young man, he was pretty insecure yet full of himself and feared that another man would conduct better qualities than his own. When he was in his earlier years he was given the privilege to acquire his own land, but he did not receive his first assignment of battle until the age of twenty-two. Fort Necessity marked the first major event in his military career, but this battle carried a negative effect on the people and Washington. He surrendered to his enemies at midnight and proved himself a burden to the people.

For this battle introduced the French and Indian War and many blamed him for this cause. But despite all the defeats and hardships that came with the insufferable Seven Years War, George Washington's character and confidence was shaped and strengthened through his experiences and endless battles. Even later when the American Revolution came to place, Washington continued to prove his brilliance and leadership that was planted during his previous duels of war. For instance, on Christmas day he and his men snuck on enemy ground and gained victory over the British soldiers who became too drunk to prepare for such surprise. Washington proved himself to many people as the true American Revolution. Even with all the constant need for battle and struggle for victory, Washington did live outside of his military career. He was factually quite the bookworm. He would spend his free time educating himself and focusing his mind inside literature. He also enjoyed theater and even had a personal favorite out of the plays he contentedly observed. Although he carried good character and practiced calming hobbies as shown previously, Washington had a few faults of his own. Specifically speaking, he was a man who desired women.

He even fell in deep admiration for Sally Fairfax though she was already married and even showed his aspire towards Sally by published letters to her. Washington also owned slaves whom he viewed as property and nothing more. Near his death however, he found slavery to be useless and freed his slaves in his own will. With all his wit and pride Washington struggled for conquest and triumph over his enemies, but the presentation of his speech to the officials was the most important performance he ever made. Though seeming shocking, he actually won the hearts of the officials by wearing a significant pair of glasses. For the glasses symbolized his decline in strength and his own personal pain. Through his speech men viewed him as he dreamed they would: the man who was qualified for leadership and a man of integrity. Washington might have been a man of insecurities growing up, but because of his perseverance, leadership, and recognition within himself he became the first and one of the greatest presidents in all history. May generations to com remember and acknowledge the true biography of George Washington.

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