In his book, An Imperfect God, Henry Wiencek argues that Washington is the very first president to set the precedent for the emancipation of African-American slaves. Wiencek delves into the wicked paradox of how a nation conceived on the principles of freedom and dedicated to the affirmation that all men are created equal found itself in a state that still retained slavery over seventy years after the nation was built. Washington's grandiose estate at Mount Vernon at its height provided for the support of over 300 slaves, 126 of whom were owned by Washington. First, one must understand that Washington grew up in slavery receiving ownership of 10 slaves at the age of 11 and that Washington was a man of his time. However, one must also understand that Washington's business with slavery took place in the context of a limited social and political environment. Weincek argues that this still does not excuse the fact that Washington maintained slavery; helps quantify the moral failing that Washington carried into his final year of life. Weincek in his thesis writes on the principle that Washington, when he committed himself to the patriotic cause, his drive, his discipline, his resolve helped win the nation its independence. However, toward the end of his life, Washington faced the issue of slavery, which became a harrowing private conflict over race and slavery that was a micronism for the national struggle – a struggle that was not yet over. The significance of slavery as a micronism of the national struggle – a struggle that was not yet over, as written by Henry Wiencek, is a prelude to the fact that it would be another seventy years before the emancipation of the slaves. Washington had helped create a sensible... middle-of-the-road... administrator as an example to the statesmen of his day to dictate the management of others. Although at the end of his life Washington's affairs were in such a state that he could afford to free and provide for his slaves. His example remains with insufficient liberation actions of his slaves during his time to bring about peaceful abolition. Weincek does an excellent job of demonstrating that without Washington the foundations of individual freedom would not have been possible. In support of Weincek's thesis, WB Allen, professor of political philosophy at Michigan State University, writes: "no one can fail to see in Abraham Lincoln's 1838 speech at the Lyceum the recognition that, without Washington, the principles of liberty could never have be claimed not even in war. "Works Cited An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America