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Weems writes his biography of Washington for the money. He was a shrewd businessman and knew what the public wanted and needed. They needed a hero and bought one, a copy
The first reason that Mason Locke Weems wrote a biography on George Washington was that, besides his love for preaching, he loved the all-mighty dollar. He was also a shrewd businessman who possessed an uncanny sense of what the public wanted whether they knew it or not. What the public in 1800 needed was something new to talk and think about-whether it was true or not. The public was between major wars. The Revolutionary War was behind them. It would be late in 1806 before Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with the Corps of Discovery, would trek across the country to the Pacific and return. And the War of 1812 was even further away. The public, in 1800, much like the public today at various times, was badly in need of a super hero. The good reverend Weems gave them one in the form of a little boy who made a mistake, just as all little boys do, but was brave and honest enough to own up to his crime. Then that little boy grew up and became president of the United States of America. In any era, that would be a hard act to follow. But society tried to follow the example as they attempted to instill Washington's exemplary character in every young boy. So, again, did George Washington chop down his father's cherry tree? The answer probably lies some where between: "Is there a Santa Claus" and as my younger sister once asked, "Does the Easter Bunny live on Easter Island?" The answer is in the heart, which does not always distinguish between fact and fiction but always knows what it cherishes. Historical Note:The Washington Monument, seen above, in Washington D. C. rises 555-feet high. It is constructed of obelisk and was erected between 1848 and 1884, commemorating President George Washington. The original cherry trees, like the ones seen here and those that line the banks of the Potomac River, were a gift from China. Recommended Reading: Sources: Collier's Encyclopedia, Volume 23. Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation, 1968. Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency George Washington. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2004. Van Tassel, David D. "The Legend Maker." American Heritage, February 1962, Vol. XIII, No. 2. American Heritage Publishing Co. Inc. New York, 1962. Whitney, David C. The American Presidents. Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York, 1967.
The copyright of the article Washington Book Makes Money in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Washington Book Makes Money in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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