History Through Literature

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History Through Literature

• I. The Founding Fathers

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George Washington Early Life

• B. 1732
• Family owned slaves tobacco
• Not super smart
• Became a surveyor invaluable knowledge of
  Virginia land.
• Became a militia leader for Virginia no
  military training (political)
• Surrendered at Fort Necessity (French and Indian
  War)
• Fought gallantly at Monongahela when British
  Braddock killed retreated and saved the men
• Retired an became a planter and politician

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George and Martha

• Married Martha Custis in 1759. Adopted her 2
  girl children.
• Never had any of their own
• Washington most likely sterile because of
  smallpox and tuberculosis heavily pox marked.

4
Washington Politics
5
War for Independence

• Quickly took Boston British retreated without a
  shot
• Went after New York lost, retreated without
  losing any materials though
• Knew when to attack for morale Crossing of the
  Delaware 1776
• Lost more battles than won
• Trapped the British on Yorktown peninsula in 1781
• War officially ended in 1783

6
The Newburgh Conspiracy

• During war, group of officers approached him to
  take over Congress (back pay). He said no.
• Group went to General Henry Knox which was
  planning for him to replace Washington as
  Commander in Chief.
• Met at Newburgh, New York (outside NY, NY)
• Washington showed up to the meeting fumbled
  with his glasses they disbanded
• British could have attacked.

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Presidency

• Unanimously elected by the electoral college
  (only one)
• Served 2 terms, (2nd was reluctant)
• Put down the Whiskey rebellion show of strength
• Delegated lots to Hamilton and Jefferson
• Farwell address warned of entanglements in
  Europe and of political parties
• Gave up power a second time

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Ambrose on Washingtons Legacy

• Had a rock solid character
• Should deserve the title of Great (Alexander the
  Great) George Washington the Great.hmmm.
• Established the American idea that We can do it
• Freed his slaves on his death
• Most important turned down power twice.
• Died 2 years after presidency in 1799
• People wanted to have a grand mausoleum built in
  DC he is buried at Mt. Vernon.

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Thomas Jeffersons Early Life

• b. April 13th, 1743
• Virginian
• Very smart
• Rich tutored
• Lawyer
• Played the violin

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TJs personal life

• Married to Martha, had 6 children, only 1
  survived to adulthood Martha jr.
• Martha died in childbirth of 6th child
• Did not remarry
• Had at least 1 if not 5 children with slave Sally
  Hemming (DNA)
• Had a lisp did not like to talk in public
  wrote
• Never freed his own slaves
• Died July 4th, 1826 50th anniversary of the
  signing of the Declaration of Independence. The
  same day John Adams died.

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Monticello
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Thomas Jefferson Founding Father

• Delegate to the Second Continental Congress
• Declaration of Independence
• Governor of Virginia during War
• Missed the Constitution (minister to France)
• First ever Sec of State (Washington)
• VP under Adams
• Very states rights Kentucky and Virginia
  resolutions (nullification)

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TJs Presidency

• 1800 (Revolution)
• Louisiana Purchase Lewis and Clark
• Embargo of 1807 and tensions with England and
  France
• Shores of Tripoli

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Ambrose on Jeffersons Legacy

• Did not escape his time and place
• Did not have courage to lead us out of slavery
  (Lincoln)
• Biggest contradiction was slavery
• Northwest Ordinance all new states equal
• Universal education
• Great achievements was words, But those words!
• Biggest revolutionary
• Left us his hope in his words