George Washington Qualities

George Washington: You probably know him as the first president of the United States. I know him as a very effective leader of the country’s military, and a hard worker as well. Not only was he a great president, but he was also a successful leader in the military on many occasions as well. Therefore, the three qualities that made George Washington an effective leader were how much he was willing to sacrifice for the country, being so confident, & respectableness.

George Washington was willing to sacrifice his whole life for the birth of our new nation. “April 30, 1789: George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States.” When George Washington was chosen to be the first president of the United States, they wouldn’t

choose a bad leader. They would only choose the best man for the job, and one who was willing to do what’s best for the country, and not be selfish. “May 28, 1754: The Assassination of Jumonville, Half-King kills Jumonville, Washington is blamed as he did not protect his French prisoner. This event triggers the start of the global Seven Years’ War, which is know as the French and Indian War in North America.” If George wasn’t willing to sacrifice it all for his country and take the blame to help him move on and lead the country, the US wouldn’t be here today. Yes, the document may have been in French so he couldn't understand it, but that doesn’t matter. Even after he found that out, he still just dealt with it, putting the new nation first and himself second.

Not only was Washington willing to put everything on the line at all times, but he was very confident when doing anything as well. “December 25-26, 1776: Battle of Trenton Washington crosses the Delaware River and captures a Hessian force at Trenton, New Jersey.” Not many generals would lead their army across an icy river, let alone at night on some shaky boats on choppy waters. But then there's Washington, doing it with all the confidence in his world in his men making it across successfully, and they did. He constructed a plan and stuck to it and it payed off big time in the end. “October 19, 1781: Battle of Yorktown, Washington, patiently waiting for a decisive battle, gets it when he races south and, in a superbly coordinated operation with French land and naval forces, traps the army of General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, VA. Cornwallis surrenders on October 19, effectively ending the war.” Due to Washington being confident, he won the battle of Yorktown, making the British surrender because they had nothing left to do. He made a battle plan, and no matter how hard it got with losing men and any other problems that came up to him, he stayed confident and kept moving forward, not letting a thing in the world set him back or stop him.

Somehow, with all his confidence, he still never got big headed and was respected very much by everybody.

“The defeat marked the end of the Braddock expedition, by which the British had hoped to capture Fort Duquesne and gain control of the strategic Ohio Country. Braddock was mortally wounded in the battle and died during the retreat near present day Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He specifically asked for George Washington, who accompanied him on the march, to oversee his burial. The remainder of the column retreated south-eastwards and the fort, and region, remained in French hands until its capture in 1758.” If General Braddock, on his deathbed, chooses you to basically take over what he is about to leave behind, you have to be quite a special person. It shows how much he is respected by a general, which would also mean he is highly respected by every other soldier throughout the army. He gained even more respect by winning battles and becoming a leader on bigger stages, too. “December 1792: Washington is unanimously re-elected President of the United States by the Electoral College.” If you get re-elected, you have to be liked, and respected. There were definitely many other people who would have loves to be in his position, and that were willing to do the job, but he was that well respected and good at what he does that they re-elected him.

Leadership is such a hard skill to master, but Washington was maybe the only person to ever fully accomplish the skill. A few qualities

that made George Washington an effective leader were how much he was willing to sacrifice for the country, being so confident, & the respectableness. Overall, George Washington was a very effective leader no matter what the occasion was.