George Washington's Finest Act

Cause and Effect T-Chart

In the Cause column, describe Washington’s personality, ideas and actions from the story. In the Effect column, state how they affected U.S. and world history.

Language Identification Organizer

Listen closely and check off each phrase as you hear it.

• But George Washington went home to Mount Vernon and farmed.
• The Founders had sharp differences over how to balance the rights of states
• Franklin was wiser than Washington, Hamilton was more brilliant, Jefferson was more intellectually sophisticated
• Washington did something astonishing and unprecedented
• There were people who believed that only a strong, longtime authoritarian ruler could keep a country stable
• When he stepped down, he put his young country's future into the hands of every man with a vote.
• We all know that democracy can be messy, corrupt and disappointing.
• an event like the revolution in Egypt reminds us why people are willing to struggle and die for it.
• it was as momentous a decision as any president -any ruler - has ever made.

Fill-in-the-Blank Organizer

As you listen to the story, fill in the blank in each sentence below with the word or phrase that fits best.

• Throughout history, a lot of conquering heroes - Caesar, Bonaparte, Castro and Mugabe - have used great to seize power.
• They all trusted Washington as the most of men.
• Washington did something astonishing and for a powerful, popular leader - he stepped down.
• Washington remembered that he'd asked his men to fight for a .
• He decided to be a .