# George Washington — The American Crisis character guide

> George Washington in The American Crisis by Thomas Paine.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Washington, General Washington, a Washington

**First appearance:** 0002-the-crisis-i

## Snapshot

The commander whose retreat across the Delaware gave Paine's first Crisis its urgency and its audience.

## Who they are

Washington is the steady hand of the Revolution, the general whose perseverance Paine holds up as proof that the cause is not lost even when the army is dissolving. His tension is with rivals and schemers — Gates's victory at Saratoga bred a quiet movement to replace him — and with the endless retreats that test his soldiers' faith. He matters because Paine's words were written to be read aloud to his freezing, dwindling troops.

## Relationships

### [Thomas Paine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/thomas_paine)

_friendship_

Thomas Paine's writings, especially 'The American Crisis', inspired and supported General Washington's troops during the war.

### [Lord Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_howe)

_rivalry_

Washington and Lord Howe were opposing military commanders in the American Revolutionary War.

### [General Conway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/general_conway)

_rivalry_

General Conway was part of the Conway Cabal, a faction that schemed to replace Washington as commander-in-chief.

### [America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/america)

_professional_

George Washington served as the commanding general of the American Continental Army, embodying the nation's struggle.

### [Congress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/congress)

_professional_

The Continental Congress appointed and oversaw General Washington as commander of the American army.

### [Lord Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/lord_howe)

_rivalry_

Washington and Lord Howe were opposing military commanders in the American Revolutionary War.

## In the story

### [Editor’s Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction)

Commander who ordered the first Crisis read to his dispirited soldiers during the retreat across the Delaware.

### [The American Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-american-crisis)

Commander of the Continental Army, implicitly referenced as the leader guiding the troops through hardship.

### [The Crisis I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-i)

Implied as the commander of the army; Paine references the troops at Fort Lee and the march to Pennsylvania, which involved Washington's forces.

### [The Crisis II: To Lord Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-ii-to-lord-howe)

Mentioned as a figure of honor and leadership, contrasted with Lord Howe.

### [The Crisis IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-iv)

Referenced as 'our brave general' leading the American army with steadfastness.

### [The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-v-to-gen-sir-william-howe)

Referenced as commanding the army at Whitemarsh, alongside General Gates.

### [To the Inhabitants of America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/to-the-inhabitants-of-america)

Mentioned as commanding the army at Whitemarsh in a hypothetical scenario.

### [A Supernumerary Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/a-supernumerary-crisis)

American general who demanded the murderer be handed over and authorized the retaliatory execution.

### [The Crisis XII: To the Earl of Shelburne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/the-crisis-xii-to-the-earl-of-shelburne)

Implied as the commander of the army that has resisted British forces.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/chapters/endnotes)

Washington is referenced in connection with the Battle of Brandywine and the intelligence Paine gathered about his army; the notes also mention a scheme to replace him with General Gates.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters/george_washington
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_crisis_se/characters