StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Marquis de Lafayette - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Marquis De Lafayette Marquis de Lafayette was a French general and political leader who devotedly played a major role in the establishment of America’s democracy. Lafayette was hailed as a Hero of Two Worlds and he became a household name and an admirable man by Americans…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.7% of users find it useful
Marquis de Lafayette
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Marquis de Lafayette"

Download file to see previous pages

It is unfortunate that Lafayette’s extraordinary accomplishments have faded from memory and that the thorniest issues he tackled such as racism, slavery, class difference, religious intolerance are still seen as major challenges in both America and France. On July 31, 1777, the Continental Congress introduced Lafayette, 19 to George Washington after Washington had taken command of the Colonial Army two years before and there were few foreigners interested in the American cause. Although the Congress told Washington that Lafayette’s commission was purely honorific, he was not informed about it and Washington complained about Lafayette’s expected command of a division.

This made the success of American Revolution in doubt and for more than a year, there were only two critical victories in Trenton and Princeton and the army only succeeded at evasion and retreat. Washington was worried that perhaps Philadelphia could fall to the enemies and therefore the only thing he had was the young French teenager, Lafayette (Gaines Web). Earl explains that Washington was later given a leeway on making decision regarding Lafayette’s role in the war and by September, he was riding with Washington into battle where he was wounded at Brandywine Creek (85-89).

Washington’s personal physician then attended him and the history tells that Washington believed in Lafayette as a son and Lafayette treated him as a father. He treated Lafayette with fatherly tenderness however, the two men sometimes differed and could work against one another and their interaction symbolizes problematic relations between their two countries. Nevertheless, the friendship between the two continued for all the time Washington lived despite challenges and this friendship can be linked with the implausible French-American relationship.

Lafayette always showed his sincere devotion and support of Washington, which made him seek for Washington’s approval before carrying out any military duty (“New-York Historical Society” Web). Volunteering to aid America in their quest to secure independence was a crucial role that Lafayette played in a foreign nation. Learning that the British troops had evacuated Philadelphia, on June 19, 1778, Washington commanded his men to pursue the British across New Jersey and Lafayette advised Washington to send more soldiers to attack the rear of the British.

Lafayette, alongside other officers including Wayne and Green explained that the general attack should be initiated if the results were favourable and Washington agreed to the plan. Lafayette then asked Lee who had initially been offered the command but contemplated disaster to let him lead the command. With Washington approval, Lafayette took the command and advanced to meet the British troops but upon further consideration, lee felt that Lafayette’s success might tarnish his name against the congress (“New-York Historical Society” Web).

Nevertheless, Lafayette refused to relinquish the command and he promised that he would only resign the command in favour of Lee if he does not find the enemy of which he did in the evening and lee assumed the charge of the division. Unfortunately, Washington and his men caught up with the British the following day thus prompting him to order lee to attack the enemy and that he would advance with other men to defeat the enemy. Surprisingly, upon

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Marquis de Lafayette Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/history/1497151-marquis-de-lafayette
(Marquis De Lafayette Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/history/1497151-marquis-de-lafayette.
“Marquis De Lafayette Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1497151-marquis-de-lafayette.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Marquis de Lafayette

How did the French support the Colonies during the American Revolution

The French foreign minister Comte de Vergennes created a commercial company, which was then used as a go-between and given the million livres tournois (Dull 61).... YOUR NAME HERE INSTRUCTOR NAME HERE CLASS NAME/NUMBER HERE DATE HERE American History: French Aid, the Beginning and the End of the Revolutionary War, And Thomas Jefferson, Biography of a Statesman, Patriot, and President Introduction In contemplating the discourse of American history, the Revolutionary War undoubtedly stands out as one of the most celebrated and well-known chapters....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

The Nineteenth Century America

There was an air of imperialism among the young Americans boosted by Marquis de Lafayette when he returned to the United States in the year 1824.... After the war of 1812, which was a military conflict between America and the British Empire, ended America began to expand its territories towards the West....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Hypocrisy in Society

The paper 'Hypocrisy in Society' presents Gore Vidal who was seething with acid.... There, he could no longer hide his contempt for conventions and categorizing, for hypocrisy in society, and for his revulsion against sexual norms.... In the Myra novel, he showed all and sundry.... hellip; In “Burr”, it was expected that he would mellow down in his usual satiric stance, this being a historical novel, an exposition of the political events that unfolded a few decades after the American Revolution....
12 Pages (3000 words) Book Report/Review

Williamsons Characterization of Common Culture

In ‘Introduction: Meaning and Ideology' Judith Williamson (Williamson 1994) argues that pop culture has replaced art and religion as the predominant means by which society participates in a common culture.... Williamson's characterization of ‘common culture' goes beyond… While the extent that this transformation has occurred is debatable, with advances in digital technology and the internet it's clear that a significant social With specific reference to television daytime talk shows and advertisements, this essay considers the extent that pop culture shapes a common culture; the essay also considers the ways and extent that contemporary art continues to influence cultural paradigms....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The United States and the French Revolution

France supported Americans through sending troops and intellectuals such as Marquis de Lafayette while Americans sent Thomas Pain to assist in French revolution (Office of Historian, 2012).... One of the major differences between American Revolution and French revolution was that American Revolution was aimed at breaking free from the British Empire while the French revolution was a revolt of people of lower status against their own country....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

The Impact of the American Revolution on the French ( Lafayette and/or others )

This was through various personalities, such as lafayette and Brissort, who had been in America during the It also shaped the constitution-making process in France, changing it from a unilateral approach to the need for conventions, as it was the case in the US.... The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, had considerable influence on the French, and, indeed, the rest of the world....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

George Washington's Continental Army

The paper "George Washington's Continental Army" focuses its attention on the person of George Washington, who was an excellent military commander and leader.... nbsp;Washington's performance as the commanding general of the Continental Army was, given the circumstances, exceptional.... He managed to win given the small number of troops and limited resources he was given....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

European Art Activism and Dance as Activism

This essay "European Art Activism and Dance as Activism" examines a number of forms of art activism from the 19th and 20th centuries to identity and contextual the practice within the spectrum of modern art.... nbsp;Activism in the Arts can be viewed from a variety of different angles.... nbsp;… Clearly, the shape of activism in the arts has changed and taken on a myriad number of forms throughout the years....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us