Blood of Tyrants George Washington and the Forging of the Presidency

The book explores the beliefs and specific actions undertaken by George Washington as he spearheaded the distinct meaning of the United States Constitution in the midst of the battle for independence. Blood of Tyrants delineates the manner in which the role of being President of the United States was fused and amalgamated with that of Commander in Chief, owing to the course of the American Revolution. In particular, subsequent to independence, when determining the role of America's first ever President, the public revered and had a high regard for the excellent leadership demonstrated by George Washington, who was a recognized and sure success. Washington was deemed to be a lively motivating commander, valiant and courageous; he endeavored to ensure the protection of all Americans for the benefit of the new nation (Beirne 245).

The author, Logan Beirne, gets rid of the cliched disguise of the passive, standoffish perception of George Washingtonand portrays in its place a fervent and valiant leader dedicated to the revolutionary cause (Beirne 50). In turn, Beirne portrays Washington as a moral and principled individual who fought with predicaments comparable to those being faced by presidents in the contemporary. What is more, he divulges an adamant revolutionarycombatant and superintendent who was unyielding and, from time to time, brutal and unrestrained in his principles and beliefs of safeguarding the freedom of America. As a result, George Washington institutes standards that outline and delineate presidential powers up until the present day (Beirne 304).

In the book, Beirne spends a great deal of time outlining the critical and fundamental actions as well as decisions undertaken by George Washington all the way through the period of the American Revolution. The author is successful in this endeavor particularly with respect to indicating the significance of George Washington to the present day United States. The book demonstrates just how much Washington was deemed an ideal character or model for dignity and charisma (Beirne174).

Subsequent to the culmination of the American Revolution, the United States was at a point of confusion and disorder. The American people at the time did not fathom or perceive themselves as a binding nation made up of different expanses. Rather, they considered themselves to be a confederacy of self-governing associated states where numerous residents felt greater loyalty to their own expanse and not the nation as a whole (Beirne 16). This was one of the major issues faced by George Washington, which indicated just how much of an incredible leader he was as he brought the nation together, and also freedom and protection of the citizens (Beirne 19).

The author employs numerous primary sources to shed light on numerous facts that are linked to George Washington that have been considerably been disregarded by history (Beirne 6). In particular, Beirne utilizes events in history backed by official documents as well as the personal letters of George Washington. These documents can be deemed reliable and dependable sources (Beirne 317). Logan Beirne also uses secondary sources. For instance, in the comprehensive conversation of the treason of Benedict Arnold together with the hanging of Major Andre, the author places a great deal of credibility to the description of that incident (Beirne 225). However, Smith was a spy at the time and regardless of whether he were the most reliable and truthful of witnesses, there is no way he would have been aware of George Washington's thoughts, as suggested by the author. Therefore, such secondary sources cannot be deemed reliable and dependable (Beirne 226). In my opinion, the primary sources used by the author are of good quality. However, the secondary sources are not of great quality and can be questioned.

The author solves the problem he addressed by segmenting the book in a thematic manner, outlining the economic, political, expressive and tactical perspectives in the course of the start of the new America and how they were implemented by George Washington. One of the aspects that can be considered as significant data and omitted from the book that can challenge the validity of his thesis is the reliability of secondary data. Information used in the book obtained from eyewitnesses that delineate the thoughts of George Washington cannot be deemed as sufficient and can render information invalid. The author's interpretation is valid and one of the main strengths of the book that make it convincing is that the author finds proof in documents not yet explored in the past. These include the letters of George Washington discussing torture, a description from a witness of the military court of law that undertook the execution of Major Andre, and letters of the nation's founders, cautioning against government debt (Beirne 376). All these evidences together with Beirne's style of writing that makes such historical events come to life make the interpretation significantly resounding. The author did include enough and sufficient evidence to prove his thesis as he utilizes both secondary data and primary data from George Washington himself such as his letters (Beirne 161). What is more, the argument presented throughout the book is indeed logical as it encompasses the exact historical events that took place and how they impacted the nation's leadership up until the present day.

In conclusion, Blood of Tyrants is a book that is very well-written. The author's prudent selection of historical events together with his style of writing sentient such past accounts. The author is able to properly delineate how the role of America's president together with that of commander in chief came to light subsequent to the American Revolution and the nation's independence (Beirne 27). This book will amaze and daze readers with new sentience and with certainty it will provide a great deal of debate and reflection amidst students and also historians. What is more, the book is considerably relevant to the present as it portrays George Washington as a renowned and notable leader who tussles with predicaments that are similar to those being faced by leaders in the present day (Beirne 302). The contemporary leaders can learn a great deal from the actions and principles of George Washington.

Works Cited

Beirne, Logan. Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency. New York: Encounter Books, 2014.