George Washington: Founding Father

This BIOGRAPHY presents an intimate portrait of George Washington. Focusing on his personal life, it offers an examination of the man behind the towering symbol. Washington’s stature as first president and founding father created a public persona. George Washington: Founding Father seeks to dispel the myths and tell the story of the man.

This BIOGRAPHY would be useful for classes on American history, American culture and civics. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

• adulation
• agrarian
• alleged
• aptitude
• archenemy
• besieged
• bivouac
• coalition
• commandeer
• contiguous
• cultivation
• decorum
• diffident
• dignified
• discreet
• disgruntled
• diverse
• ebullient
• elite
• embroiled
• envoy
• eulogize
• foray
• graven
• humiliation
• immune
• inauspicious
• indentured
• indulgence
• intimidating
• legitimize
• liabilities
• manumission
• monarchical
• narcissistic
• non-partisan
• obelisk
• oblivion
• philandering
• precarious
• propriety
• psyche
• ratified
• sophisticated
• speculative
• spontaneous
• summit
• surrogate
• surveyor
• tactician
• tidewater
• unanimous
• withering
• zeal

1. There are many myths surrounding George Washington, such as his chopping down a cherry tree as a child. Why did these myths arise? What purpose did they, or do they , serve?

2. Everyone knows who George Washington was. How did this biography alter or change your perceptions of George Washington?

3. George Washington married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow. How did Martha Custis Washington help George Washington in his military and political career?

4. George Washington began his military career as a British soldier. What changes Washington from a loyal soldier to a rebel?

5. How did Washington’ s personal finances lead to his conclusion that it was necessary for colonists to gain economic and political independence?

6. Discuss the conditions faced by the Revolutionary soldiers under Washington’s command.

7. The American form of government forged by the founding fathers is known as a constitutional democracy. Why was this form of government referred to as “the great experiment?”

8. George Washington, like many other American leaders of his time, owned slaves. How do you reconcile a government, born of rebellion, that was led by slaveholders?

1. Imagine that you are a soldier at Valley Forge and you are writing a letter to your family. How would you describe your experience? What would you tell your family about General Washington? What about the conditions?

2. George Washington was unanimously elected as first president of the United States. Discuss what other choices might have been viable. Who else would have made a good choice for the first president? How would American history be different?

3. Create your own myth about George Washington. How would you incorporate Washington’s qualities into a story?

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Air Dates

• July 03, 2002