Application to Political Leaders
Two political leaders who exemplified statesmanship in America’s history are George Washington and Patrick Henry. Both statesmen were influential in the founding, building, and maintaining of America’s core values and beliefs during their time in their roles as American statesmen. The Founding Fathers exemplified statesmanship as they composed the founding documents and established the United States of America. One of the most notable of the Founding Fathers is George Washington. Not only was George Washington one of the Founding Fathers, but he was also the first President of the United States. George Washington exemplified the attributes of statesmanship and leadership throughout his life as an American Founding
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Henry entered his role as Virginia’s governor at a pivotal point in the history of the United States as “the new constitution was untried, and precedents were to be set” (Vaughn, 1997, p. 107). Virginia was also engaged in a war with Indian tribes along the western border, and the army fighting the Indians was untrained and lacked the munitions that were necessary for a war (Vaughn, 1997, p. 107). Henry had to quickly deal with Virginia’s shortcomings, which some people would have left for someone else to deal with. Henry showed his statesmanship and leadership skills throughout his time as Virginia’s governor by maintaining the morale of the populace, recruiting men for the militia or continental service, building a navy, protecting Virginia’s western border from the Indians who were hostile, authorizing expeditions into Ohio, and supplying food and clothing for the continental army (Vaughn, 1997). Henry managed to work extremely hard as governor, but he looked after the common good of his fellow citizens, even in the most difficult of times. According to Vaughn, “Henry gave ‘unwearied endeavors to serve the freedom and happiness of our common country’” (Vaughn, 1997, p.