~Final Essay~

~Ashlee Lawrence~Honors History 10~06/12/08~

Abstract:
In this paper I will show you what was needed in a leader to guide the 13 colonies through the American Revolution and how collaboration made it possible. I will use Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis, YouTube.com, and Wikipedia to support my facts.

The American Revolution required an abundant amount of leadership. All of this leadership was shared among a group of men who worked together to create what we know today as the United States of America, independent from Britain. These men, including George Washington, John Adams Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison all had different specialties and talents that they shared to collaborate and lead the American Revolution.

There are many different traits a leader can have. Depending on what you are leading some traits are more important than others. When leading a revolution you need a leader that can stay calm and is cool headed, someone who has experience in the military. Other important traits would be persuasion and boldness to stand up for what you believe. Sometimes it is also necessary to be elegant and stealthy. All of these characteristics are great in themselves, but when you put them together you get something magnificent.

George Washington was a very big man, tall broad shoulders, and it gave him an heir that people respected. He was very calm and collected and was able to think things through in a stressful situation. This "coolness" is what made him a great military leader. He was respected by all and was courageous. He was looked upon as a role model. One example of his true character was his retirement. As Washington grew older he knew that his time had come to hand over the reins of the United States. "The firm tone of his mind, for which he had been remarkable, was beginning to relax; a listlessness of labor, a desire for tranquility had crept on him, and a willingness to let others act, or even think for him"(1) It was the way he went about the whole situation that was remarkable. He had all the power in his hands, "He holds levees like a King, receives congratulations on his birthday like a King, employs his old enemies like a King...."(2), and yet he gave it up because he realized that he was incapable of doing the best that someone else could do at that point in his life. It takes a man to be a King, it takes a leader to give it up.

To be able to lead a population you have to have their support. John Adams specialty was public speaking and persuasion. His favorite form of conversation was an argument.(3) Adams could be heard at the Continental Congress meetings expressing his opinion about the colonies being independent from Britain. "My judgment approves this measure and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, all that i am, and all that I hope in this life I am now ready to stake up on it. While I live let me have a country....a free country!"(4) This is part of the speech that was heard at the continental congress as Adams was trying to convince the colonies to unite. He was successful and the Declaration of Independence was written. "The resolution to draft independent constitutions was, as Adams put it, 'independence itself'."(5)

One of the most important qualities of being a leader is to be able to collaborate with others. Leading a revolution or war is not a task that can be done alone. Adams and Jefferson came together through the revolution and made a very unique pair. Adams was short and stout and a very improvisational, mile-a-minute talker who knew how to convince people of what he wanted. Adams and Jefferson were like the sun and the moon; completely different. Jefferson was tall, dark and hansom with a very elegant style and he believed that argument was "a violation of the natural harmonies he heard inside his head".(6)

Adams and Jefferson had worked side by side in the continental congress, having different views of how freedom from Britain should be accumulated. Their next collaboration was in drafting the Declaration of Independence. In 1784 Jefferson was considered family to the Adams and the true friendship began. Adams and Jefferson had different political views but were very close to each other at heart. This makes the collaboration stronger.

Adams and Jefferson were not the only people who collaborated throughout the revolution to make it a success. Early on before the revolution Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison had a sit down to discuss their problems. Jefferson was trying to help smooth things out between Hamilton and Madison. As they collaborated they came up with an agreement; Madison would not vote for Hamilton's plan but he would hold his tongue and let it have its fate. In return Hamilton used his influence to make sure that the Potomac River was the permanent residence of the national capital.

A leader can be described as having many different traits or qualities and those qualities can be superb, but when they are put together with other leaders who have different qualities you get a leader that can accomplish anything. Like the old saying, "Two heads are better than one", two leaders are better than one, or in this case, multiple leaders are better than one. Without the collaboration of Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Adams, and Washington the United States would not have made it through the revolution. Combining each of their talents into a "super leader" made the colonies unstoppable.

Sources
(1) Founding Brothers, pg. 125

(2) Founding Brothers, pg. 127

(3) Found Brothers, pg. 163

(4) John Adams - God Save The American States (youtube) 3:30

(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams#Continental_Congress

(6) Founding Brothers, pg. 163