Reading George Washington

George Washington is the indispensable American. One Brit called him the American William Wallace in the 1790s. The United States would not exist without his leadership, both during the American War for Independence and as first President of the United States.

Washington was also the first real American action hero. He was arguably the best athlete and horseman of the founding generation, a war hero, and a Virginia gentleman. Washington loved America--what he called the American nation--but he was a product of Virginia. He was driven by a desire to glue the fledgling American federal republic together, even until the day he died in December 1799.

Understanding Washington is one of the keys to understanding the early federal republic. This course traces Washington's life from a teenager on the frontier to his final days at Mt. Vernon through his own words.

This course will help you understand the real George Washington.