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The Founders at Home: The Building of America, 1735-1817

Page 54

by Myron Magnet

Valley Forge, Pa., Washington’s quarters at, 140, 154–56, 159, 161, 327–28

  Vanbrugh, John, 56

  Van Rensselaer, Alida Schuyler, 19

  Van Rensselaer, Stephen, 392

  Van Schaack, Peter, 232–33

  Vaughan, Benjamin, 244, 246

  Vaughan, Samuel, 177

  Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de, 151, 241–47

  veto, federal, 344–45

  vice-admiralty courts, nonjury trials by, 41, 69, 226

  Vices of the Political System of the United States (J. Madison), 336

  “Victory or Death” password, 145

  violence:

  in American culture, 381–82

  and anarchy, 228–30, 278

  against civilians, 140–41

  in Jay family history, 220–21

  mob, 68, 87–88

  against Stamp Act, 43, 223–24

  Virginia, 50, 69, 76, 78, 80, 84, 174, 255

  American Revolution in, 165–68

  wealth of, 58

  Virginia, University of, 312–13, 380, 399

  Virginia Assembly, 324, 326, 333

  Virginia Capes, Battle of the, 168

  Virginia Constitutional Convention, 399

  Virginia Convention, 124, 125

  Virginia Declaration of Rights, 4

  Virginia Journal, 367

  Virginia Plan, 336–37, 344

  Virginia Ratifying Convention, 184, 287, 337, 347, 348, 351–53, 364

  Virginia Resolutions, 364–65, 388

  Virginia Resolves (1769), 123

  virtue:

  culture of, 21

  emulation theory and, 109–10

  as essential to freedom, 76, 184–85, 342, 377

  human capability for, 9–10, 265

  and religion, 252–53

  as Washington’s core value, 200–201

  Vlissingen (later Flushing), N.Y., 270

  Walker, William, 56

  Walpole, Horace, 102

  Walpole, Robert, 57, 64

  War Department, U.S., 390

  War Hawks, 389–91

  War of 1812, 81, 86, 211, 389–98

  financing of, 390–91

  peace negotiations for, 396–98

  roots of, 259, 379

  U.S. military strategy for, 391–93

  Washington, D.C torched in, 172

  “war of posts” strategy, 139–40

  Warville, Jacques-Pierre Brissot de, 367

  Washington, Ann, 111, 112

  Washington, Augustine, 94–95, 97, 99

  Washington, Bushrod, 367

  Washington, Charles, 117

  Washington, D.C., 55, 401

  as seat of government, 192, 206, 284, 355, 375–77

  torching of, 172, 395–97, 396

  violence in, 381–82

  in War of 1812, 172, 392–96

  Washington, George, 6, 8, 63, 83, 84, 85, 290, 367, 370, 385

  accomplishments of, 93–94, 206–7

  aristocratic bearing of, 96, 111–12, 113, 193, 196, 377

  arms and crest of, 113, 193

  birth of, 63

  as bold and assertive, 130–31, 149, 150, 165, 169

  as childless, 12, 114, 161, 193, 273

  as commander of Continental Army, 46, 71, 77, 81, 93, 110

  as conservative revolutionary, 120

  critical and withholding mother of, 95, 97, 110

  death of, 113–14, 209, 213, 216

  dependents of, 213

  emerging revolutionary spirit of, 120–27, 148

  emulation theory espoused by, 109–10, 123, 164, 201

  as entrepreneur, 115–18, 121–22

  ethical ambivalence of, 115–18

  eulogy for, 51

  evolving stance on slavery of, 116, 212, 213–16, 348

  evolving value system of, 200–201

  family background of, 94–97, 113, 266

  as farmer, 178–79, 212, 213, 217

  financial status of, 111–13, 189–90, 212–13, 218

  First Inaugural Address of, 184, 186–87, 193, 351

  Gates’s disparagement of, 152–53, 234–35

  and G. Mason, 124–25

  and Hamilton, 12, 179, 186, 272–75, 286, 292, 300

  heroic bearing of, 106, 145–49, 150, 151, 158, 190

  horsemanship of, 99, 190

  introspection of, 200–201

  isolation of, 191

  and Jay, 235

  and Jefferson, 193–94, 206, 209

  journals and accounts of, 97, 99, 101–2

  as landowner, 98, 113, 116–18, 181, 212–13, 218

  leadership qualities of, 93, 98, 123–27, 141, 147–48, 150, 252

  love and respect for, 173, 174, 191

  love of theater of, 128, 174, 183

  lucky calamities of, 111, 118, 127

  and Madison, 179, 194, 205–6, 209, 344, 351–52

  marriage of, 110, 111, 113–15, 120

  Mount Vernon home of, see Mount Vernon

  in opposition to French Revolution, 196–98

  as passionate about clothing, 96–97, 111–12, 125, 128, 182

  on patriotism, 209–11

  penmanship of, 121

  physical appearance of, 98–99

  as pragmatic realist, 159, 173

  praise for, 154

  prestige of, 182

  prudence of, 211

  in pursuit of fame, 93–127, 133, 186, 200

  real-estate schemes of, 117–18, 121

  on religion, 207–9

  in retirement, 211–18

  role playing and sense of drama of, 128–29, 133, 137, 190

  Second Inaugural Address of, 195

  self-improvement and self-creation of, 94–98

  self-mastery and fortitude of, 115, 126–27, 144, 199, 200–201

  sense of destiny of, 126–27

  sense of modesty of, 119–20, 126, 188–89, 195–96

  social interaction of, 176, 177, 189–91

  spectacles of, 173

  stepchildren of, 114–15, 118

  surveying career of, 97, 98, 111, 118

  wilderness exploits of, 97–108

  will of, 127, 215–16

  Washington, George, military career:

  in British colonial army, 98–110, 120

  as commander-in-chief of American Continental Army, 109–10, 114, 119, 126, 128–75, 227, 228, 229, 240, 272–74, 318, 327–28, 330–31

  as commander of Fairfax militia, 125

  creative inspirational battle strategy of, 132–33, 136–37, 139–40, 144–45, 149–50

  in diplomatic mission to French in Ohio, 99–102

  disparagement of, 152–54

  end of, 174–75

  errors in, 142

  in French and Indian War, 102–8, 110, 130, 161

  growing celebrity of, 102

  heroic military image of, 106, 145–49, 150, 151, 158

  military philosophy of, 129–30, 140, 148

  military prowess of, 107

  in Whiskey Rebellion, 202–3

  Washington, George, political career:

  accomplishments of, 206–7

  colonial, 111

  at Constitutional Convention, 178, 181–82, 335–37

  dilemmas over acceptance of presidency, 182, 185–88, 195–96

  economic theory of, 180

  emerging activism of, 124–27

  evolving political theory of, 179–85

  farewell address of, 194

  Federalist ideals of, 108, 163, 179–80

  first inauguration of, 47, 184, 186–87, 189–90, 193, 254

  first term of, 186–95, 351–52

  on foreign policy, 198, 199, 205, 206, 211

  in inventing of presidency, 187–89, 191

  isolationist policy of, 205

  as key Founder, 11–12

  kingship eschewed by, 193–94, 199–200

  neutrality policy of, 198–99, 205, 206, 258, 370–71

  partisan Republican critic
ism of, 191–96, 199–200, 201, 205

  political vision of, 93–94, 107–10, 123, 124–27, 161–62, 179–83, 205, 207–11

  as president, 11–12, 93, 176–218, 256–58, 260, 281, 323, 356, 361–62

  presidential tours of, 190–91

  second inauguration of, 195–96

  second term of, 195–207, 290

  Washington, George Steptoe, 370

  Washington, Jack, 97, 103, 143

  Washington, Lawrence (G. Washington’s ancestor), 113

  Washington, Lawrence (G. Washington’s half-brother), 96, 97, 111

  Washington, Lucy Payne, 370, 394

  Washington, Lund, 142–43, 159, 165

  Washington, Martha Dandridge Custis, 47, 110, 111, 113–16, 118, 125, 191, 213, 217–18, 273, 300

  death of, 213, 215, 216

  grandson of, 119

  on slavery, 214–16

  at Valley Forge, 155–56

  watches, 75

  Watterston, James, 384

  Wayles, John, 58, 316

  Wayne, “Mad” Anthony, 158, 172, 206, 257

  wealth:

  corruption and, 10

  of Jay, 254

  of Livingstons, 18–19, 45

  of New World, 57–58, 64, 66, 84, 161, 267, 272, 285

  of Washington, 111, 118

  in Washington’s vision, 93

  Weber, Max, 230–31

  Webster, Daniel, 276, 281, 401–2

  Weehawken, N.J., 296

  Wellington, Duke of, 397

  Wells, H. G., 313

  Westchester County, N.Y., 219, 228–30

  West India Company, 270

  West Indies, 22, 63, 157, 180, 385

  Hamilton’s roots in, 266–67

  slaves in, 116, 287

  trade with, 258–59

  Westmoreland Association, 67

  West Point, N.Y., 171, 290

  Whiskey Rebellion, 84, 202–3, 209, 258, 371

  Whitefield, George, 22

  White House:

  building and furnishing of, 371, 382–83

  capture and torching of, 394–95

  relics of, 395

  White Plains, N.Y., 138–39, 167

  Whitney, Eli, 260

  Wilkes, John, 74–75

  William and Mary college, 66, 310

  William the Conqueror, 42

  Witherspoon, John, 322–23

  Wolcott, Oliver, 215

  women:

  Dolley Madison’s inclusion of, 383

  transforming role of, 49

  voting rights for, 44

  World War I, 398

  World War II, 174

  Wythe, George, 349

  XYZ Affair, 362–63

  Yale, 20–23, 29, 32, 38, 233, 263

  Yates, Robert, 277

  yellow fever, 369–70

  Yorktown, siege of, 79, 83, 95, 168–70, 193, 240, 274, 328, 331, 333

  Yorktown, Va., 166–67

  Young, Arthur, 178, 212

  Zenger, John Peter, trial of, 24–27, 29, 39–40, 41, 47

  PHOTO INSERTS

  THE FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN LIBERTY

  Departure of the Puritans from Delft Harbor to Join the Mayflower

  by Adam Van Breen (1620);

  Photo by Eileen Tweedy / The Art Archive at Art Resource, NY

  John Locke, the Founders’ favorite political theorist, by Godfrey Kneller (1697)

  bpk, Berlin / Hermitage / Roman Beniaminson / Art Resource, NY

  William Livingston by John Wollaston (1750s)

  Courtesy of Fraunces Tavern Museum

  Stratford Hall, south front

  Photo by Christopher Cunningham, courtesy of Stratford Hall

  Stratford Hall;

  Stratford Hall, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association

  the great hall of Stratford Hall, with portraits of the first Richard Lee (left), his son Richard the Scholar (right), and Hannah Ludwell Lee (center), who with her husband, Thomas, built Stratford

  Stratford Hall, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association

  Richard Henry Lee by Charles Willson Peale (1785)

  Independence National Historic Park

  Arthur Lee by Charles Willson Peale (1785)

  Independence National Historic Park

  Henry (Light-Horse Harry) Lee by Charles Willson Peale (1782)

  The Granger Collection, New York

  Signing the Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull

  Signing the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776 (oil on canvas), Trumbull, John (1756–1843) / Capitol Collection, Washington, USA / The Bridgeman Art Library

  George Washington at Princeton by Charles Willson Peale (1779)

  Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Gift of Maria McKean Allen and Phebe Warren Downes through the bequest of their mother, Elizabeth Wharton McKean

  WASHINGTON’S COMMANDERS

  General Henry Knox

  by Gilbert Stuart (1805)

  Photograph © 2013 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

  Brigadier General John Glover by John Trumbull (1794)

  Courtesy of Yale Art Gallery

  The John Cadwalader Family by Charles Willson Peale (1772)

  The Granger Collection, New York

  Baron Frederick William von Steuben by Charles Willson Peale (1780)

  Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia.

  Deposited by Mrs. Maria L. M. Peters

  Marquis de Lafayette at age eighteen by Louis Leopold Boilly (1788)

  © RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY

  Washington Crossing the Delaware River by Emanuel Leutze (1851)

  Washington Crossing the Delaware River, 25th December 1776, 1851 (oil on canvas) (copy of an original painted in 1848) / Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA / The Bridgeman Art Library

  General Sir William Howe, after Richard Purcell (1777)

  Brown University Library, Providence, Rhode Island, USA / The Bridgeman Art Library

  Admiral Lord Howe by John Singleton Copley (1794)

  Caird Collection, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

  The Granger Collection, New York

  George Washington Presiding at the Constitutional Convention in 1787

  by Junius Brutus Stearns (1856) The Granger Collection, New York

  The Inauguration of George Washington as First President of the United States

  by Amos Doolittle (1790)

  The Granger Collection, New York

  The Washington Family by Edward Savage (1789–96)

  The Granger Collection, New York

  Mount Vernon

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  View of Mount Vernon with the Washington Family on the Portico

  by Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1796)

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  Mount Vernon, West Front

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  Mount Vernon, West Parlor

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  Mount Vernon, “New” Dining Room

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  Mount Vernon, “New” Dining Room;

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  Palmy Days at Mount Vernon by Thomas Prichard Rossiter (1866), showing George Washington with, from right to left, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, and Martha Washington

  Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

  John Jay

  by Gilbert Stuart (the head, 1783) and John Trumbull (the rest, 1804–8)

  National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute / Art Resource, NY

  Sarah Jay and Her Youngest Children, William and Sarah Louisa

  by James Sharples (1798)

  John Jay Homestead Historic Site, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

  John Jay H
omestead dining room;

  Courtesy of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

  John Jay Homestead

  Courtesy of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

  Alexander Hamilton at age forty-one by James Sharples (1796);

  National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution / Art Resource, NY

  Alexander Hamilton at age twenty-five by Charles Willson Peale (1780)

  The Granger Collection, New York

  Alexander Hamilton by Charles Shirreff (undated)

  © R. W. Norton Art Foundation

  The wine cooler George Washington gave Alexander Hamilton at a time of need in 1797;

  National Park Service photographer Kevin Daley

  Private Collection / Photo © Christie’s Images / The Bridgeman Art Library

  Hamilton Grange entrance hall;

  National Park Service photographer Kevin Daley

  Hamilton Grange parlor

  Hamilton Grange, restored

  National Park Service photographer Kevin Daley

  The moving of Hamilton Grange from Convent Avenue, far left, around the corner to St. Nicholas Park, far right, in 2008

  National Park Service, Kevin Daley and Mindi Rambo

  Hamilton Grange dining room

  National Park Service photographer Kevin Daley

  Thomas Jefferson, minister to France, by Mather Brown (1786);

  Private Collection / Peter Newark Pictures / The Bridgeman Art Library

  Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state, by Charles Willson Peale (1791)

  Independence National Historic Park

  Monticello west front

  ©Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, photograph by Robert Lautman

  Monticello dome room

  © Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, photograph by Leah H. Stearns

 

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