In this Virginia History Blog, we look at four volumes of George Washington biography. “Washington: A Life” describes the Founder’s personal and political growth in his roles as leader in war and peace. “Ascent of George Washington” focuses on his political practice. “Political Philosophy of George Washington” explores three pillars of his thought. “In the Hands of a Good Providence” documents the religious life of George Washington.
Washington: A Life
Ron Chernow wrote Washington: A Life in 2010. It is available from the Penguin Press, on Kindle and online new and used. A companion to Marcus Cunliffe George Washington: Man and Monument (1958). See also Jeffry H. Morrison George Washington and American Constitutionalism (1993, University of Kansas Press).
Chernow builds a character study of Washington’s eventful life based on firsthand accounts and Washington’s own diary and letters. From an early beginning as a second son of a middling planter with indifferent education, Washington displayed an ability to grow intellectually and emotionally in both frontier skills and political acumen. Chernow documents not only his ambition, but also his sense of duty.
A complex character of temper and sentiment, Washington developed a stoic exterior but he was nevertheless capable of motivating others to his adopt his goals and causes. In keeping the Continental Army intact, Washington kept the revolutionary cause alive, not just during battles, but between them.
Chernow explores Washington’s personal financial troubles, his conflicted views of slavery, domestic crises such as the Whiskey Rebellion and political firestorms like the Jay Treaty of 1784 that he tried to keep secret in the U.S. Senate. He was criticized by John Adams, Benjamin Rush, William Maclay and Thomas Paine. Despite the difficulties of his first two terms, Washington ensured the survival the establishment of the Constitution, the survival of the country, and the presidency as an agent of domestic and foreign policy.
To buy “Washington: A Life” on Amazon, click here.
The Ascent of George Washington
John Ferling wrote The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon in 2009. Available from the Bloomsbury Press, Kindle and online new and used. A sequel to Ferling First of Men: A Life of George Washington (1988). Companion volume to Paul Longmore The Invention of George Washington (1999), Joseph Ellis His Excellency: George Washington (2005), and Peter Henriques Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington (2006).
Ferling captures a human side of George Washington dominated by “overweening” ambition. While Washington preserved the illusion of being a “selfless” and “disinterested” nonpartisan, he always behaved politically, cultivating patrons, unabashedly promoting himself. Washington sat as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for over fifteen years, and received several political appointments as a militia commander.
A delegate to both First and Second Continental Congresses, he secured an appointment as General in Chief. His political skills enabled his Continental Army to survive a fractious, meddling Continental Congress. Major defeats were attributed to a failing subordinate, General John Sullivan for Brandywine, or General Adam Stephen for Germantown. His rival General Horatio Gates repeatedly threatened to replace him following Gates’ victory at Saratoga. Yet despite the Congressional inquiries, Washington stood out as “truly committed to an ideal” transcending his self-interest.
Following the Revolution, Washington led the Federalists in their stratagem to strengthen the national government at the expense of the states. As president, Washington’s personal influence among his Revolutionary contacts led to the adoption of Alexander Hamilton’s financial program. Nevertheless, he “meant what he said” about political ambition, and did not seek a third term that would certainly have been his had he wanted it.
To buy “The Ascent of George Washington” on Amazon, click here.
The Political Philosophy of George Washington
Jeffry H. Morrison wrote The Political Philosophy of George Washington in 2009. Available from the Johns Hopkins University Press, Kindle and online new and used. See also Marcus Cunliffe Man and Monument (2011) and Joseph Ellis His Excellency: George Washington (2005).
George Washington was central to the founding of the United States, and he was better informed and more thoughtful than earlier biographers supposed. By studying the volumes held in Washington’s personal library, Morrison traces three main streams of George Washington’s political philosophy that remained consistent throughout his political life: classical republicanism, British liberalism, and Protestant (Anglican) Christianity.
Much of Washington’s personal conduct was governed by an ethical code derived from ancient republican Rome. He often closely paraphrased many of Cato’s couplets in his correspondence in his praise of the agrarian life, assertion of natural law and justice, and belief in the importance of friendship as a civic bond. In civic life, Washington connected public virtue and community happiness. After the Revolution, the general became Cincinnatus, returning to his family farm.
A strong nationalist with a skeptical view of human nature, Washington focused on political principles of union, liberty, and self-government, all related to Morrison’s reading of British liberalism. It explains Washington’s evolving opposition to slavery, ending with the emancipation of his slaves and endowing them with farmland to sustain their economic independence. He accepted Locke’s value of property rights, along with his tenet that legitimate government derive its just powers from the consent of the governed.
Washington was better acquainted with the Bible than has been generally recognized. A “political thespian”, he effectively balanced a conforming public piety with his concern for religious liberty among dissenters. Nevertheless he supported compulsory church support of choice and believed public proclamations of religion contributed to unity in a virtuous republic.
To buy “The Political Philosophy of George Washington” on Amazon, click here.
In the Hands of a Good Providence
Mary V. Thompson wrote In the Hands of a Good Providence: Religion in the Life of George Washington in 2008. It is available from the University of Virginia Press, on Kindle and online new and used. See also David L. Holmes The Faiths of the Founding Fathers (2006), Michael and Jana Novak Washington’s God: Religion, Liberty, and the Father of Our Country (2007), and Peter H. Henrique Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington (2008).
Washington was a devout member of Virginia’s Anglican Church and its successor the American Episcopal Protestant Church, or a Latitudinarian low-churchman of that sect, or a Christian Diest, or a non-Christian Diest. Thompson explores the historical evidence, the historiography and the current political context of whether the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation.
Thompson asserts that Washington was a low-churchman, avoiding theological disputation, downplayed doctrine, emphasized ethical conduct and genteel behavior, and in general supported the social order of colonial Virginia. In the historical record, there is evidence that Washington was a long-time vestryman in his church, but he was neither confirmed, nor did he receive communion. But he did have a prayer life, was familiar with the Bible and the tenets of the Christian religion, was tolerant of other Christian denominations and made charitable contributions. And he publically supported religion as a pillar of civil society, observance of the Sabbath, and religious freedom of conscience.
To buy “In the Hands of a Good Providence” on Amazon, click here.
See Also
Current releases related to Virginia history in other eras from Spring 2018 journals can be found in previous Virginia History Blogs at Colonial Virginia – Spring 2018, Revolutionary Virginia – Spring 2018, and Civil War Virginia – Spring 2018, and New South and Modern Virginia – Spring 2018.
Summer journal titles begin with the Colonial Virginia Era i , Colonial Virginia Era ii, Revolution and New Nation, and Jefferson and Madison.
The TVH webpage for Revolution, Constitution and New Nation Eras 1750-1824, features our top title picks taken from the bibliographies of three surveys of Virginia History’s 400 years: two that are widely used in Virginia college courses, and one to be published by the University of Virginia Press in 2019. Titles are organized by topics related to Political and Economic Virginia, Social, Gender, Religious, African American Virginia, and Wars in Virginia during this time span.
The Table of Contents divides Political and Economic Virginia, 1750-1824 into Revolution and Constitution Policy, and New Nation Policy. Topical history is treated under headings of Social History, Gender in Virginia, Religious Virginia and African American Virginian. Finally, two wars are featured under American Revolution and the War of 1812.
General surveys of Virginia History can be found at Virginia History Surveys. Other Virginia history divided by topics and time periods can be found at the webpage Books and Reviews.
Note: Insights for these reviews include those available from articles in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary Quarterly, the Journal of the Civil War Era, the Journal of Southern History and the Journal of American History.