British or American? George Washington and his identity

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER I The Role of the Founding Fathers in Shaping the New World Order
• 1.1. The Nature of American Values
• 1.1.1. Inherited values
• 1.1.2. The Enlightenment and American values
• 1.2. Revolution and American character in view of the Founding Fathers
• CHAPTER II George Washington: the most important Founding Father and his identity
• 2.1. George Washington's ancestry
• 2.2. George Washington's character in pre-revolutionary times
• CONCLUSIONS

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text explores the role of the Founding Fathers in shaping the identity and values of the United States. It examines how the Founding Fathers, particularly George Washington, were influenced by historical events and their own personal experiences. The text also considers the impact of the Founding Fathers' actions and ideas on the development of American politics and democracy.

• The influence of historical events and European values on the formation of American identity
• The role of the Founding Fathers in shaping American political institutions and principles
• The impact of the American Revolution on the development of American character
• The evolution of American democracy and the legacy of the Founding Fathers
• The importance of understanding the Founding Fathers within their historical context

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction sets the stage by discussing the importance of understanding the Founding Fathers within their historical context, emphasizing the interplay between elite political views and the evolving opinions of the American people. It also highlights the role of the Founding Fathers in shaping American institutions and principles through their writings and actions. The chapter then explores the nature of American values, tracing their roots to both European heritage and the unique experience of the American frontier. It analyzes how the Founding Fathers embraced and articulated these values in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Founding Fathers, American values, American identity, Revolution, Enlightenment, political institutions, democracy, historical context, George Washington, American character, legacy.