Georges Washington was he a terrorist ?

Answer 1

Perhaps it would be helpful if someone defined what classifies a combatant as a terrorist. I offer the following characteristics: 1. Terrorists conceal their identity by dressing as a civilian (no wearing of a distinctive military uniform), 2. Terrorists target civilian populations with acts of violence, rather than military/political personnel, in order to instill fear in the civilians, who then place political pressure upon the government. (note: WW II bombing of London/Dresden qualify), 3. Terrorists are typically not members of an identifiable national government, who might be held responsible for the violence against the targeted population. These three features allow terrorists to conduct asymmetric warfare against the targeted population, against which it is difficult to defend.

Now, did George Washington fit this definition? My vote is: Clearly, no. No examples may be cited, in which any of the features of terrorism match the acts of George Washington.

He was indeed a rebel, from the perspective of the legitimate and recognized government, and a patriot from the perspective of the new government. He was not a terrorist.

Answer 2

actually, nobody should say he was. He was a the leader of a commissioned uniformed army.

The militia folk who shot from behind trees and disobeyed the understood and accepted terms of warfare. They were terrorists. For example, at Lexington and Concord. Those who participated in the Boston Tea Party and tar and feathered British Tax collectors, they were terrorists.

Another important difference is that the American Army during the revolution did not target civilians. They attacked British Army regulars and their allies (some native americans forces). Whereas modern terrrorists target anyone and anything which will have the effect of causing fear and panic.

So, no, I do not believe George Washington was a terrorist. Although the British may have considered some acts of the Americans to be terrorist.
have a nice day.

Answer 3

Simple: George Washington did not target women, children and non-combatants. Terrorists do, therefore Washington was NOT a terrorist.

Suppose someone answered "yes"; what would their motive be? Here are four guesses:

-- They symphathize with terrorists; they self-justify by claiming other people are just as bad.

-- They feel guilty about living in a rich country, so to assuage their feelings, they find a way to slam it's symbols.

-- They are such iconoclasts that they delight in tearing down *any* positive symbol.

-- They seek to deny the existence of morality, perhaps because of their own personal guilt.

Answer 4

What is interesting is the resistance American troops face in Iraq from the insurgents is vaguely similar to the way we fought the British in the Revolution. Undermanned and undisciplined enough to take the British Forces head on, we would pick at their ranks from hiding places such as trees and thickets until our forces felt confident enough for an all out attack.
I wouldn't say we invented guerilla warfare, but we certainly used it effectively against an orderly British army. The likes of which they had never seen before.
Terrorist? No. Strategic revolutionary? Maybe. It was never George Washington's intention to bring harm against innocent people for the sake of his cause. Nor did he condone that type of activity by others.

Answer 5

He was a fighter against being repressed. He fought against a nation that wanted him to worship the way they wanted. He fought for basic freedoms like worship and being able to go home without British soldiers ransacking his house. Being able to conduct business without the King of England taxing him to death. He fought against the rape of women by British soldiers and the King basically robbing the colonists. A terrorist? He was a freedom fighter. I don't remember any of George Washington's men blowing up innocent civilians or chopping off peoples heads because they didn't agree with their religion. The terrorists of today want everyone who is not a Muslim to be killed. George Washington was nothing like that, just the opposite. So to ask a question like that you have got to be terribly mislead. To see what a true human being is all about just see what he fights for.

Answer 6

No - the suggestion is ridiculous - and I'm a Brit!

There were people like Clark who wanted the Americans to run a full-scale guerilla war, but Wahington came out against it because of the difficulty of reconciling people after the war.

His action in having Col. Andre executed sailed pretty close to the wind, but well, at times who doesn't?

There was from the start a vocal lobby of British supporters of the Americans and admirers of Washington. History has proved them right.

Answer 7

No George Washington was a rebel and there is an important difference. It has become popular to say "one mans freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" but that is incorrect. George Washington revolted from his government. That makes him arerebel. He did not kill innocent civilians or attempt to instill fear in non combatants to acheive his goals.

Answer 8

If did the things he did then today, he'd be considered a terrorist and a war criminal. If not for the lack of uniforms among his men and the treatment of prisoners, then for his actions against the Indians. We need to keep it in the context of his times though. Back then slavery was considered not just legal and acceptable but RIGHT. Genocide against Native Americans and other indigenous peoples of the world wasn't considered evil. Punishments that we would consider torture were common public spectacles. Executions were thought of as great entertainment. Men were expected to beat their wives and children.

Washington was imperfect but he, like his fellow revolutionaries, was able to envision a better world. It is because of them that we have the wonderful system we have today. We have the rule of law and checks and balances on governmental power and individual and state rights are guaranteed. If not for him, we would have had a king and many fewer rights than we do.

Washington was just a man trying to get ahead in a world with very different rules.

Answer 9

No, he was a military general. There were no British citizens in the US for him to attack. Have you not read our constitution? All the amendments were from the stigma of living under a monarchical government,
Right against unlawful search and seizure
Right to free speech (separation of church and state/ freedom of the press)
Right to a fair and speedy trial
Right to counsel
George Washington was included in the drafting and ratification of these amendments. (representative from Virgina)
Do these sounds like the words of a terrorist?
You want to see a terrorist? Look at president Bush... If that doesn't convince you, go to Baghdad like I did. You'll see what a terrorist looks like. And you will not confuse it again.

Answer 10

It's unbelieveable this question and even some of the answers
to it! George Washington was a Patriot and American Hero.Yes,he owned slaves,but so did most of the Colonies at that time.Besides,he was more than likely,not a cruel master.And if you read your history further,he Freed some of his slaves,either just before his death or as a term of his Will once he died.He was also one of our Best and Strongest Presidents,ever!