The Contributions of George Washington to The American Victory Over The British Empire

George Washington a man who is known for being one of the most prominent historical figures in American history. At the age of 21 years old, George Washington was a major in the Virginia militia during the seven years’ war. In 1753, George Washington was sent to Pennsylvania to demand the French to withdraw from the forts. The French refused to withdraw. In the spring of 1754, George Washington returns to Pennsylvania's with about 160 men resulting in Washington defeating the French at Fort Necessity, this being the first battle of the French and Indian War (Seven Years War, 2017). George Washington may have lost several fights during the seven years’ war, but those battles prepared Washington to be a leader, strategist, and a fellow American during the Revolutionary War.

George Washington was the leader of the Continental Army throughout the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Washington was known as a strategist with the mastered art of retreat and surprise (Ripper, 2008). With this type of strategy, Washington had the disadvantage of his enemies, and many resulted in his victories. In 1777, Washington ordered his troops to throw more wood into the evening bonfires to make the camp appear livelier and settled. Washington then told his troops to slip away undercover for it looked like the British troops were most likely going to trap his army early (Ripper, 2008). According to a soldier, the soldier recalled George Washington riding onto the open field and took an observation of the advancing enemy. He remained there for some time while still on his horse, while the shots from the British artillery were firing at the earth around him (Ripper, 2008). Washington planned a secretive move with his soldiers and cannons to Dorchester Heights, in this location lead balls could be lobbed towards the Britain’s. The British fled resulting in Washington winning Boston (Ripper, 2008, pg.87).

Washington was not just a man of strategy and war he was also a man who knew how to use resources that were available to him. Washington would allow his soldiers wives along with his wife to stay in the war camps. By allowing women to stay, it provided the soldiers with the comfort of a loved one while sewing circles were created to help out with the other female soldiers who were food foragers, cannon cleaners, and laundresses (Ripper, 2008).

Washington played a vital part in making independence possible. George Washington became the icon of strength and republican virtue to where his countrymen could rally. Washington became their bedrock, their symbol, their lightning rod, even if some of his earliest strategies did not work (Ripper, 2008, pg. 86). Washington put his troops and his countrymen before himself, he knew his countrymen were fighting for freedom, and he wanted to see that freedom turn into a victory.