CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
George Washington was born in 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to a relatively prosperous family. His father died when he was eleven and so he was not sent to school in England like his older half-brothers, but studied with tutors. He trained to be a surveyor and completed hundreds of surveys in western Virginia. As a young militia officer, he participated in the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War) and began to distinguish himself as a man of honor and bravery. In 1759, he married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis, who owned 17,000 acres of land and almost three hundred enslaved men, women, and children. They raised her children from her first marriage, but they never had children of their own. Relying on the work of enslaved laborers, George Washington became a successful planter at his Mount Vernon estate, where he implemented a system of crop rotation and diversified his crops so as not to rely on tobacco, which damaged the soil.
While serving as a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia's General Assembly from 1758 to 1776, George Washington became a leader in the movement protesting unfair taxation by Great Britain on the colonies. His leadership skills, intelligence, and charisma served him well as one of Virginia's delegates to the First Continental Congress. During the Second Continental Congress he accepted the commission to command the Continental forces, and during the Revolutionary War he stood out as one of the most authoritative and significant figures in the pursuit of victory against the British. He accepted Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown in 1781 and resigned from the position of commander when the war officially ended in 1783.
Washington's reputation as a leader paved the way for him to preside over the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and he later advocated ratification of the new Constitution. On April 30, 1789, Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States. His actions in helping create a functioning government for the new nation set several standards for the presidency, including his decision to serve only two terms. Washington retired to his home at Mount Vernon in 1797, and died there on December 14, 1799.
The General Assembly of Virginia wanted to honor Washington's Revolutionary War success with a statue, and on the recommendation of Thomas Jefferson, commissioned French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828) as the artist. Houdon's marble statue depicts Washington as a solider in his Continental Army uniform, but also as a common citizen carrying a walking cane and standing in front of a farmer's plowshare. That statue was completed in 1792 and placed in the Capitol rotunda in 1796. Numerous replicas have been made and are on display across the United States.
Citation: George Washington (1732–1799), Marble Statue by Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1785–1792. State Artwork Collection, Library of Virginia.
Standards
English: 4.7, 5.7
Suggested Questions
Preview Activity
Look at It: Look at the statue of Washington and examine his dress, posture, facial expression, and the various objects also incorporated into the statue. From this statue, what can you conclude about Washington the man and Washington the legend?
Post Activities
Social Media Spin: Create a social media post in which you depict George Washington or an aspect of his life. Be sure to include an explanation of the depiction.
Current Connection: Statues have become a controversial topic. What are some reasons for and against the Washington statue being on display at the Virginia State Capitol?