Abraham Wu
Jeremy Chandruc/ Randolph Fodali
US History I
9 September 2013 Booker T. Washington once said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” In 1776, by David McCullough, this quote truly resonates the fact that it is the little things that count, as not necessarily the big picture. Although there are many pitfalls the Americans go through during the course of this story, the outcome of the war would be a positive success to the Americans. As a result, good leadership is a very important factor in accomplishing a goal. Also, encouragement is a big help when it comes to boosting a soldier’s morale. Furthermore, endurance is vital to an army and a war’s success based on the spirit of the men and the devotion to their cause. To begin, a leader has to be both disciplined and commanding. There are many men that can have this position, but George Washington is the ultimate man that best fits these criteria. The author describes him as the man that has, “The look and bearing of a man accustomed to respect and to being obeyed” (McCullough, 42). This is very crucial of a great leader because his followers will believe in whatever he says and they will cooperate with him. Thus, Washington had the charm and the ability to make people respect him due to his behavior and his way of interacting with people. In doing so, this helps him in gaining other people’s respect over the years as both a military leader and as the first President of the United States of America.
Additionally, good leadership is not the only factor of the Revolutionary War’s success, but encouragement also helps boost a soldier’s morale when he is fighting. In the book, the reader finds a powerful testimony of a soldier that is fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill and is appalled by the carnage of war