Changes

Washington's path to revolution reflected the American ideology of [[Republicanism, U.S.|republicanism]]; indeed, it provides "an almost textbook example of the Radical Whig ideology that historians have made the central feature of scholarship on the American Revolution for the past forty years."<ref>Ellis (2004) p. 62</ref> Personal experiences on multiple levels convinced Washington there was indeed a British conspiracy to enslave the colonies, as he saw imperial policies constantly limiting and restricting his prized autonomy. In his quests for a commission in the redcoat army, for western land, and for economic independence from British consignment merchants, Washington found himself losing out, becoming a helpless dependent.

Washington's path to revolution reflected the American ideology of [[Republicanism, U.S.|republicanism]]; indeed, it provides "an almost textbook example of the Radical Whig ideology that historians have made the central feature of scholarship on the American Revolution for the past forty years."<ref>Ellis (2004) p. 62</ref> Personal experiences on multiple levels convinced Washington there was indeed a British conspiracy to enslave the colonies, as he saw imperial policies constantly limiting and restricting his prized autonomy. In his quests for a commission in the redcoat army, for western land, and for economic independence from British consignment merchants, Washington found himself losing out, becoming a helpless dependent.

Washington and the Continental Army triumphed by driving the 10,000 British out of [[Boston]] in March 1776. The tide turned; Washington barely survived humiliating defeats the defense of New York City that fall.  He revived the nation's fortunes by crossing the Delaware River and defeating British forces in stunning victories at Trenton and Princeton over the winter of 1776-77.  

Washington and the Continental Army triumphed by driving the 10,000 British out of [[Boston]] in March 1776. The tide turned; Washington barely survived humiliating defeats the defense of New York City that fall.  He revived the nation's fortunes by crossing the Delaware River and defeating British forces in stunning victories at Trenton and Princeton over the winter of 1776–77.  

[[Image:washington-deleware.jpg|right|thumb|220px|''[[Washington Crossing the Delaware]]'', by Emmanuel Leutze, 1850]]

[[Image:washington-deleware.jpg|right|thumb|220px|''[[Washington Crossing the Delaware]]'', by Emmanuel Leutze, 1850]]

[[Image:Washington resign commission.jpg|right|thumb|220px|John Trumbull's portrayal of General Washington resigning his commission]]

[[Image:Washington resign commission.jpg|right|thumb|220px|John Trumbull's portrayal of General Washington resigning his commission]]

===Victory in the South 1780-1781===

===Victory in the South 1780-1781===

The British made one last major effort in 1780-1781, invading South Carolina (and remote Georgia) in the hopes of rallying enough Loyalists to break off the southern states. Washington kept the main British army bottled up in New York City, as the southern campaigns turned into [[guerrilla warfare]] and assassination squads. The British realized they had failed and moved their army to Yorktown, Virginia, awaiting the Royal Navy to take it to New York. The British fleet did show up but was defeated by a stronger French fleet. Washington meanwhile moved his entire army and the French army to Yorktown, where they forced the British to surrender in October 1781.

The British made one last major effort in 1780–1781, invading South Carolina (and remote Georgia) in the hopes of rallying enough Loyalists to break off the southern states. Washington kept the main British army bottled up in New York City, as the southern campaigns turned into [[guerrilla warfare]] and assassination squads. The British realized they had failed and moved their army to Yorktown, Virginia, awaiting the Royal Navy to take it to New York. The British fleet did show up but was defeated by a stronger French fleet. Washington meanwhile moved his entire army and the French army to Yorktown, where they forced the British to surrender in October 1781.

King George III wanted to fight on even after losing two of his three combat armies but he lost control of [[Parliament]] and the American war was over. When the peace treaty was finalized in 1783, Washington triumphantly marched into New York City. Then to the astonishment of the world, Washington—by now the most famous man in the world—stopped the [[Newburgh Conspiracy]], resigned his commission, and went home to his plantation, setting a standard of republican belief in civilian supremacy.

King George III wanted to fight on even after losing two of his three combat armies but he lost control of [[Parliament]] and the American war was over. When the peace treaty was finalized in 1783, Washington triumphantly marched into New York City. Then to the astonishment of the world, Washington—by now the most famous man in the world—stopped the [[Newburgh Conspiracy]], resigned his commission, and went home to his plantation, setting a standard of republican belief in civilian supremacy.

* Cunliffe, Marcus. ''Washington: Man and Monument'' (1958),  

* Cunliffe, Marcus. ''Washington: Man and Monument'' (1958),  

* Ellis, Joseph J. ''His Excellency: George Washington'' (2004), by Pulitzer prize winner

* Ellis, Joseph J. ''His Excellency: George Washington'' (2004), by Pulitzer prize winner

* Ellis, Joseph J. "Inventing the Presidency." ''American Heritage'' 2004 55(5): 42-48, 50, 52-53. Issn: 0002-8738 Fulltext: online at Ebsco.

* Ellis, Joseph J. "Inventing the Presidency." ''American Heritage'' 2004 55(5): 42–48, 50, 52–53. Issn: 0002-8738 Fulltext: online at Ebsco.

* Henriques, Peter R.  ''Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington.'' (2006).  

* Henriques, Peter R.  ''Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington.'' (2006).  

* Higginbotham, Don. ''George Washington: Uniting a Nation'' (2002)

* Higginbotham, Don. ''George Washington: Uniting a Nation'' (2002)

*  Higginbotham, Don, ed.  ''George Washington Reconsidered''.  (2001). 336 pp.   

*  Higginbotham, Don, ed.  ''George Washington Reconsidered''.  (2001). 336 pp.   

* Wood, Gordon S. "The Greatness of George Washington." ''Virginia Quarterly Review'' 1992 68(2): 189-207. Issn: 0042-675x Fulltext: in Ebsco  

* Wood, Gordon S. "The Greatness of George Washington." ''Virginia Quarterly Review'' 1992 68(2): 189–207. Issn: 0042-675x Fulltext: in Ebsco  

===Biographies===

===Biographies===

* Novak, Michael and Novak, Jana.  ''Washington's God: Religion, Liberty, and the Father of Our Country.'' 2006. 282 pp.  Rejects idea that Washington was a deist; he kept his religion private and was probably a Christian

* Novak, Michael and Novak, Jana.  ''Washington's God: Religion, Liberty, and the Father of Our Country.'' 2006. 282 pp.  Rejects idea that Washington was a deist; he kept his religion private and was probably a Christian

* Nordham, George W.  ''The Age of Washington: George Washington's Presidency, 1789-1797.'' (1989).  

* Nordham, George W.  ''The Age of Washington: George Washington's Presidency, 1789-1797.'' (1989).  

* Pogue, Dennis J. "George Washington: Slave Master." ''American History'' 2004 38(6): 52-61. Issn: 1076-8866 Fulltext: in Ebsco, popular history

* Pogue, Dennis J. "George Washington: Slave Master." ''American History'' 2004 38(6): 52–61. Issn: 1076-8866 Fulltext: in Ebsco, popular history

*  Rozell, Mark J., William D. Pederson, Frank J. Williams. ''George Washington and the Origins of the American Presidency'' 2000 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=26469391 online edition]

*  Rozell, Mark J., William D. Pederson, Frank J. Williams. ''George Washington and the Origins of the American Presidency'' 2000 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=26469391 online edition]

* Riccards, Michael P.  ''A Republic, If You Can Keep It: The Foundations of the American Presidency, 1700-1800.'' (1987)

* Riccards, Michael P.  ''A Republic, If You Can Keep It: The Foundations of the American Presidency, 1700-1800.'' (1987)