What Made George Washington Great？ ｜ 5 Minute Video
Descriptive Summary
George Washington’s greatness stemmed from his unwavering courage, integrity, and wisdom, which were instrumental in the birth and nurturing of the United States. Despite not being a traditional military genius or political theorist, he commanded immense respect. His courage was evident from his early military career, fighting for the British and later leading the Continental Army. He miraculously survived numerous battles without injury. His integrity shone when he resigned his military commission after the Revolutionary War, returning to his farm, a move that astonished King George III and solidified his image as a republican hero. Washington’s wisdom was crucial in defusing the Newburgh Rebellion, where disgruntled officers threatened to overthrow the government. His poignant gesture of needing spectacles due to his service moved his men to reaffirm their loyalty to civilian rule. Throughout his presidency, Washington consistently held the young nation together, earning him the title “Father of Our Country.”
Vocabulary Table
| Term | Definition | Used in sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity | The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. | His integrity shone when he resigned his military commission. |
| Courage | The ability to do something that frightens one. | Let’s start with his courage that was never in doubt. |
| Wisdom | The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. | With experience had come wisdom. |
| Instrumental | Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy. | His leadership was instrumental in the birth of the nation. |
| Nurturing | Protecting and caring for (someone or something) gently while they are growing. | He successfully guided it through war and nurtured it in peace. |
| Traditional | Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established. | Despite not being a traditional military genius… |
| Commission | An instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people. | He resigned his military command and went home. |
| Republican heroism | Heroism characterized by civic virtue, public service, and self-sacrifice for the common good of a republic. | Washington raised himself up as the embodiment of Republican heroism. |
| Defusing | Making a situation less tense or dangerous. | Washington sought to defuse their anger. |
| Fractious | (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome. | Washington was repeatedly called upon to hold the fractious young nation together. |
Embedded YouTube Video
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
George Washington was there at the of the nation.
He successfully guided it through war and nurtured it in .
Washington was always in the of the action.
He resigned his military command and went home to Mount .
Washington was repeatedly called upon to hold the young nation together.
Vocabulary Quiz
Question 1: What does “Integrity” mean?
a) The ability to do something that frightens one.b) The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
c) Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy.
d) Protecting and caring for someone gently.
Question 2: What is “Courage”?
a) The ability to do something that frightens one.b) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
c) Existing in or as part of a tradition.
d) An instruction, command, or duty.
Question 3: What does “Wisdom” refer to?
a) Making a situation less tense or dangerous.b) Irritable and quarrelsome.
c) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
d) Heroism characterized by civic virtue.
Question 4: What does “Instrumental” mean?
a) Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy.b) The quality of being honest.
c) Protecting and caring for someone gently.
d) Existing in or as part of a tradition.
Question 5: What is “Nurturing”?
a) The ability to do something that frightens one.b) Protecting and caring for (someone or something) gently while they are growing.
c) An instruction, command, or duty.
d) Making a situation less tense or dangerous.
Question 6: What does “Traditional” mean?
a) Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.b) The quality of being honest.
c) Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy.
d) Irritable and quarrelsome.
Question 7: What is a “Commission”?
a) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.b) An instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people.
c) Heroism characterized by civic virtue.
d) Making a situation less tense or dangerous.
Question 8: What is “Republican heroism”?
a) The ability to do something that frightens one.b) Heroism characterized by civic virtue, public service, and self-sacrifice for the common good of a republic.
c) Protecting and caring for someone gently.
d) Existing in or as part of a tradition.
Question 9: What does “Defusing” mean?
a) Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy.b) Making a situation less tense or dangerous.
c) The quality of being honest.
d) Irritable and quarrelsome.
Question 10: What does “Fractious” mean?
a) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.b) Irritable and quarrelsome.
c) An instruction, command, or duty.
d) Heroism characterized by civic virtue.
