George Washington

We all view George Washington as one of the great American heros. A genral, first president, and some one who ultimitle helped found our country. Therefore, it would be fair to say that we as Americans put George Washington up on pedistal. However, before this great American hero was born, there was a time were he was just in essence a "boy" when it came to miltary expertise. He was put in a situation were he "theoritically" started the French and Indian war. He was sent to into what we would now call the state of Maine, to drive the french out of English terroitory. What he ran into was a camp off about 10 men, early in the morning, all the french troops eating breakfeast. What washington didn't know was that these praticular french troops were diplomats sent to negotiate with the English. What was said to happen in Washington's journal was that the french drew there guns and Washington, with about 40 men gave the order to fire. He claims that it was in self defense, but other accounts say it was a massacure. Either way, this event transpired to become one of the reasons for the French Indian war.

Work Cited

Jackson, Donald. "George Washington Papers at the Libary of Congress, 1741-1799." Web.

Vantage point
We discussed in class how, in history, there have been different points of view on events depending on what side the person was on. With the account we studied there were three different vantage points. One from the Canadians, on from George Washington's journal, and one from the French. They all told the story how they would want to be perceived.

George Washington's journal said that the French and Canadians came and tried to invade the land, so he ordered his men to shoot out of self defense.

The Canadians said that the Americans fired while they were reading their summons and being peaceful.

We have to take this type of situationm into account when talking about history in times where we only have written records of the accounts and no other types of proof to know who was telling the real story.