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George Washington and the Founding of a Nation
A full account of George Washington's role in building the early U.S. republic explores his life, focusing on the assets he brought to public life. Reprint.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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61 people want to read
About the author
Albert Marrin
58 books82 followersAlbert Marrin is a historian and the author of more than twenty nonfiction books for young people. He has won various awards for his writing, including the 2005 James Madison Book Award and the 2008 National Endowment for Humanities Medal. In 2011, his book Flesh and Blood So Cheap was a National Book Award Finalist. Marrin is the Chairman of the History Department at New York's Yeshiva University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 5, 2020
As France and Britain fought for territory at the edges of the North American colonies, Virginia sided with the British.
As an officer in the Virginia militia, Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley (now western Pennsylvania) with some 150 troops, to help prevent any attacks by the French. Warned by local Native American allies that a small French force has set up camp within some miles of his position, he led an attack with 40 of his soldiers, along with a dozen native warriors.
Who fired the first shot remains in dispute, but at the end of the 15-minute skirmish, at least 10 French soldiers and one Virginian were dead—including, most markedly, a minor French noble, Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, who the French later said was on a diplomatic mission. Jumonville’s death enraged the French, who called Washington an assassin.
The conflict between the French and the British escalated into the French and Indian War, and soon spread worldwide in what became known as the Seven Years’ War.
Albert Marrin’s excellent biography of America’s most preeminent founder fills a void between an abundance of biographies designed for elementary students and those that are more scholarly adult works.
The author frankly assesses Washington’s role in history from multiple perspectives, including as commander of the Continental Army, slaveholder and plantation owner, and America’s first president.
The life, character, and contradictions of the revered leader are explored in the context of the colonies’ fight for independence.
“The world has no business to know the object of my love, declared in this manner to you when I want to conceal it,” Washington wrote weeks before his wedding. The letter wasn’t sent to his fiancée Martha Custis—but to Sally Fairfax, who was married to one of his best friends and patrons, George Fairfax, son of one of Virginia’s largest landowners. Described as an intelligent, “dark-eyed beauty,” Sally befriended Washington when he was still an awkward teen. Historians credit her with helping to smooth his rough edges socially, teaching him how to behave and converse among the wealthy and powerful, and even how to dance the minuet. It’s unclear whether romance actually blossomed between the two.
Marrin makes good use of many of Washington’s quotes, including one prophetic remark made toward the end of his life: “I can clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union.”
As an officer in the Virginia militia, Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley (now western Pennsylvania) with some 150 troops, to help prevent any attacks by the French. Warned by local Native American allies that a small French force has set up camp within some miles of his position, he led an attack with 40 of his soldiers, along with a dozen native warriors.
Who fired the first shot remains in dispute, but at the end of the 15-minute skirmish, at least 10 French soldiers and one Virginian were dead—including, most markedly, a minor French noble, Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, who the French later said was on a diplomatic mission. Jumonville’s death enraged the French, who called Washington an assassin.
The conflict between the French and the British escalated into the French and Indian War, and soon spread worldwide in what became known as the Seven Years’ War.
Albert Marrin’s excellent biography of America’s most preeminent founder fills a void between an abundance of biographies designed for elementary students and those that are more scholarly adult works.
The author frankly assesses Washington’s role in history from multiple perspectives, including as commander of the Continental Army, slaveholder and plantation owner, and America’s first president.
The life, character, and contradictions of the revered leader are explored in the context of the colonies’ fight for independence.
“The world has no business to know the object of my love, declared in this manner to you when I want to conceal it,” Washington wrote weeks before his wedding. The letter wasn’t sent to his fiancée Martha Custis—but to Sally Fairfax, who was married to one of his best friends and patrons, George Fairfax, son of one of Virginia’s largest landowners. Described as an intelligent, “dark-eyed beauty,” Sally befriended Washington when he was still an awkward teen. Historians credit her with helping to smooth his rough edges socially, teaching him how to behave and converse among the wealthy and powerful, and even how to dance the minuet. It’s unclear whether romance actually blossomed between the two.
Marrin makes good use of many of Washington’s quotes, including one prophetic remark made toward the end of his life: “I can clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union.”
December 26, 2011
One of my goals in the coming year is to read more about American history. I have a bachelor degree in political science with a minor in history, but there is still times that I feel I do not know enough about our history as I should. American history is fascinating and rich. It's never simple, but we live in a time period where many like to oversimplify and discount large parts of it. It's up to us as people to explore our history for ourselves, so few seem to have the time or want to do it.
I checked this biography out of our school library. It is an excellent read! I am not a big biography fan because I often get bored with them. This one is far from boring. One of the things that Marrin does so well is how he contextualizes his subject. He takes Washington and does an excellent job of placing him in the events of not only American history, but a larger history of the Western European world of the time.
Washington is a fascinating study. Unfortunately, he has been mythologized and shrunk down to a few small stories. Remember the stupid cherry tree? Yeah, that is all a lie, never happened. In fact the truth is Washington was not a perfect man, but he lived his life in a way that many people can only hope to attain. The stories of Washington's character and leadership in the middle of battle and later political situations are just amazing.
Marrin does a great job of telling the ugly truths about Washington and American history. Many modern Americans like to discount early American history as racist, which is unfortunate, because the real history is not that simple, and far more complex. How many Americans know that only 19 of the 55 delegates (34%) to the Constitutional Convention actually owned slaves? Yes, Washington owned slaves, but Washington's views on slavery were evolving rather than stagnant. More Americans should know about Billy Lee, Washington's slave that served as his personal assistant through the Revolutionary war and beyond. At the end of his life Washington came to understand that slavery needed to be eradicated from America. In a conversation with an English actor by the name of John Bernard Washington is quoted as saying, "I can clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can [save] our Union."
Slavery is the one black mark on this amazing man, he never quite had the courage to publicly come out and say that slavery should be ended in America. It is easy for us to look back and say this is quite easy, but at the time it was not as simple. Washington did in fact free all his slaves in his will, interestingly, he was the only slave owning founding father to do so. Billy Lee was also freed upon the writing of the will, Washington was quoted as saying it was done in gratitude "for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War."
This quote from Washington struck me, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain the character of an honest man, as well as prove that I am." Despite his flaws, this quote truly embodies who the "indispensable man" really was.
This is an excellent biography for all ages. I highly recommend it!
Lexile=890
I checked this biography out of our school library. It is an excellent read! I am not a big biography fan because I often get bored with them. This one is far from boring. One of the things that Marrin does so well is how he contextualizes his subject. He takes Washington and does an excellent job of placing him in the events of not only American history, but a larger history of the Western European world of the time.
Washington is a fascinating study. Unfortunately, he has been mythologized and shrunk down to a few small stories. Remember the stupid cherry tree? Yeah, that is all a lie, never happened. In fact the truth is Washington was not a perfect man, but he lived his life in a way that many people can only hope to attain. The stories of Washington's character and leadership in the middle of battle and later political situations are just amazing.
Marrin does a great job of telling the ugly truths about Washington and American history. Many modern Americans like to discount early American history as racist, which is unfortunate, because the real history is not that simple, and far more complex. How many Americans know that only 19 of the 55 delegates (34%) to the Constitutional Convention actually owned slaves? Yes, Washington owned slaves, but Washington's views on slavery were evolving rather than stagnant. More Americans should know about Billy Lee, Washington's slave that served as his personal assistant through the Revolutionary war and beyond. At the end of his life Washington came to understand that slavery needed to be eradicated from America. In a conversation with an English actor by the name of John Bernard Washington is quoted as saying, "I can clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can [save] our Union."
Slavery is the one black mark on this amazing man, he never quite had the courage to publicly come out and say that slavery should be ended in America. It is easy for us to look back and say this is quite easy, but at the time it was not as simple. Washington did in fact free all his slaves in his will, interestingly, he was the only slave owning founding father to do so. Billy Lee was also freed upon the writing of the will, Washington was quoted as saying it was done in gratitude "for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War."
This quote from Washington struck me, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain the character of an honest man, as well as prove that I am." Despite his flaws, this quote truly embodies who the "indispensable man" really was.
This is an excellent biography for all ages. I highly recommend it!
Lexile=890
November 4, 2014
George Washington and the Founding of a Nation is a great book for 6th grade students wanting to improve their reading level. It is a little bit over 250 pages, and had a reading level of grade 7. I personally liked reading it because the book improved my vocabulary, and it taught not only of Washington, but of the way of life back then, and what was going on in England. The book also mentions Washington's letters, background, and family. Through his letters, and the author, one can really see his life as a man with feelings through the book. The author also did a very good job of making the words on the page come to life and become something like a movie in my imagination. There is humor in it, too. I sometimes laughed out loud at certain points in the book, because I couldn't imagine Washington doing what the book said he did! The author did a good job in researching as well - he disproved any false statements or tales about Washington, such as the one about Washington as a boy, and the cherry tree. And to make the book seem even better (because it is) there are pictures, so it makes reading and visualizing characters a little easier! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope this review was helpful!
March 17, 2012
George Washington & the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin is an extensive biography of Washington's personal and political background. It is full of quotes, letters, and entries by George Washington which makes the biography more engaging and factual. In addition, there are simple yet appropriate illustrations to help the reader visualize historical events. This biography is ideal for middle school students because it offers accurate information about George Washington and will allow them to gain a better understanding of the first founding father of our country.
March 8, 2009
Excellent account of the man and the era.
December 13, 2011
Great information about George Washington. Very interesting. Read things I didn't even know myself.
February 20, 2012
This is my favorite George Washington biography. The writing is vibrant with quotes from Washington himself and people from all walks of life including soldiers and fellow officers.
January 6, 2016
I really liked this. The writing style is easier and more fluid than traditional textbooks, so I really learned a lot about Washington.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews