Leaders From History. The Writer

¶ … leaders from history. The writer explores what made them great leaders and what impact their lives have had on the leaders of today. There were seven sources used to complete this paper.

Throughout history, the nation has experienced leadership from many different types of people. While each individual had a specific personality and an agenda of interests and changes that the person wanted to inspire they all had something in common, the ability to lead groups of people. Whether it was a president who wanted more freedom for society, a president who wanted to change the structure of government or a civil rights leader who wanted equality for all of mankind the nation's current leaders are in part, a composite of what previous leaders taught society along the way.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Anytime one looks at the leaders of the nation, one needs to examine the work and efforts of the first president, George Washington. Washington became a leader long before he agreed to become the first president of the United States. Prior to his post as the commander in chief over America he gained a reputation as a leader through his work in the British colonies including exploits in the French and Indian War (Greenstein, 2006).

In 1775, he made it known in a characteristically oblique manner that he was prepared to lead the army in a war of independence by appearing at the second Continental Congress in military regalia. Washington was held in such high esteem that the infant nation unanimously elected him to major offices four times -- first as commander in chief in the Revolutionary War, then as chairman of the Constitutional Convention, and finally to his first and second presidential terms (Greenstein, 2006)."

Washington set the stage for all of the future presidents when he worked his way through the first steps of having a president and all that entailed (Laracey, 2002).

Washington enunciated one of his principal aims in a January 1789 letter to his wartime comrade in arms the Marquis de Lafayette, declaring that he hoped to "extricate my country from the embarrassments in which it is entangled, through want of credit" (George Washington: Writings 1997, 717). Washington's other goals included arriving at a final peace settlement with Great Britain and opening the western frontier to settlement (Greenstein, 2006)."

THOMAS JEFFERSON

Another well-known leader in American history is Thomas Jefferson. Though Jefferson has recently come under fire for his relations with a slave and the children he most likely produced and refused to acknowledge he is also well-known for his leadership abilities and the things he taught the nation.

His policies were closely related to those of his predecessor, George Washington and he believed that the leadership the nation required included strong military powers and the ability to protect and serve the nation with force if necessary, and diplomacy at all other times (Greenstein, 2006).

When determining the great leaders of society it is important to understand that different leaders have had different impacts, and that each leader moved the nation forward in different ways. While past presidents have helped to shape American society other leaders have helped to shape the civil rights movements of society.

Dr. Martin Luther King is perhaps one of the greatest leaders of all time in the area of civil rights. His work and dedication provided a backdrop for the future of all mankind (Wolfson, 2003).

Forty years ago this summer, Martin Luther King, Jr., stood at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his "I Have a Dream" oration. Jim Crow still reigned supreme, the country was seething with racial tensions, and it was not yet clear whether the federal government would act. Into this morass stepped King, who pointed a way toward racial equality and national unity (Wolfson, 2003). "

King spurred millions of minority men and women to work toward a peaceful equality. He believed that education and the intelligent exchange of ideas would bring the races together and that the consistent efforts by minorities when it came to voting and other important decision making processes would be what it took to achieve true equality.

Though he was cut down in the prime of his life Dr. Martin Luther King remains one of the most important leaders in history. His impact on today's leaders is measurable by the civil rights progress that has been made. His important contribution to the world is marked by the American federal holiday that falls this year on January 15. He worked to convince all of America that man was indeed created equal and his dream became a reality following his death. Today, largely based on his influence, races mingle at schools, churches and employment. Whereas there used to be a great division of ideas and traditions there is now a sharing of diverse cultures and ideas that can be blended together to create a more cohesive society (Wolfson, 2003).

W.E.B. DUBOIS

Another great leader in American history is W.E.B. Dubois. Dubois felt differently about King when it came to the radical nature the minorities should be willing to take to make their point known but he was as strong a leader as King in his commitment to the cause.

In his The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. Dubois called this moment in the life of every African-American "the revelation." Sooner or later, the young black child discovered that he was different from his white fellows, that he was shut out from their world. The effects on the psyche could be devastating. Dubois noted that for many blacks their youth shrunk "into silent hatred of the pale world about them and mocking distrust of everything white; or wasted itself in a bitter cry, 'Why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house (Wolfson, 2003)?'"

While Dubois advocated radical action his education and intelligence provided a foundation for today's leaders to look to and understand that societies can be pushed beyond their limits and react in ways that defy their education and manner (Wolfson, 2003).

JESUS CHRIST

In referencing the great leaders of the world one cannot ignore the tremendous impact that Jesus Christ had on mankind. Whether one is a Christian or not, one cannot deny that Jesus provided a foundation from which many millions of people have based their lives.

Through the teachings of Jesus Christ many leaders have incorporated religion and spirituality into their decision making process. Today, 2,000 years after his crucifixion many government meetings in Western world begin with a prayer (Hult, 2003). American money has "In God We trust" imprinted on it and witnesses called to testify in court are asked to place their hands on the bible and say that they will tell the truth "So Help Them God."