Brandon Lewis Junior American History
October 6, 2008 Character. Academics. Service.
Weekly essay #7
George Washington was not the appropriate choice to lead the continental army into war. Washington was an inexperienced man when it came down to have military experience. George Washington was a man who did not like to take the advice of others. Washington was not a strong leader, but he was a weak commander. Washington should not have been chosen to be the leader of the continental army.
George Washington did not have the military experience that was needed to lead the continental army. “Washington distressed that his abilities might not be adequate.” (Langguth, 290) George Washington could not lead a strong army because he did not have the experience needed to lead them. Since Washington did not have the experience needed to lead the continental army, the ones who elected him to lead the continental was setting the army up for failure. The soldiers were to look to Washington for leadership and guidance, but they could not do this if he did not have any military experience.
Another thing that held Washington from being the appropriate choice to lead the continental army is that he did not like to take the advice of others. “The Half-King, Tanacharison, recalled when he was young and unwilling to take advice from others.” (Langguth, 297) George Washington risked losing some of his men because if they came to him with advice on how to do something and he did not listen to them they could rebel and stop fighting for him. During the war, he continued to make decision by himself. “When the horsemen decided to continue on foot and fight, Washington told them no and sent them home.” (Langguth, 374) When the soldiers decided as a whole to continue to fight on foot, Washington should have stood with them, but instead he did not like their decision...