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History of the United States I / Unit 7   USH1 0904 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Washington as Cincinnatus

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The idea

Washington embodied republican virtue by refusing kingship and retiring to Mount Vernon, on the model of Cincinnatus, the Roman who left public service for farming.

In practice

The Society of the Cincinnati, founded seventeen eighty-three and open only to Continental Army officers.

Where people slip

Its motto was that he relinquished everything to save the Republic, which is the claim the whole performance rested on.

Your place on the trail

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