British opinion of George Washington?

[Fyctional]

With President's Day coming up here in the states, I started wondering about the British historical opinion of George Washington. He's a complete darling in America, a national hero, consistently among top-ranked presidents, etc. But that only came by high treason to the English crown.

So, my British friends, how have your history books judged our beloved, albeit criminally disloyal, first president?

 

[Axolotl]

Generally a big resonding "meh", I mean just speaking for myself and people I know, I've never heard anyone express any strong opinion on him whatsoever.

 

[Plinglebob]

With President's Day coming up here in the states, I started wondering about the British historical opinion of George Washington. He's a complete darling in America, a national hero, consistently among top-ranked presidents, etc. But that only came by high treason to the English crown.

So, my British friends, how have your history books judged our beloved, albeit criminally disloyal, first president?

Judging from peoples attitudes while I was at school and what we study in History, we don't care. Seriously, barely a blip on the radar. I think we spent about 3 months on US history when I was 11 and to be honest we spent more time on General Custer getting his ass handed to him at Little Big Horn then the Revolution.

 

[SckizoBoy]

So, my British friends, how have your history books judged our beloved, albeit criminally disloyal, first president?

We may be cousins, Yank, but we're hardly friends! =P

/jk

Hell, I'm not even ethnically English so that makes even less sense coming from me...

Anyway... I speak only for myself when I say that ultimately, I agree with what GW did and applaud him for it (besides, he showed the world what a real soldier-statesman was), 'cos Parliament and George III really ballsed up the running of the colonies... change even just a few decisions and you'd still be saying 'what ho!' but that's purely conjecture...

 

[Suicidejim]

Yeah, as a rule, many of us couldn't care less. US history has never really been a big deal for the UK.

 

[Ectoplasmicz]

Generally a big resounding "meh", I mean just speaking for myself and people I know, I've never heard anyone express any strong opinion on him whatsoever.

Pretty much this. He isn't really talked about in any way. Nbody has a strong opinion for or against.

 

[jizzytissue]

terrorist should have been castrated and violently murdered before he got to america

 

[daveman247]

School slipped over most of US History, unless you took a special class for it. Bar Martin Luther King and Kennedy's assassination. Even learning about the two world wars was JUST from the UK's perpective.

I guess what im saying is, we seem to focus on UK stuffs

 

[Jarek Mace]

Naive and perhaps foolish; but a good man at heart who meant well for his people, or at least the power that would accompany victory.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Generally a big resounding "meh", I mean just speaking for myself and people I know, I've never heard anyone express any strong opinion on him whatsoever.

Pretty much this. He isn't really talked about in any way. Nbody has a strong opinion for or against.

Yeah, Our history classes throughout school basically began a light starter on the Stone Age, with a side of the Romans, a main meal of the Victorian era + British Empire and for an extended dessert copious amounts of Hitler smothered in a Nazi cream.

We never really covered anything to do with America, so no one is bothered by the founding fathers or the war of Independence, because we know crap all about it.

EDIT: I suppose I should say that it's just the way any educational system is run, how do most Americans feel about the War of the Roses, or Cromwell's conquest in Ireland, or the Plantagenets, the Spanish Armada, the Princes in the Tower?
Most Americans will have no opinion, not through ignorance, but simply because those things were not relevant to America, and so (probably) never really focused on by your school system

 

[JaceArveduin]

Generally a big resounding "meh", I mean just speaking for myself and people I know, I've never heard anyone express any strong opinion on him whatsoever.

Pretty much this. He isn't really talked about in any way. Nbody has a strong opinion for or against.

Yeah, Our history classes throughout school basically began a light starter on the Stone Age, with a side of the Romans, a main meal of the Victorian era + British Empire and for an extended dessert copious amounts of Hitler smothered in a Nazi cream.

We never really covered anything to do with America, so no one is bothered by the founding fathers or the war of Independence, because we know crap all about it.

EDIT: I suppose I should say that it's just the way any educational system is run, how do most Americans feel about the War of the Roses, or Cromwell's conquest in Ireland, or the Plantagenets, the Spanish Armada, the Princes in the Tower?
Most Americans will have no opinion, not through ignorance, but simply because those things were not relevant to America, and so (probably) never really focused on by your school system

I've actually heard most of those names through-out school, except the Princes. It's been some time though, and I can't remember much, even if War of the Roses rings fairly loudly, think we learned a little about that during english/reading when we were doing stuff about Macbeth.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

You know the whole thing of America not caring what happens with the rest of the world? Yeah it goes both ways.

It's rare to find a brit who cares about American history. It's just not an important topic in the UK.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

Well sir, as a British gentleman, I can say that this Mr. Washington upstart is terribly improper, uncouth and rude! I think you chaps would have been better off staying a part of Her Britannic Majesty's empire. Instead we allowed you to cast out on your own, a poor lost child, as we watched like a mother weeping for her first-born as he takes his first step onto colonial shores in order to defend the might and beauty of Her Majesty and Her loyal subjects.
[sub]Warning: The previous statements may not be entirely historically accurate and/or peppered with flowery dialogue.[/sub]

 

[AlAaraaf74]

Yeah, as a rule, many of us couldn't care less. US history has never really been a big deal for the UK.

If only us American's could realize that we're not the only country that matters on this Earth. (I'm not being sarcastic)