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Washington's Revolution: The Making of America's First Leader
A vivid, insightful, essential new account of the formative years that shaped a callow George Washington into an extraordinary leader, from the Bancroft Prize winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Robert Middlekauff.
George Washington was famously unknowable, a man of deep passions hidden behind a facade of rigid self-control. Yet before he was a great general and president, Washington was a young man prone to peevishness and a volcanic temper. His greatness as a leader evolved over time, the product of experience and maturity but also a willed effort to restrain his wilder impulses.
Focusing on Washington’s early years, Robert Middlekauff penetrates his mystique, revealing his all-too-human fears, values, and passions. Rich in psychological detail regarding Washington’s temperament, idiosyncrasies, and experiences, this book shows a self-conscious Washington who grew in confidence and experience as a young soldier, businessman, and Virginia gentleman, and who was transformed into a patriot by the revolutionary ferment of the 1760s and ’70s. Taking command of an army in constant dire need—of adequate food, weapons, and, at times, even clothing and shoes—Washington displayed incredible persistence and resourcefulness, growing into a leader who both understood and defined the crucial role of the army in the formation of a new American society.
Middlekauff makes clear that Washington was at the heart of not just the revolution’s course and outcome but also the success of the nation it produced. This is an indispensable book for truly understanding one of America’s great figures.
George Washington was famously unknowable, a man of deep passions hidden behind a facade of rigid self-control. Yet before he was a great general and president, Washington was a young man prone to peevishness and a volcanic temper. His greatness as a leader evolved over time, the product of experience and maturity but also a willed effort to restrain his wilder impulses.
Focusing on Washington’s early years, Robert Middlekauff penetrates his mystique, revealing his all-too-human fears, values, and passions. Rich in psychological detail regarding Washington’s temperament, idiosyncrasies, and experiences, this book shows a self-conscious Washington who grew in confidence and experience as a young soldier, businessman, and Virginia gentleman, and who was transformed into a patriot by the revolutionary ferment of the 1760s and ’70s. Taking command of an army in constant dire need—of adequate food, weapons, and, at times, even clothing and shoes—Washington displayed incredible persistence and resourcefulness, growing into a leader who both understood and defined the crucial role of the army in the formation of a new American society.
Middlekauff makes clear that Washington was at the heart of not just the revolution’s course and outcome but also the success of the nation it produced. This is an indispensable book for truly understanding one of America’s great figures.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2015
60 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Robert Middlekauff
12 books41 followersA specialist in colonial and early United States history, Robert L. Middlekauff was professor emeritus of at the University of California, Berkeley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 14, 2024
A well-written, thoughtful and readable history of the Revolution, focused on Washington and his military leadership. It should serve nicely as an introduction for the general reader, and if you’ve read up on Washington or the Revolution, you won’t find anything new here.
Middlekauff does a great job clearly explaining Washington’s relations with Congress, the logistics challenges faced by his army, and infighting within the Continental Army. His leadership of the army is well presented, as is his strong belief in civilian control of America’s military.
The narrative is lively, lucid and insightful. Some may find the book superficial or uncritical, and Washington’s character and humanity never really comes to life. There’s only a few maps. The narrative is also a bit repetitive. Middlekauff also starts off the book by writing of Washington’s evolution from a Virginian to an “American” and finally a “citizen of the world,” but the narrative doesn’t really develop this much.
A concise, thorough and accessible work.
Middlekauff does a great job clearly explaining Washington’s relations with Congress, the logistics challenges faced by his army, and infighting within the Continental Army. His leadership of the army is well presented, as is his strong belief in civilian control of America’s military.
The narrative is lively, lucid and insightful. Some may find the book superficial or uncritical, and Washington’s character and humanity never really comes to life. There’s only a few maps. The narrative is also a bit repetitive. Middlekauff also starts off the book by writing of Washington’s evolution from a Virginian to an “American” and finally a “citizen of the world,” but the narrative doesn’t really develop this much.
A concise, thorough and accessible work.
May 8, 2015
Being a big George Washington fan, I wanted to enjoy this book. But I did not. I don't want to spend a ton of words tearing it apart, so let me briefly lay out the central shortcomings:
-Middlekauff is a poor describer of military engagements. He should have steered away from writing about a revolution! The battles are not illumined, but rather discussed quite perfunctorily.
-Perhaps he realized this shortcomings, because he spent far more time describing the troubles related to pay, desertions, Congress, supplies, etc. It seemed like he was quoting another Washington letter every 5 pages about how bad conditions were. In fact, this sort of talk predominated the book.
-The book's subtitle is false. The book does not develop Washington at all. He comes across as flat, distant.
-Middlekauff cannot write in a way that connects one chapter to the next. The narrative is disjointed. He does not provide context, or background details. It's just one thing after the other.
new words:
pocosin— a swamp or marsh in an upland coastal region
firkin— a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.
-Middlekauff is a poor describer of military engagements. He should have steered away from writing about a revolution! The battles are not illumined, but rather discussed quite perfunctorily.
-Perhaps he realized this shortcomings, because he spent far more time describing the troubles related to pay, desertions, Congress, supplies, etc. It seemed like he was quoting another Washington letter every 5 pages about how bad conditions were. In fact, this sort of talk predominated the book.
-The book's subtitle is false. The book does not develop Washington at all. He comes across as flat, distant.
-Middlekauff cannot write in a way that connects one chapter to the next. The narrative is disjointed. He does not provide context, or background details. It's just one thing after the other.
new words:
pocosin— a swamp or marsh in an upland coastal region
firkin— a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.
July 14, 2017
I think the narrow focus of this book loses essential context without adding clarity. Read Chernow's complete biography of Washington instead.
March 27, 2015
How did the experiences of the War for American Independence shape Washington as a person and leader? This is the big question that Robert Middlekauff sets out to answer.
Washington's Revolution reads like a mixed-genre book: part biography and part military history. Middlekauff begins Washington's Revolution with an overview of Washington's childhood in the Chesapeake region of Virginia during the 1730s and 1740s. This overview establishes Washington's worldview of the British Empire and his place within it. The French and Indian War challenges this worldview. and Washington's experiences as a battle-tested colonel in the Virginia militia in turn shape his ideas that Virginia and the rest of the North American colonies required more equal treatment from Parliament and London if the empire was to continue.
After these first two or three chapters frame Washington's outlook on imperial politics, Middlekauff takes his readers through Washington's experiences as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He follows Washington from Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1775 to Newburgh, New York in 1782. This part of the book reads like a military history, but not one filled with battle tactics, casualty numbers, and other details readers would expect to find in a military history book. Instead, you gaze at the war through Washington's eyes in a way that seems reflective. What did Washington learn when he took over the army at Cambridge? How did his defeat at Brooklyn Heights prepare him for the Battles at Princeton and Trenton? What did the loss of Philadelphia at Brandywine teach him and his men? These are the large questions that Middlekauff answers and in turn these lessons show how the war shaped Washington's views that the United States needed a strong central government and that his soldiers needed to acquire an affinity for the United States as a nation if it was to win the war.
Middlekauff points out that Washington had a few flaws--he had a short temper that he worked to control--but by and large the book praises Washington's actions without outright praise. Middlekauff also deftly handles how Washington came to his viewpoints about the need for a strong national government without making the formation of the United States government under the Constitution seem inevitable.
Washington's Revolution reads like a mixed-genre book: part biography and part military history. Middlekauff begins Washington's Revolution with an overview of Washington's childhood in the Chesapeake region of Virginia during the 1730s and 1740s. This overview establishes Washington's worldview of the British Empire and his place within it. The French and Indian War challenges this worldview. and Washington's experiences as a battle-tested colonel in the Virginia militia in turn shape his ideas that Virginia and the rest of the North American colonies required more equal treatment from Parliament and London if the empire was to continue.
After these first two or three chapters frame Washington's outlook on imperial politics, Middlekauff takes his readers through Washington's experiences as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He follows Washington from Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1775 to Newburgh, New York in 1782. This part of the book reads like a military history, but not one filled with battle tactics, casualty numbers, and other details readers would expect to find in a military history book. Instead, you gaze at the war through Washington's eyes in a way that seems reflective. What did Washington learn when he took over the army at Cambridge? How did his defeat at Brooklyn Heights prepare him for the Battles at Princeton and Trenton? What did the loss of Philadelphia at Brandywine teach him and his men? These are the large questions that Middlekauff answers and in turn these lessons show how the war shaped Washington's views that the United States needed a strong central government and that his soldiers needed to acquire an affinity for the United States as a nation if it was to win the war.
Middlekauff points out that Washington had a few flaws--he had a short temper that he worked to control--but by and large the book praises Washington's actions without outright praise. Middlekauff also deftly handles how Washington came to his viewpoints about the need for a strong national government without making the formation of the United States government under the Constitution seem inevitable.
April 16, 2018
A deeper look at George Washington and his leadership and vision from his early years through the end of the Revolutionary War. This was an academic look at how Washington was able to always view the big picture throughout his life and while was not perfect, he was able to keep above the immediate issues of the day to outlast and outperform everyone else. There were parts of this book that were a bit dry, but overall I enjoyed the read and developed more of an appreciation for Washington. Oddly, I loved the chapter early in the book that looked at Washington's years as a planter after his experiences in the French and Indian War but before the issues with Britain. The challenges of trying to run the plantation and make money through the economic system of using British agents was fascinating and not an area I had read much about. I would recommend this book only for those that already have a solid background in the life of Washington.
November 16, 2021
Very hard to get into the book. The sentence syntax was confusing, making the book difficult to understand. The first few chapters were a bore which doubly added to my difficulties getting in to it. It picked up when it began talking about the Revolutionary War, but even then it was a bit longer than it needed to be. Most of the chapters could be summed up by saying, “Washington had to work really hard to keep his army together. Recruiting was always an issue. Providing proper food, clothing, and supplies was also always pressing.”
Still, it was cool learning about Washington. He was truly a great man, highly moral and very driven. He wasn’t perfect. I learned he had a temper. He didn’t engage much with questions surrounding slavery (“He was neither an abolitionist nor a rabid slaveholder, and he did not give much time to thinking over the plight of slaves” p. 298). In a lot of ways, Abraham Lincoln, based on the book I read about him earlier this year, was the better man and role model, but Washington was perfect for the role America needed. A moral yet forceful, driven yet humble, assured but flexible leader. The Revolution would not have succeeded nor would have America lived long afterwards if it hadn’t been for George Washington.
I’d like to read a book about his presidency someday. This book was all about the war. Interesting, albeit slow, but if you’re looking for a biography of his life, this isn’t for you.
Still, it was cool learning about Washington. He was truly a great man, highly moral and very driven. He wasn’t perfect. I learned he had a temper. He didn’t engage much with questions surrounding slavery (“He was neither an abolitionist nor a rabid slaveholder, and he did not give much time to thinking over the plight of slaves” p. 298). In a lot of ways, Abraham Lincoln, based on the book I read about him earlier this year, was the better man and role model, but Washington was perfect for the role America needed. A moral yet forceful, driven yet humble, assured but flexible leader. The Revolution would not have succeeded nor would have America lived long afterwards if it hadn’t been for George Washington.
I’d like to read a book about his presidency someday. This book was all about the war. Interesting, albeit slow, but if you’re looking for a biography of his life, this isn’t for you.
December 14, 2018
A concise survey of the qualities and characteristics that made Washington Washington. First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen--this was GW, the indispensable man for the Revolutionary War's glorious cause. The author makes the assertion that Washington, as no other man could have, embodied the Revolution and carried through to its conclusion with a British recognition of American independence. The supreme qualities Washington cultivated over a lifetime of service prepared him for the adversity that would be the conflict with England. Having read Middlekauff's "The Glorious Cause" for a college history class, and remembering not liking it that much, I wish this book would have been the one instead. Not just because it is way shorter, but because Middlekauff does in this book's 300 pages what he did in "Cause"'s 700.
June 3, 2022
Very disappointing. Middlekauff has written a really excellent political history of 18th century America and I expected much from this volume but it is badly written, lacking structure, being highly repetitive (it seems like there are dozens of almost identical paragraphs about the problems Washington faced in recruiting, arming, clothing and feeding his men), with almost no analysis and an apparent lack of understanding of narrative. If you are not already knowledgeable of Washington's experience of the war you will have difficulty following Miiddlekauff's book and if you are already knowledgeable you will not learn anything new from this.
June 20, 2022
Picked up this book hoping to gain insight into the Washington’s leadership. There are some aspects of his leadership - commitment to the army, his steely resolve, covered in detail, but overall too much focus was given to the military stratagems and wars that didn’t hold my interest enough to make this a memorable read.
July 19, 2017
This seemed a well researched look into Washington's role during the American Revolution. While I was disappointed that the book did not continue into his presidency, I expect that was simply not in the scope of the book.
August 20, 2018
While this book is mainly a broad brush history of the American Revolution, it does focus attention on the attitudes, positions and role that Washington played in bringing the revolution to a successful conclusion.
April 10, 2021
Tells great story of as the title states America's First Leader. Great book for research and / or Term Paper.
October 9, 2022
Great book if you’ve read several other Washington bios and have a good understanding of the revolutionary war
January 18, 2016
Washington’s Revolution: The Making of America’s First Leader by Robert Middlekauff
I was interested in reading this book because I found another of his books, “The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789”(one of the volumes in the Oxford History of the United States) to be an amazing history of America’s rise to rebellion. Middlekauff is a fair, thorough and accessible author. Plus, I love reading about George Washington.
This book is limited to the military life of George Washington. The author limits the scope of the book even more by not giving a broad context to many of the chapters, choosing rather to focus on Washington’s activities, interactions, frustrations and victories in a more narrow sense. If the reader is not well versed in the history of the Revolutionary War, this would be a shortcoming of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Clearly, Washington was the key figure in America’s eventual victory over the British Army. But most people already assume that. So why bother with this book? I feel that Middlekauff does an outstanding job of reconstructing the multiple and varied frustrations Washington faced along the way in persisting to victory. His detailing of his relationship with Congress, the extreme challenges of supplying the army, the sabotage of Benedict Arnold, the rivalries with other military leaders and his abiding faith in the American cause are all detailed.
There were episodes that are well known where I felt the book skimped on many details such as the Battle of Brooklyn Heights or the campaign in the winter of 1776-1777 and the victories at Trenton and Princeton.
I never felt that Middlekauff went to hyperbolic extremes in his characterization of Washington’s virtues. Nor did he go to the opposite extreme in his description of his rivals. Yet, he carefully studies the challenges facing the army and the enormous patience, vision and leadership required to keep the revolution from withering away. My favorite chapter was “The War’s End”. His detailing of the events that led to the “Newburgh Conspiracy” are the best I have read. (This is one of my favorite stories in the life of Washington.)
In summary, if you are hoping to read a complete history of the characters who played essential roles in the American Revolution, this may not be the best choice of books (a better choice would be “The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789”). However, is you want a penetrating look into the military life of George Washington with more than a few “asides” where the author looks deeper into the motives, character and challenges of the premier founder, I recommend this book.
I was interested in reading this book because I found another of his books, “The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789”(one of the volumes in the Oxford History of the United States) to be an amazing history of America’s rise to rebellion. Middlekauff is a fair, thorough and accessible author. Plus, I love reading about George Washington.
This book is limited to the military life of George Washington. The author limits the scope of the book even more by not giving a broad context to many of the chapters, choosing rather to focus on Washington’s activities, interactions, frustrations and victories in a more narrow sense. If the reader is not well versed in the history of the Revolutionary War, this would be a shortcoming of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Clearly, Washington was the key figure in America’s eventual victory over the British Army. But most people already assume that. So why bother with this book? I feel that Middlekauff does an outstanding job of reconstructing the multiple and varied frustrations Washington faced along the way in persisting to victory. His detailing of his relationship with Congress, the extreme challenges of supplying the army, the sabotage of Benedict Arnold, the rivalries with other military leaders and his abiding faith in the American cause are all detailed.
There were episodes that are well known where I felt the book skimped on many details such as the Battle of Brooklyn Heights or the campaign in the winter of 1776-1777 and the victories at Trenton and Princeton.
I never felt that Middlekauff went to hyperbolic extremes in his characterization of Washington’s virtues. Nor did he go to the opposite extreme in his description of his rivals. Yet, he carefully studies the challenges facing the army and the enormous patience, vision and leadership required to keep the revolution from withering away. My favorite chapter was “The War’s End”. His detailing of the events that led to the “Newburgh Conspiracy” are the best I have read. (This is one of my favorite stories in the life of Washington.)
In summary, if you are hoping to read a complete history of the characters who played essential roles in the American Revolution, this may not be the best choice of books (a better choice would be “The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789”). However, is you want a penetrating look into the military life of George Washington with more than a few “asides” where the author looks deeper into the motives, character and challenges of the premier founder, I recommend this book.
July 31, 2020
The plantation system had taken firm hold of the colony when Washington was young. He took to it almost instinctively, though in his twenties he looked to a career in the British army- not on the cultivation of tobacco. The French and the Indians were the enemies of these years and Washington made his early reputation fighting both. He was born in the margins of planting society, and if he was not quite an outsider, he was far from the center of the elite. His will and his judgment were two qualities that defined him. He had a forceful impulse which did not result in violence.
He was noted to say, "I heard bullets whistle and believe me there was something charming in the sound."
Mary Ball's first child was George (Feb 22, 1932). Her husband Augustine was a tobacco estate owner.
As with all Virginia planters, the Washington children were to have grammar school education. The Blacks were to learn how to work in the fields. His father was a minor planter. Somehow George knew he had to elevate in staus. He turned to the book on the Rules of Civility.Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. His older brother, Lawrence was his mentor. 14 years older than George. Lawrence married a wealthy Fairfax but he contracted tuberculosis and died young.
to be continued
He was noted to say, "I heard bullets whistle and believe me there was something charming in the sound."
Mary Ball's first child was George (Feb 22, 1932). Her husband Augustine was a tobacco estate owner.
As with all Virginia planters, the Washington children were to have grammar school education. The Blacks were to learn how to work in the fields. His father was a minor planter. Somehow George knew he had to elevate in staus. He turned to the book on the Rules of Civility.Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. His older brother, Lawrence was his mentor. 14 years older than George. Lawrence married a wealthy Fairfax but he contracted tuberculosis and died young.
to be continued
April 14, 2015
This is a fantastic book about a person who has been elevated to almost god-like status in our society. To be clear, this is not a complete biography on Washington, nor is it a complete account of the American Revolution in its entirety. This book is a combination of both, as it examines the war through his perspective. This book ends shortly after the war ends and does not go into his presidency at all.
There is some assumed knowledge you need before you dive into this book. For example, the author makes references to events in Boston leading up to the war, and the early battle of Bunker Hill, but he does not explain these events. Instead, he references the effects of these events on Washington and his part in the war. It also does not talk much about the continental congress, the declaration of independence, or other political entities and milestones, except to enumerate his experiences with the system.
One thing that surprised me that, in retrospect, should not have surprised me was how ineffective the continental congress truly was. Not only was it unable to procure basic materiel for the war (clothes, food, tents, etc) it was unable to command any allegiance or resources from the states who composed the union.
This is a fantastic book and a great read for anyone.
There is some assumed knowledge you need before you dive into this book. For example, the author makes references to events in Boston leading up to the war, and the early battle of Bunker Hill, but he does not explain these events. Instead, he references the effects of these events on Washington and his part in the war. It also does not talk much about the continental congress, the declaration of independence, or other political entities and milestones, except to enumerate his experiences with the system.
One thing that surprised me that, in retrospect, should not have surprised me was how ineffective the continental congress truly was. Not only was it unable to procure basic materiel for the war (clothes, food, tents, etc) it was unable to command any allegiance or resources from the states who composed the union.
This is a fantastic book and a great read for anyone.
May 14, 2015
A good book on the life of George Washington. However, this book does not focus on the sequential events of his life, but more on his viewpoints, thoughts, and strategies from his early life in the French & Indian War through the Revolution. Particular emphasis is focused on the struggles Washington dealt with during the Revolution, from an army with inadequate supplies and manpower to working with Congress to provide these necessary compontents. This book reads more like a textbook and can be repetitive at times, but the information is well presented. This is a good book for those interested in the Revolution or a different approach to the life of George Washington.
June 30, 2015
This was my first read about George Washington. I really enjoyed the potrayal of our first leader since I haven't focused on this part of his life as a military leader and how he shaped our history during the revolution. I appreciated a closer look at the revolution in his perspective and a clear guide as to the activities of both sies during the campaigns. I got a sense of our Leader's solid character which was presented as thoughtful, logical, fortitude, wise, etc. I appreciated the maps the author provided which made the read more meaningful.
July 29, 2015
This book focuses mainly on Washington as leader and dealing with an inept bunch of politicians, militiamen, generals, etc. He still facilitated the winning of the war against Britain and put us on the road to representative democracy by coming out of retirement from military service to become our first president (unanimously selected). The book is not as good as say Ellis's 'His Excellency' or Chernow's behemoth biography but it is a decent read. Washington is by far the best president in my opinion and people today, including government officials, could learn a thing or two from this man.
August 1, 2015
Good introduction to the revolution and Washington as a man results from a close reading. I got tired of how many times he mentioned naked soldiers, but it reminded me of the thankless travails of those who fought. He mentioned the infamous Loring but not the prison ships that he was in charge of. That was an infamous war crime if ever there was one. To be fair the author remained true to his title and for that he earned his four stars.
April 4, 2016
"Washington's Revolution" does not delve too deeply into what shaped Washington's character as a leader despite what the title says. I found it to be a valuable book, mostly concentrating on Washington's battles. (Perhaps I am too critical, but the author tells me why Washington is doing what he is doing, but not demonstrating why. I assume the author knows, but he doesn't prove it to me.)
I will be using this book for reference, nevertheless.
I will be using this book for reference, nevertheless.
June 25, 2021
Yikes! This one was a very hard read. It was a book club pick and one of the other members commented that we certainly should have earned a Girl Scout badge for reading this one! The author presumes you are an avid history buff and have an extensive knowledge base about Washington and Revolutionary War. I'm not either, so I found it a challenging listen (Audible). Very well-written with some great insight into Washington's character and events and people that influenced him.
April 25, 2015
If you are familiar with Washington perhaps this book may not be for you but you would be missing out on a master at work. Middlekauf knows his subject and his times. He is a writes well and keeps the story moving along. The focus, as the title acknowledges, is the Washington of the Revolutionary War years. Those needed to learn a bit about GW could start at much worse places than this.
September 21, 2015
I LOVE the history of the American Revolution and am a fan of both Mr. Washington and Mr. Middlekauf. However, I found this book to be thoroughly boring. I kept waiting for it to turn around or improve, but it did not. The book was well-researched and does not try to cast an opinion on the subject matter, so it's not a total loss. But, if you're already familiar with the topic, skip it.
June 22, 2016
Very interesting and insightful read. Part biography, part history, this book evaluates the American Revolution in terms of the impact and influence it had on Washington, and, vice versa, Washington's impact and influence on the Revolution. Worth reading.
March 6, 2015
Well done non-fiction.
February 23, 2015
This book examines the incidents that were important in
Washington's career and life that helped shape him and make him into the leader that became the first President of the U.S.
Washington's career and life that helped shape him and make him into the leader that became the first President of the U.S.
June 10, 2015
Reads too much like a periodical or a lecture. Couldn't get engaged with this one.
April 23, 2015
Not nearly as good as his previous works. Very repetitious. Reminds readers on almost every page that Washington's army lacked adequate supplies.
March 24, 2016
Interesting historical perspective on how Washington's viewpoint changed to envision an America that must be "free" from British rule.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews