Military Leaders: Julius Caesar Vs. George Washington

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World powers are usually created after political turmoil and usually encompass one key leader. In Rome this leader was Julius Caesar, who was appointed dictator for life and greatly changed the direction of Rome from a republic to an empire. In the United States, George Washington was a key military leader in the British Colony’s war for independence and was the first president of the new country. Both Julius Caesar and George Washington had great military experience, and were great leaders in their fledgling countries, but they greatly differed in their motivations and ideology, which bled into their countries.
Both Caesar and Washington had exceptional military careers which furthered their country. Julius Caesar was in a very long campaign to conquer Gaul, modern-day France. In his records of the Gallic wars he says, “Consuesse enim deos immortales, quo gravius homines ex commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro scelere eorum ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum res et diuturniorem impunitatem concedere,” which means “The immortal gods that are, won’t allow those people, who they wish to punish for their guilt, a greater prosperity and longer …show more content…

They both were war heroes that became the first leaders in their country after a rapid change in government. They both brought great internal improvements and expanded federal power. They differed in their legacies; Julius Caesar believed in an authoritarian dictatorial government that rules for what is best for the majority; however, George Washington believed in a libertarian republic with an elected president that ruled by the majority without oppressing the minority. These two leaders were in nearly the same situation but behaved radically different due to their ideals. If they had been in each other’s shoes, history may remember the “United States of Rome” and the “American

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