What does it say about the USA when the much idolized George Washington was a slave owner?

Question

Why don't they take his picture off the USA currency & put a decent person on it?
Why is a guy that was a complete racist worshipped by Americans?

Answer 1

Same with Thomas Jefferson and many other Founding Fathers (and Presidents).



It's a part of history modern Americans like to ignore, and forget about.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_and_slavery



He also signed the Fugitive Slave Act, and aided the French in fighting the Haitians that were rebelling against them (who would later go on to win, and form Haiti).

Answer 2

1. Washington WAS a racist. Owning slaves was LEGAL but it WASN"T RIGHT.

2. His picture will stay on the currency because this country is still full of ignorant racists that look up to him. They're living in the 1700's and wish THEY could own slaves as well.

3. We should put someone else on the currency, for example, a Native American, or an African American who fought for civil rights. Or a woman who fought for women's sufferage.

4. We should be celebrating those who actually made this country great, instead of celebrating those who started it on the backs of slaves.

Answer 3

Until the Revolutionary War was won Washington and the rest of the founding fathers were British, and the plantation/slavery systems had been in place in the Americas for centuries under the British. But to say it was all about race is not correct. There were many Irish, Scottish and lower class English slaves in the Americas. In fact African slaves were considered more valuable and were often better treated than the Irish slaves. Because dark skinned slaves fetched a higher price on the slave market Irish slave women were force bred to African slave men for the purpose of creating mulattoes which could be sold for higher prices than straight Irish slaves. The practice was only discontinued because it cut into the profits of the slave transport business.

But to experiment with a new form of government, one without a monarchy, was a giant step for Washington's time. This was especially true for people who were British. If Washington had ever been captured by the British he would have been swinging from the gallows as a warning to anyone who dared take a stand against the crown.

Answer 4

It says that it's a country in general that has no problem with slavery. Just look at Lincoln for example. For decades and decades, the schools lied to kids and told them that 'good ole' President Lincoln "freed the slaves". Never telling them the only reason WHY he did it. It wasn't that he really cared that slavery was wrong, it was all a move to save the union! It was strictly political! Lincoln even said himself that he thought Black people/slaves were inferior to Whites period! Now what Black American should praise and honor an @ss like that or any of them from back then? Whites make excuses up for them. Crap like "oh, it was a different time back then and slavery was legal". Like that's suppose to excuse away everything! They KNEW back then that slavery was wrong! But it didn't matter to them!

Answer 5

Well, the $5 bill has Lincoln, the $50 bill has Grant, and the US did elect a black president 16 months ago.



I would say he is idolized rather than worshiped. Most nations seem to have an historical figure who is considered the founder or liberator and who is idolized. Washington is it for the US. He won the unofficial title of father of the US because the army he commanded was responsible for winning the war of independence. It helped that he was tall, aristocratic and a natural commander. Although he had limited military experience, he studied military history, tactics and strategy, and turned a rag-tag group of farmers into an effective army. I believe he is usually not derided for as a slaver because most American schoolchildren are not taught about that when they are first introduced to Washington, and first impressions are lasting ones.



Other answerers here have said that slavery was considered normal and was completely accepted at the time. That is not true, there was an abolitionist movement even then. Some northerners did not want to serve in his army because he was a slaveholder and had kicked the black freemen out of his army. After he became president he began to think slaves had rights as human beings. Regardless, he did not liberate his 300 slaves until after his death.

Answer 6

America only accounted for 3 % of the entire slave industry and yet we bear 100 % of the guilt trip. It's over, it's done. The new slaves are the middle class. This include anglo americans, blacks, asians, Filipinos, and all other races that rise above a certain income. They are enslaved to all the entitlement junkies that get free medical, free housing, free cell phones and anything else they can con their way into. The race of the slave and the entitlement whores is non discriminatory. There are as many successful 'minorities' that pay an inequitable amount into this welfare fund as any anglo american, and there are as many white trash recipients as there are minorities. The welfare system should only be for those that are physically or mentally handicapped. With that said, two of my cousins that are mentally challenged both hold down jobs and support themselves with no help from the government. I am severely handicapped and somehow manage to work when work is available. I harbor no resentment towards any particular race or individual for this situation. I do hold our spineless elected bureaucrats responsible. It is an unfortunate truth, but we get the government we deserve. As for Washington, he and his ragamuffin revolutionary army suffered hardships that the slaves of the south never had to endure. In the iconoclastic age of slavery, most of it existed in Jamaica, Central and South America, Haiti, Cuba, and numerous island chains. And by the way, George Washington is not really idolized, just iconized. He is a symbol of a fight against the tyranny of the british, although he did practice a mild form of tyranny himself. And did you know that it was common for American Indians to enslave captured enemies from other tribes? This also occurred in the aztec, mayan, persian, Roman and jewish communities as well. Welcome to the new slave trade: the American middle class. Your best bet is to just pay your taxes, keep quiet and remember that as bad as it is right now at this very moment, Americans have one of the highest standards of living in the world. Exception: South Africa where 'functional slavery' still exists. For every diamond that rests upon the hand of a willing recipient, there are ounces of blood and sweat that brought that stone to its location. Is De Beers not guilty of slavery? And how about this one "he went to Jared". Wow. Lots of injustice, few answers.

Answer 7

oh come on ....



I am an aussie who will criticise what some americans think and say... and what the USA Government does... WHEN I THINK IT'S FAIR TO CRITICISE ... having said that I will ALSO defend the USA when I think the usa is being attacked unfairly and this is one of those times...



You are judging a man who lived in far different times... by our standards... some two hundred and several decades later...



We do not condone slavery now... but we should be able to look at a period of history..and say a couple of things.. the FIRST BEING .. isn't it good that we now do NOT have those things happening in these times...

the second thing is... But we need to know that that was the NORM of the day...



Washington .. IS important to the USA... for far more reasons than him owning or not owning slaves...



It's likely that in those times a man would have been permitted to beat his wife...



what was once accepted isn't anymore... but it's a bit silly condemning the man for something which at the time was the norm.





Politi-whore ~~ you have made a point here that I agree with..

it would be good to have different people represent on your currency... This is what we have in AU http://images.google.com.au/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=australian+currency&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&imgtype=i_similar&sa=X&ei=sHWbS4LGHMqIkAWPoMyaDQ&ct=img-sim-l&oi=image_sil&resnum=1&tbnid=4OJlUgW15G9laM: MANY people who have done something that deserves recognition.. we have indigenous people, we have former convicts, we have women, ...

Answer 8

It was the way history was during the time. Most people owned slaves and it wasn't a taboo issue back in the day. Nowadays we realize the ownership of another individual is wrong however we still respect the first president of the US because he was able to bring this country on the right track and establish what we would become in the future.



Most of our founders had slaves. Our first societies had slaves. This is just a terrible part of human history and shouldn't be erased simply because people think differently now than they did back then.



However we shouldn't also ignore the mistakes of the past. We should openly recognize these faults and use them as a spring-board for bettering ourselves, and our nation, in the days to come.

Answer 9

I don't condone slavery or racism one bit, but remember that back when he was alive, slavery was considered perfectly acceptable, and the idea of "racism" just didn't exist. It was just accepted that whites were superior, and slavery was a normal part of society. It sounds abhorrent today, but back then it wasn't.



I think it is pretty obvious that when Americans think of him, they think of "the man who won the war of independence", not "the slave owner".

Answer 10

You can only judge a person using the time that they lived in. George Washington lived in a world where slaves were accepted (1799 or so). Today he would feel differently.

Answer 11

He was born in 1732 and slavery was completely legal.



You do know that in 200 + years posting on a forum might be just as heinous to those future people and you will be considered a horrible horrible person





You can not take your morality and apply it to the person who lived in a different era.



You have to judge them by their own time

Answer 12

"Your Right!" (hahaha punny!)

GW Bush is a Much better choice for the Face of America!

Answer 13

it says that during the time of George Washington, Americans (and much of the rest of the world) had different views on race equality than we have today, and that despite his historical era, he is still an important and respected figure in American history.

Answer 14

Well, Washington liberated his slaves. The person you REALLY want to pick on is Jefferson (the supposed great champion of the rights of man). He's the true hypocrite.

Answer 15

It was a different time.



It was a time when men were men and liberals hid in the closet.

Answer 16

He also ran for the presidency on the platform of increasing the bounty for every "redskin" scalp that you brought to your local bounty office.

Answer 17

Patriotism and racism go hand in hand. And slavery doesn't indicate racism. It just indicates bigotry.

Answer 18

your are still a slave, just read your IRS tax form.

Answer 19

America is a racist nation ..no other reason.