How Did George Washington Influenced America?

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Our first president, George Washington, has influenced America in many ways. Before he was president, he was a commander in chief of the continental army during the American Revolution. In that war, he led the thirteen colonies to overthrow the British monarchy and took America where it is today. In the painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze, Washington is preparing for a surprise attack against the Hessian forces in Trenton. The Delaware River was an icy river, and crossing it would be dangerous and risky. This is because during the night of the cross, a severe winter storm that included the wind, rain, snow, hail, and sleet which made the crossing much slower. Also, many of the boats had to combat the ice and the unfavorable currents. To make matters even worse, the extreme darkness caused by the storm made it hard for the soldiers to see the opposite shore. This image is trying to show the courage George Washington has in leading his troops into a risky battle. Despite the odds being against him for the plan to work, he still decides to cross the river knowing that this will be a game …show more content…
One aspect is the weather of the painting. The weather is shown to be dawn, and this represents a bright and promising future of the nation. Also, the men in the ship were interesting to me. In one of the ship, there is an African American man and also a woman. This shows how all races and genders are uniting to defeat one common enemy. The detail of the ice in the river can catch a viewer’s eye. This is because the 3-D detail of the ice was engaging. All the figures in the painting are looking to the left of the painting showing the progressive movement towards their objective. One figure that was interesting is George Washington. Him standing boldly, with one leg on the ground, shows that he is the focus of the painting. Leutze uses light and shadows to show the depth and form of the