The American Revolution

[Buffalo Bill]

I was very appalled learning about Washington's order to destroy all native peoples and their villages across New York.
Genocide as we call it today. And he Washington invested in reselling land cleared of native peoples to enrich himself.

[Burque73]

My recollection was that Washington was destroying those who were allied with the British.

Our country has had, and continues to have, many appalling moments. I wish it weren't so.

[Rob S.]

I was very appalled learning about Washington's order to destroy all native peoples and their villages across New York.
Genocide as we call it today. And he Washington invested in reselling land cleared of native peoples to enrich himself.

I was very nonplussed. That's the way things were back then. Interesting, but not a game changer.

[GS1150Pilot]

I was very nonplussed. That's the way things were back then. Interesting, but not a game changer.

Not a game changer? Rob, you are thick.

[Rob S.]

As a brick?

Not a game changer in how I look at or feel about Washington. I still like him.

[GS1150Pilot]

As a brick?

Not a game changer in how I look at or feel about Washington. I still like him.

Tull reference FTW.

As for the point, sure, and he remains admirable, but it absolutely should color how one looks at the man. He completely disregarded the Proclamation of 1763, which, while it was not exactly generated only for the well-being of indigenous peoples, nevertheless serves as a strong piece of evidence that Washington certainly wasn't thinking of Native Americans (nor slaves, nor women) when he helped draft the Constitution.

[LAB3]

A lot of folks would do well to take things in the context of "the times" instead of attempting to draw parallels to how they see the world today. In the same vein, they'd do well to consider that not everyone has the same same life experiences and moral outlook that they do. The founders where doing something considered radical, unlike today they KNEW it would take generations to play their vision out. You can't have a perfect world no matter how you try, and you certainly can't have it TODAY. It's like president Obama said about bigotry and racism "Sometimes it takes two-three hundred years for these types of things to work themselves out"

[Rob S.]

Washington certainly wasn't thinking of Native Americans (nor slaves, nor women) when he helped draft the Constitution.

Which made him a man of his time. What white men were particularly concerned with women or natives in the 18th century?

Slaves they were concerned with because they had monetary value.

[GS1150Pilot]

Which made him a man of his time. What white men were particularly concerned with women or natives in the 18th century?

Slaves they were concerned with because they had monetary value.

The French had been respectful of the native tribes they encountered. As for women's rights, have you heard of James Mott perhaps? A little into the 19th century, but definitely concerned about equal rights.

[dpep]

Nova, the PBS science series, aired a great show last night on the weaponry of the Revolutionary War--muskets, long rifles, cannon, tomahawk. There was even a submarine. Interesting comparison of the musket to a modern rifle--velocity, accuracy, damage.

You can view it at this link but here is the catch. You need to have Passport which is the streaming service you get when you become a member of your local public broadcasting station. If you are not already a member I urge you to do good for yourself and everyone else and join. It is the best streaming deal ever. Nova, Nature, Frontline, Sesame Street, every Ken Burns documentary (there are 44 of them), This Old House, Masterpiece (Theater and Mystery), Austin City Limits (including the pilot show with Willie Nelson back in 1974), America's Test Kitchen, .......well, you get the idea. And those are only a fraction of the total library.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/watch/

If my pitch hasn't convinced you it looks like Nova is available on Amazon Prime Video as well.