Painting 2

George Washington Crossing the Delaware

Emmanuel Gottleib Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware

HISTORICAL CONTEXTCrossing the Delaware

Crossing the Delaware

• December 25, 1776.• Surprise attack against Hessian forces.• Decisive victory.• Captured over 900. • No loss of American life.

Perspective 1

• A true hero.• Among the greatest of our leaders.• Selfless, bold, wise.

First among the Founders

• Considered one of the best presidents ever.• Elected unanimously.• Only president not to belong to a political

party.• If it didn’t work with him, it may not have

worked at all.

Second only to Lincoln in historical rankings

Bold leader

• Considered to be the best horseman of his time by Thomas Jefferson.

• He would canvas, think, decide, and then never back down.

• Never allowed his army to be trapped.

By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability and expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, altho' death was levelling my companions on every side.

Wise

• Realized how to defeat British.• Was thoughtful in his decisions.• Consulted others.

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet an enemy.

George Washington quotes

Selfless, noble

• Largest property owner in the U.S., risked everything by rebelling against the British.

• Did not seek command of the army.• Was offered the presidency, and walked away.• Stepped down after 2 terms – establishing a

tradition unbroken until 1940.• Freed his slaves at his death (unique among slave

owning presidents). Cared for the sick for 3 decades after his death.

Perspective 2

• Heroification: removing the blemishes of people and transforming them into something unreal.

He was fallible

• Washington lost more battles than he won.• He married the richest woman in the country,

but loved another.• Obsessed with his image and legacy.

Slave owner

• Owned over 300 slaves.• Utilized harsh punishment, including

whipping.• Sold slaves to the West Indies on several

occasions.

Perspective 3

• The “great man” view of history.• Elides over the contributions of ordinary

people.• Did he cross the Delaware alone?

Revolutionary War was brutal

• 1 in 4 men who served in the army died.• 25,000 dead.• Equivalent to 2.5 million today.• The war was not won by one man.

Emmanuel Gottleib Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware