Analysis
Washington understood that in order to win the war he
needed to convince people of America's power and resolve. He needed
to convince the British that his army would not crumble; he needed
to convince the French that helping America would help France;
he needed to convince Americans that it was worth the sacrifice
and suffering. He, almost alone, juggled the expectations of three nations.
He suffered many defeats and setbacks, but seems to never have
lost his belief in his cause. In his letters to friends, colleagues, and
the Continental Congress, he never wavered in his conviction that
America would prevail.
Even if Washington ever doubted America's chances, he
dared not express his fears in public. No one knew better than
he did what a long shot it was. This is why he was eager to attack;
the constant waiting and retreating made him restless. The longer
the wait, the less likely he would be to keep the loyalty and spirit
of his soldiers and the American people. When the French entered
the war, most Americans rejoiced, believing the war would soon
end. Washington knew differently. The French joined the war to
hurt Britain, not to help America. Their assistance would only
go so far.
Washington believed that virtue and honor in defense of
a just cause would bring America victory. He took these ideals
seriously. He came from a society in which men of his class all
sought honor and the respect of their fellow citizens. For these
men wealth was a given–they owned slaves and vast tracts of land–but
honor had to be earned. From our perspective they may seem hypocritical
or self-righteous, but they ought to be judged by the standards
of their own time.
Washington took the notion of virtue more seriously than
most people did. He believed in duty to his country and expected
as much from his solders. This is why Arnold's defection caused
him such pain; it is also why he was so disturbed to discover that
his own officers had been plotting to overthrow Congress. When
he learned of the plot he called his officers together and reminded
them of their duty to the people of America. He ended with a dramatic
touch, pulling out his eyeglasses to read. "Gentleman you must
pardon me," Washington said, "I have grown gray in the service
of my country and now find myself growing blind." With these simple words
and gesture, Washington communicated to his troops how much he
had sacrificed for the cause of liberty and that a betrayal of those
ideals would be a betrayal of him. The officers,
shamed and inspired, immediately gave up their rebellious plans.
Washington expressed his ideals not in words but in action.
No single moment of his life expresses this better than his resignation
in 1783. While we can hardly imagine an American dictator or monarch
now, in 1783 such leaders were all the world knew. Yet Washington,
like many Americans, believed in democracy (albeit a kind of democracy
that was very different from what we now have). He knew that by
resigning his command he would prove that the ideals of the Revolutionary
War were real, not mere excuses to avoid paying taxes. Many Americans
were equally devoted to liberty and law and would have done the
same thing in Washington's place. But, fortunately, Washington
combined that devotion with ambition and ability to lead America
through eight years of war, facing a skeptical Congress and a frustrated
army.
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