I cannot get over how good every actor was in this series. They all NAILED their roles. They completely embraced what I imagine Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams and the rest really must have been like. True Talent
I remember in 2009, my family went on a fishing trip. The cabin had a small TV and DVD player. I rented the John Adams miniseries, thinking that we would watch a couple episodes every night after fishing. After the first day of fishing we watched the first two episodes. The next day we woke up and instead of fishing we spent the day watching the miniseries because we were hooked. Good times.
Ironically Genet went crawling back to Washington when the French issued a warrant for his arrest, a sure death sentence. Instead of putting him on the next ship to Calais, Washington granted him asylum and he lived a long life, dying at the age of 71 in 1834, praising Washington to his dying day.
Forget leading the Continental Army and being the President... the fact he fought in the French & Indian War, which easily rivals the barbarity of the Eastern front and the Pacific Theater in WW2, would scare the shit out of anyone. That man did bad things when he was younger.
That’s why he was a capable leader. He spoke calmly, plainly, and frankly. He probably seldom needed to repeat himself. People just seemed to want to do what he wanted them to. He led by a quiet, no nonsense method. During the Constitutional Convention, it’s said a stern look from him, with nothing said, was all it took to quiet noisy groups of delegates.
This French ambassador was ordered back to France by Washington. The Jacobins, having taken power in France by January 1794, sent an arrest notice which asked Genêt to come back to France. Genêt, knowing that he would likely be sent to the guillotine, asked Washington for asylum. It was Hamilton - Genêt's fiercest opponent in the cabinet - who convinced Washington to grant him safe haven in the United States.
@@realworldforum Do you think I really care what he really thought about and why he did that for Genet? Seriously, I only made that comment because it just seemed funny how Hamilton, based on the comment thread, was a major influence for Washington to make such a move, and acted so helpful towards his french opponent.
Washington had a strict and commanding presence. He seldom became openly angry, and had a way of quietly getting his point across. The French ambassador was simply being willfully oblivious to the cues.
Fun fact: Genet’s great grandson was the first American to die in the First World War. Edit: not the first American. First American flier after war was declared. My bad.
@@edwardnigma6963 I wonder if his bloodline still lives, from what I gathered people used to have a lot more children than today back then, so it’s possible the line still lives.
Even after the Revolution, Britain was still the single largest purchaser of US resources and goods, and still the single largest exporter of other goods to the newly independent US. Despite their hostility to the British government, the Colonial Americans were still far closer to Britain in their culture, politics, and economy. It was not possible to just completely sever all those ties on a whim, and it wasn't really possible to ally with a France that was at war with itself as much as with Britain. Staying out was the right decision to make.
Gemini Look idiot you have no idea what Washington had to consider. A new nation that has yet to grow and is in a fragile state. Going into a war that if they lose could mean the destruction of the nation. If you had brain you would realize that.
Gemini you realize that the French gov't we signed the treaty with had been destoyed....this was an entirely different group of people and they still didn't know who was in charge there.
@@soybasedjeremy3653 . I don't mean to denigrate Morse's performance, I just don't hear an accent. It doesn't much distract me from the performance but I wonder when the English of No. America shifted from English variants, like yr Westcountry, into America Northern and Southern accents and speech.
We have the DVD... In the special features they show when David McCullough first saw David Morse on the set as Washington ... That was great! Just an excellent job all the way around!
It's wise to keep in mind that this came 1-2 years after the US Army suffered a disastrous defeat against Native American forces at the Battle of the Wabash, which destroyed a good chunk of our "standing army". The US was in the process of rebuilding said army at the time (The Legion of the United States) and was in no position to get entangled in European Affairs.
It's the Lord Palmerson quote: "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." Reality is that the French monarchy supported the fledgling USA because they felt it was in their interest to do so. The USA had every right (based on the fact this wasn't a government of the French monarchy) and every reason to do what was in their best interest at the time, and stay neutral in the conflict. In the end that middle course served the US well during the Napoleonic wars; a catastrophic war was avoided, and the US benefited from the Louisiana purchase and the post-1812 improvement in relations with the British.
We signed a treaty with a king whose head is now in a basket, Would you like to take it out and ask it? "Uh, should honor our treaty, King Louis' head?" "Uh, do whatever you want. I'm super dead!!"
I mean its likely since Lafayette, a good friend of Hamilton is a moderate, which means he didnt desire to execute the king of france, either to make him a constitutional monarch or just strip louis of his kingship
That's easy to say 200 years later, but the US barely managed to win its own war for independence and was still barely able to stand on its own two feet. It was hardly in a position to do anything about what was happening in Europe.
@@republicempire446 The US never should have involved itself in European affairs. Because this country got involved in WW1, it upset the balance of power in Europe which resulted in Germany's humiliation, the rise of Hitler and the horrors of WW2 along with the Cold War related violence that plagued the rest of the 20th century; The after effects we are still dealing with today. The world has never been the same since.
Lord Inquisitor to be fair the US involvement in WW1 probably didn’t make much of a difference. In fact the US was actually neutral selling weapons/vehicles etc. to both sides a majority of the war If I remember correctly Germany was already probably going to lose when the US entered the war. Also it was a world war in that it dragged everyone in to the war somehow. It remaining a European only conflict died before WW1 started.
@@captaindestruction9332 US saved Paris, which would've made defeat not so crushing. While the British charged towards the Germans with tanks and etc..., the Germans then invaded towards Paris, where vast numbers of Americans held firm and defended alongside the French.
@@Intrepid_Crusader1096 It was Germanys fault in both World Wars in the case of American involvement. WW1- The Zimmerman Telegram WW2- Hitlers declaration of war.
Diplomacy in most total war games is damn near ridiculously difficult and stupid. Offering peace to an enemy after you defeat his army, sink orally his navy and cut him off from any aid from his allies? "We will fight to death! We have no need of peace"
@@thehandoftheking3314 "I will give you 5000 gold, some useful technologies and military access in exchange for one of your small colonies which you clearly don't care enough about to even build any roads in" "I'm THIS close to whipping you like a horse if you don't retract that offer immediately!"
@@elrond3737 Sure... if you count Girondins warmongering and profiteering “insane”. This ambassador was a Girondins, not so radically for the people. They were the property-owning elitist types saying the people were “taking leave of their senses” by being angry and starved. They were a lot like Washington.
He was sucked up in the revolutionary thought at the time, it's why he was saying things like the blood of tyrants needs to be spilled into the tree of liberty.
I had briefly noticed Genet taking a quick glance at Thomas Jefferson when Hamilton told him about the treaty, almost as if the ambassador expected the Secretary of State to save him.
Genet's actions were endangering American neutrality. After his meeting with Washington, he continued trying to recruit American privateers. Washington sent him an 8000 word letter of complaint on the advice of Jefferson and Hamilton (one of the few things they agreed on) and when Genet replied obstinately, Washtington asked France to recall their ambassador. Genet then received a recall and an arrest warrant and knowing that he was likely to be executed, he begged Washtington for asylum. Ironically it was Hamilton, Genet's greatest critic in the administration, who convinced Washington to grant him asylum.
I posted this earlier but if you watch the entire series Jefferson was totally absolutely irate that the U.S. did not help France in the fight. There is a scene shortly after this where Jefferson lectures Adams on the fact that France supported us in the Revolution and the fact that we couldn't support them was an absolute disgrace. This is a pretty good series.
Genêt made a large error. He anticipated a relationship between two republics as a relationship between two monarchies. The nature of both relationships have wildly different reasons for existing and maintaining stasis, a notion Genêt did not understand.
@@briansheehan3430 He was also a dick. Being a dick means your ideas and ideals are ignored, no matter how right they are or are not. To many people dismiss tact and kindness as pointless and always fall short of their goals because people get tired of being around them. Or they get shot in a duel before they can do anything.
I can only imagine what they’d be able to accomplish if they were the current Presidential administration for the United States with all the power and resources we have now.
I’d like to think the real General Washington would’ve been as authoritative. In fact, I’d like to think Washington would’ve risen to his feet before looking down on the ambassador to say, “Tread carefully.”
This scene truly displays the difference between the constrained and conservative American Revolution, and the unconstrained and radical French Revolution.
More subtle is Jefferson’s clear support of the French and distaste in isolationism while showing Hamilton’s distaste for the murder of the previous monarch.
You might want to find some better adjectives for the American Revolution It was basically a civil war. A civil war where the leaders literally kept their heads.
"I remind the ambassador that our treaty with France was made with King Louis. The king's murdered and as that compact no longer binding." I wonder how many Frenchmen at the time angrily muttered in response to that technicality, "Shit."
It is an irrelevant technicality. If countless French soldiers fought and died to help America defeat England - their respective debt is to the French people and not some fat king. Hamilton s argument is too dismissive of the sacrifices made. He'd be a lousy diplomat even today.
@@angelomaldini3316 May I remind you that those countless French soldiers fought and died on the orders of that some fat king when he signed the treaty agreeing to aid the US?
@@KTChamberlain look up the word cop out. It's an insult to everything they contributed. On stat I never forgot from my visit to the Smithsonian is that France accounted for 90% of all gunpowder used in the war by those opposing the British. Without France, Americans would have fought without guns.
At the time, France wanted all this help. The U.S. didn't have the navy for it, the army for it, nor the economy to sustain it. And most of the economy we did have was still reliant on Britain. For us to go to war with the French against Britain at that point would've been national suicide, and we likely would've ended up in the pocket of France, trading one master for another.
... Ambassador Genet was young, Washington and rest maybe respected age above all else. They thought different back then. Nowadays if Mexico has revolution and they sent a 18 year old to bargain with US would Biden think this showed a unsteady mexico govt? . . . And France was Catholic, the Founding Fathers didn't want to side again Protestant England, not sure Church of England pastors in New England would support that... And France was taking on all of Europe and would mostly lose I guess til Napoleon, and Washington knew the odds were high..... Just saying it's be surprising if US ignored all this amd risked a war with England and fire the first shot across the Canadian border, literally it's a big step for Washington to choose to start that fight after decades of peace.... Yes France was now a Republic but by 1800 the US sorta could see Parliament in UK ran things, UK was a democracy too if one looked deep, and I gotta think Ben Franklin and Jefferson knew this.... I'm no expert, just guessing..
While I love this series and am intrigued by the accuracy of the relations between Genet and Washington's cabinet presented in such a small time within the series, there's an element that bothers me: the fact that Genet was displayed as having been overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the king's death. To the contrary, Genet was a Girondin, known for his charges against the execution and support for sending the king to America instead. While I understand that the series was trying to get across the fervor of the ambassador's arrival in America and the subsequent fears of American moderates and Federalists, it's a little detail that we might consider when looking at such a figure.
Agreed....Washington in retirement and reflection rather than an over the top mythological story. Davis Morse in 2024 is 70 and would be PERFECT in the role.
Hot-headed young man requesting help from a cool-headed old man with demands and halfway threats...sounds about right. “Taken leave of his senses” indeed he has Mr. President! Handled well by you, sir!
you know what's amazing of the whole thing here is the fact that we are so lucky that Washington deemed it a good idea to have a video camera present during all of this so that we can have footage to look back and appreciate.
The US stayed out of the conflict for a multitude of reasons. Not just economic and self-interested ones, but also ideological. At the time, many Americans viewed the French Revolution as going way too far. They were fine with tearing down the monarchy, many even approved of the redistribution of wealth (although this was highly controversial). Where the Americans drew a red line was blatantly executing entire families of people for the crime of being rich. To make matters worse, when Robespierre began is reign of terror, many poor people and enlightenment figures began to be executed simply for not supporting his government. Seeing as one of the founding principles of America was freedom of speech, it didn’t make much sense for the US to support the revolution anymore.
Proving once again, the Americans think that the wealthy need to be protected, that the wealthy need to be comforted, on the small small impossible chance, your average schmuck could become wealthy The American dream. Suckers.
@@noydb2148 this was the late 1700’s. The “American Dream” was barely even a concept yet. This sentiment came from a simple standpoint of “killing people simply for being rich seems like a bad idea”. Especially when you consider that the Revolution became so violent that eventually even regular people were getting targeted. Finally, it even ended in a man declaring himself emperor, and attempting to conquer all of Europe. So in comparison, I’d say the founding fathers had the right idea.
@@537monster sorry, anytime I hear someone congratulating the founding fathers, I have a feeling they are of a particular political persuasion that could really care less what the founding fathers thought or what's good for the country now Founding fathers would have flushed Trump down the toilet. Of that you can be certain
A very good mini series that I recommend to anyone. These men left a lot of letters, some very personal, for us to read. The historicity of this production is pretty good.
While the French Revolutionaries during the republic era where at a civil war while fighting all Europe at the same Time and having a reign of terror with the best general of History napoleon Bonaparte and still winning
I never noticed but Genet looks over his shoulder at Jefferson when he doesn't speak up against Hamilton. He feels betrayed when the most radical American in the room won't defend him.
Hamilton was also thinking rationally, because if France's Republic did fail and its monarchy was restored, they very easily might have disqualified any payment of the debt owed to France by the United States during the French Republics existence(which France wld be justified under the Law of Nations). The Neutrality Proclamation(mainly designed by A.H.) was the best policy to adopt. The newly formed American Nation was in no position for any kind of war - commercial or military
That's because 200 years ago, the US wasn't a world or even regional power. They couldn't have projected power if they wanted to. Tiny army, navy, and economy. What were they going to do? Most countries didn't even think the US would last much longer after independence.
that wasnt a very good negotiating. it sounded more like Genet expected the United States to do what the French Republic wanted. even going as far as saying when he returns, Washington WILL obey. which made it worse because telling your ally you are to obey will make them think you see them as puppets. the US Military was not ready for war yet. it was still small and young. there was more militiamen in the military than regular US Soldiers in blue uniforms. if the US joined, it wouldve been devastating. it took us another 10-20 years to build a mighty military force after the war of 1812
GP it was a huge cluster mess in early years of USA. It wasn’t perfect and it’s military was not well funded due to mistrust of professional permanent standing armies.
@@marsnz1002 thats very wrong. some time after the war of 1812, the US became the dominant force in the Americas where even the British, French, and Spanish didnt want to risk war with them. the French taking over Mexico happened because the US was occupied with a civil war and afterwards, the US was then supplying the Mexican Republicans. it also had a strong navy and was involved with Japan and China. not only that, they crushed the Spanish Empire in 1898. the US also built up greatly in ww1 when they declared war against the German Empire and in their own major offensive, the fresh US troops vroke through the German defensive of elite, well trained, and heavily experience german forces and were the 1st to cross the rhine. afterwards, they continued to buils up their navy which matched the Royal Navy and that worried the British. enough where they even secretly discussed ways to cripple the US Navy (which wouldnt be beneficial because the US is heavily patriotic and would probably invade Canada. a reason to why the British didnt want to take this risk), but ended up deciding to become partners and work together
I always found It interesting how Washington says "your country", and not 'France' at 0:34. It actually says at a lot about the cabinet's views on Revoltionary France, without explicitly saying so.
I love this. T Jeffers is just like "Oh shit." And Hammy's all like "haha, Jefferson sucks". And WHO IS THAT GUY BEHIND HAMILTON? He makes the best faces
Washington had a temper! But he also had a slow fuse. It took a lot to set him off, but once you did... "Katy, bar the door." "Tread carefully, sir." is the equivalent of a rattlesnake buzzing before he strikes!
He fought a revolution during a smallpox epidemic. He evacuated his troops out of New York by ship under cover of fog right under the British 's nose, he rallied his freezing troops to cross the Delaware in the middle of the Night Christmas morning to surprise attack the Hessians, this French pansy didn't faze GW at all!
Great, great, great show....a must for your children that way they see the sacrifice that our fathers had to endure and maybe have American fall in love with America once again....John Adams is one of my heroes
To an uneducated individual like yourself ofcourse it does, because left ideology brainwashed you into believing that this is not the greatest nation in the world (hence why every puts their lives in danger to come here illegally). You are what I called an over privileged American, travel the world and live in other countries for a while and you will soon realize this is the greatest nation in the world.
This scene is a little misleading as Genet never met with President Washington. It is, though, a good example of a composite scene in a historical film as it moves the plot forward and accurately portrays the viewpoint of each character often with actual words they used in a different context (usually written.)
Even the best historical movies introduce events that didn’t occur. In the “The Crossing” there is a scene where General Horatio Gates ridicules Washington’s plan to cross the Delaware and attack Trenton. David Hackett Fischer’s book mentions Gates going to Philadelphia and not meeting Washington, which Washington was not happy about.
@@brianweyne5723 I think my remark addressed that issue. Still, why does a filmmaker take on a historical subject if they have little interest in portraying that subject accurately? This show is in fact rather accurate though there are still unnecessary inaccuarcies.
@@DavidJGillCA these kinds of detail tweaks are usually in service of keeping good pace for the film or aligning the story well. I hate these kinds of inaccuracies as much as everyone else but as long as they make these in a semi-historically-accurate fashion then I have no problem with it
@@DavidJGillCA How about you just accept the fact this is NOT a documentary, who are you to say what is necessary and what isn't? You some type of French lover or something? Who's side are you on?
Washington was a big proponent.of staying out of foreign wars....remember, Europe had been fighting war after war after war for damn near all of recorded history. Washington knew that getting involved in a European war would tie it up for generations and bind it to European affairs.
@@chloroxbleach8561 To be fair, a threat to France was very much a threat to America, without France, only Spain would be able to defend the Americans from Britain, even though they would fall in the "Napoleonic Wars". Logically, a threat to France was a threat to America as America did actually depend on that alliance in the case that Britain attacked again, but, I can see Washington's point too.
"You will hear from me again, and I will speak to you with a million voices. And you will obey." - Ambassador Genet "I wish a motherfucker would!" - George Washington's stare
”The US is a new and _independent_ nation. It’s in our best interest to keep ourselves apart from (pause) _affairs_ we have no attachment to” Translation: sorry France but America just got herself out of a toxic relationship. That wartime alliance was just a fling. We need to spend some time apart and figure things out for ourselves. Also tell Lafayette we said hi (Okay joking aside this was well acted and I really need to watch this miniseries)
you do realize that the French republic broke apart mainly because its military became too powerful, and that was a consequence of them being Attacked by every monarchy in Europe. That's the main difference between our two republics. When we won our revolution, the British and Spaniards had no strength to destroy our republic again. When France won hers, she had to fight nearly a dozen wars with Austro-Hungary, Prussia, Russia, the Holy Roman Empire, Great Britain, Spain, Naples, and the Sultan
Without the French they would have lost, there is no doubt in this. This was betrayal not only of the cause but of those who America owed it's existence to.
While French revolutionaries under the republic era waged war against all Europe while having a civil war and a REIGN OF TERROR while having the best general of history Napoleon Bonaparte and still winning during the Republic era.
It would’ve been absolutely hilarious if after Genet left the room, Washington quietly turns to his cabinet members and says “…..the French.” and then everybody erupts with laughter
Your country owes the French for its very existence, and yet you refuse to pay this debt of blood and honour? Yours is a nation of self-interested cowards.
We really do. Too long have we been meddling in foreign affairs that much of the world hates us for it now. We've spilled too much American and foreign blood for interests that aren't important and for resources we don't need. The United States is long overdue for a good period of isolation and reconstruction.
Speaking from a strictly neutral perspective... can you imagine being a fly on a wall in that room? Surrounded by all those great men (save Genet). Would be epic.
Considering Washington had a really bad temper, I think Genet should consider himself lucky that he didn't get sent back to France. Especially, after the French Republic issued a warrant for Genet's arrest soon after this.
This scene encapsulates a lot of modern problems: Genet wants the US to adopt a liberal foreign policy abroad, getting involved in everyone else's business; George Washington wants us to attend to liberalism at home, without trying to crusade around the world.
That’s why the French Revolution is considered such an important event for historians. Unlike old revolutions like the British glorious revolution of 1688 Or American Revolution who wanted Liberty for themselves, the French Revolution’s goal is for the French to bring Liberty at home but also to the entire world. It is the first revolution which talks about exporting revolutionary ideals to the rest of the world in which goal is universal and has for mission to benefit the entire human race.
@@revolutionariesoffreedom2374 I think the purpose of the French revolutionaries originally was to help their nation only. The attempt of the other monarchical countries to restore the French monarchy helps Napoleon and many of his generation to spread their ideas to the rest of the continent
It took some time for the animosity between ourselves and the US after the revolution to cool down, but today, we are still great and loyal friends to each other.
Cuz USA made UK a puppet after defeating UK pro monarchy and pro empire ideologies and instead USA forced his ideology of freedom and democracy against UK’s will
It’s shameful that Biden allowed Americans to be recruited by Ukraines foreign legion into war with Russia, Washington would be disappointed with Biden
"We owe the French so much...but they're such unmitigated, opinionated a$$holes, every time we have to deal with them!" - every American President since Washington.
We settled our debt to France TWICE, first in 1918, where we helped defend French soil from German invasion, the second on June 6, 1944 when we fought to liberate France from Nazi tyranny. Both times the debt was paid in the blood of our soldiers. You’re welcome.
I cannot get over how good every actor was in this series. They all NAILED their roles. They completely embraced what I imagine Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams and the rest really must have been like. True Talent
Agree. It really does help you understand their mindset in situations
What's the name of the series? Is it John Adams?
@@ariannadavici yes. It was an HBO mini series.
The accents help too.
I remember in 2009, my family went on a fishing trip. The cabin had a small TV and DVD player. I rented the John Adams miniseries, thinking that we would watch a couple episodes every night after fishing. After the first day of fishing we watched the first two episodes. The next day we woke up and instead of fishing we spent the day watching the miniseries because we were hooked. Good times.
Ironically Genet went crawling back to Washington when the French issued a warrant for his arrest, a sure death sentence. Instead of putting him on the next ship to Calais, Washington granted him asylum and he lived a long life, dying at the age of 71 in 1834, praising Washington to his dying day.
And it was Hamilton who convinced Washington to grant asylum to Genet.
Alex Kyriacou Great men do such things.
@@MrAlexkyra that is crazy
This was back when even men of opposition parties could see the value in acting with mercy and honor. How far we’ve fallen...😔
@@timesfire Back when people owned slaves, dueled and beat eachother up in congress?
Thomas Jefferson face palming the whole time is the best thing.
Better than captain Picard's facepalm
Yes, and why is that? I guess the director is implying that Thomas Jefferson is for the revolutionaries' cause, was he?
Washington has such a quiet authority about him, it's almost scary.
Forget leading the Continental Army and being the President... the fact he fought in the French & Indian War, which easily rivals the barbarity of the Eastern front and the Pacific Theater in WW2, would scare the shit out of anyone. That man did bad things when he was younger.
Washington was well respected by any country really
30 And Hating It That explains how he lost all his teeth
That’s why he was a capable leader. He spoke calmly, plainly, and frankly. He probably seldom needed to repeat himself. People just seemed to want to do what he wanted them to. He led by a quiet, no nonsense method. During the Constitutional Convention, it’s said a stern look from him, with nothing said, was all it took to quiet noisy groups of delegates.
@@30AndHatingIt how bad was the French and Indian war??? I dont know much about it
This French ambassador was ordered back to France by Washington. The Jacobins, having taken power in France by January 1794, sent an arrest notice which asked Genêt to come back to France. Genêt, knowing that he would likely be sent to the guillotine, asked Washington for asylum. It was Hamilton - Genêt's fiercest opponent in the cabinet - who convinced Washington to grant him safe haven in the United States.
@Dennis Hopper We all know Hamilton wanted to look like a savior to Genet, in a way of saying, "Your welcome."
@@jamesperryii9994 has Hamilton told you that?
@@realworldforum Do you think I really care what he really thought about and why he did that for Genet? Seriously, I only made that comment because it just seemed funny how Hamilton, based on the comment thread, was a major influence for Washington to make such a move, and acted so helpful towards his french opponent.
Did you copy and paste that from his Wikipedia page good sir?
@@jackminecraft8720 I was gong to use the Encyclopaedia Britannica version but the Wiki version was identical but shorter.
Chills when Washington glared at Genet and said "Tread carefully, sir..."
This is the moment Washington became Heisenberg. Bravo Vince!
@@nicholasstokes8739Cringe
@@Wadiyatalkinabeet_ This is the moment the overused unfunny joke got even less funnyberg. Bravo me!
Washington had a strict and commanding presence. He seldom became openly angry, and had a way of quietly getting his point across. The French ambassador was simply being willfully oblivious to the cues.
@@nicholasstokes8739end
Fun fact: Genet’s great grandson was the first American to die in the First World War.
Edit: not the first American. First American flier after war was declared. My bad.
Dang...
It’s like he wanted to pay back Washington for granting his bloodline safe passage to a good life in America.
@@edwardnigma6963 I wonder if his bloodline still lives, from what I gathered people used to have a lot more children than today back then, so it’s possible the line still lives.
Wow. And Genet married the daughter of the governor of New York and future Vice President.
That does not mathematically make sense..?
Even after the Revolution, Britain was still the single largest purchaser of US resources and goods, and still the single largest exporter of other goods to the newly independent US. Despite their hostility to the British government, the Colonial Americans were still far closer to Britain in their culture, politics, and economy. It was not possible to just completely sever all those ties on a whim, and it wasn't really possible to ally with a France that was at war with itself as much as with Britain. Staying out was the right decision to make.
Oh yes jumping in on the war could have lead to the destruction of America.
Beautiful explanation! Language along with culture too!
Gemini fuck off
Gemini Look idiot you have no idea what Washington had to consider. A new nation that has yet to grow and is in a fragile state. Going into a war that if they lose could mean the destruction of the nation. If you had brain you would realize that.
Gemini you realize that the French gov't we signed the treaty with had been destoyed....this was an entirely different group of people and they still didn't know who was in charge there.
David Morse was a very nice Washington. Introverted and understated to the point of shyness.
He isn’t shy. He’s soft spoken. But underneath there’s a fierce tiger.
Yes, his acting is very good. I wish he did not look so much like Mickey Rooney. Mickey Rooney as Washington is just wrong.
@@ardalla535 Mickey Rooney? Lol. i thought he made a convincing & commanding Washington, though, again, I'm troubled by the lack of accent.
@@jeffallcock4561 It's a Westcountry English accent.
@@soybasedjeremy3653 . I don't mean to denigrate Morse's performance, I just don't hear an accent. It doesn't much distract me from the performance but I wonder when the English of No. America shifted from English variants, like yr Westcountry, into America Northern and Southern accents and speech.
Man David Morse killed that part as George Washington. Great damn acting in this miniseries.
yes. j.
I barely recognized him under all that makeup, but there's no mistaking that gruff voice of his. Either way, solid actor!
Just JuanGoodCitizen David Morse did the best portrayal of Washington I’ve seen. Great casting.
We have the DVD... In the special features they show when David McCullough first saw David Morse on the set as Washington ... That was great! Just an excellent job all the way around!
He was great as Tritter as well! He's a very talented actor
It's wise to keep in mind that this came 1-2 years after the US Army suffered a disastrous defeat against Native American forces at the Battle of the Wabash, which destroyed a good chunk of our "standing army". The US was in the process of rebuilding said army at the time (The Legion of the United States) and was in no position to get entangled in European Affairs.
It's the Lord Palmerson quote: "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."
Reality is that the French monarchy supported the fledgling USA because they felt it was in their interest to do so. The USA had every right (based on the fact this wasn't a government of the French monarchy) and every reason to do what was in their best interest at the time, and stay neutral in the conflict. In the end that middle course served the US well during the Napoleonic wars; a catastrophic war was avoided, and the US benefited from the Louisiana purchase and the post-1812 improvement in relations with the British.
Would that also be the battle called St. Clair's Defeat?
@@mitchellulrich930 Correct
It would also be wise to keep in mind that their fleet would soon be at the bottom of the Atlantic if they even tried.
Didn’t know the Indians had won such a big battle
Love how Hamilton used "murdered", not "executed" to show his disdain.
We signed a treaty with a king whose head is now in a basket,
Would you like to take it out and ask it?
"Uh, should honor our treaty, King Louis' head?"
"Uh, do whatever you want. I'm super dead!!"
I love Hamilton 🤣🤣...
Maybe he despises jacobins
I mean its likely since Lafayette, a good friend of Hamilton is a moderate, which means he didnt desire to execute the king of france, either to make him a constitutional monarch or just strip louis of his kingship
Yes, I loved that phrase aswell.
That's easy to say 200 years later, but the US barely managed to win its own war for independence and was still barely able to stand on its own two feet. It was hardly in a position to do anything about what was happening in Europe.
RevengeOfTheKaizer yea, US was newly formed nation and had no position to get involved in European affairs.
@@republicempire446 The US never should have involved itself in European affairs. Because this country got involved in WW1, it upset the balance of power in Europe which resulted in Germany's humiliation, the rise of Hitler and the horrors of WW2 along with the Cold War related violence that plagued the rest of the 20th century; The after effects we are still dealing with today. The world has never been the same since.
Lord Inquisitor to be fair the US involvement in WW1 probably didn’t make much of a difference. In fact the US was actually neutral selling weapons/vehicles etc. to both sides a majority of the war
If I remember correctly Germany was already probably going to lose when the US entered the war.
Also it was a world war in that it dragged everyone in to the war somehow. It remaining a European only conflict died before WW1 started.
@@captaindestruction9332 US saved Paris, which would've made defeat not so crushing. While the British charged towards the Germans with tanks and etc..., the Germans then invaded towards Paris, where vast numbers of Americans held firm and defended alongside the French.
@@Intrepid_Crusader1096 It was Germanys fault in both World Wars in the case of American involvement.
WW1- The Zimmerman Telegram
WW2- Hitlers declaration of war.
Jefferson: "The people are leading!"
Washington: "The people are rioting! There's a difference!"
If you are French it amounts to the same thing.
@@bernardmcavoy1864 Or apparently american now...
@Conner Clark omg it's the French ambassador noooo 😱
Washington was a coward who hated the people so it makes sense he would never listen to them
instead of being servile to your former royal master a real leader and revolutionary would have helped the French
When you fail diplomacy in Empire Total War
True
@@AbrahamLincoln4 Hmmmmmmmm
Diplomacy in most total war games is damn near ridiculously difficult and stupid. Offering peace to an enemy after you defeat his army, sink orally his navy and cut him off from any aid from his allies?
"We will fight to death! We have no need of peace"
@@thehandoftheking3314 "I will give you 5000 gold, some useful technologies and military access in exchange for one of your small colonies which you clearly don't care enough about to even build any roads in"
"I'm THIS close to whipping you like a horse if you don't retract that offer immediately!"
I once offered $1000 for 10 turns to get help in a war. They accepted and did not lift a finger.
"Mr. Jefferson, Ambassador Genet has taken leave of his senses." hahahah
And yet Genet represented France of that time so well. Insane
That's the kind way of saying "This motherfucker be losing his goddamn mind."
@@foolslayer9416 I think Washington is telling him you better go talk to your boy
@@elrond3737 Sure... if you count Girondins warmongering and profiteering “insane”. This ambassador was a Girondins, not so radically for the people. They were the property-owning elitist types saying the people were “taking leave of their senses” by being angry and starved. They were a lot like Washington.
@@foolslayer9416 🤣🤣
Jefferson was just like, "fuuuuuuccccckkkkkk"
Lol rip
“gg Hamilton”
He was sucked up in the revolutionary thought at the time, it's why he was saying things like the blood of tyrants needs to be spilled into the tree of liberty.
@@josh18230 Are you saying he was wrong?
When bro says something cringe in front of your other friends.
I hindsight I think Washington made the right choice had I been president I probably would've screwed it up
Yeah, you probably would have
USA is the cause of the revolution, and havn't repaid the depth.
You would have, dumb fuck
@@Rikard_A Haven't repaid the "debt" for your own revolution? Just be glad you're not still under Nazi occupation, Pepé.
With regards to how the "leaders" of france treated those who disagreed with them I'm glad we stayed out of it.
I had briefly noticed Genet taking a quick glance at Thomas Jefferson when Hamilton told him about the treaty, almost as if the ambassador expected the Secretary of State to save him.
Genet's actions were endangering American neutrality. After his meeting with Washington, he continued trying to recruit American privateers. Washington sent him an 8000 word letter of complaint on the advice of Jefferson and Hamilton (one of the few things they agreed on) and when Genet replied obstinately, Washtington asked France to recall their ambassador. Genet then received a recall and an arrest warrant and knowing that he was likely to be executed, he begged Washtington for asylum. Ironically it was Hamilton, Genet's greatest critic in the administration, who convinced Washington to grant him asylum.
I posted this earlier but if you watch the entire series Jefferson was totally absolutely irate that the U.S. did not help France in the fight. There is a scene shortly after this where Jefferson lectures Adams on the fact that France supported us in the Revolution and the fact that we couldn't support them was an absolute disgrace. This is a pretty good series.
He clearly DID expect former Ambassador to France Jefferson to save him.
@@MrAlexkyrathanks, Wikipedia, you know your stuff
@@maestroclassico5801 The ambassador who was also known for his revolutionary positions
"Tread carefully, sir." -- another way of saying, "Do not be impertinent, young man."
i was learning this word,,,, and u have used it in a sentence and now i will remember it forever ....hopefully
“Check yourself before you wreck yourself.”
@@sirmount2636 "Oh no you di'nt!"
What he basically meant is "Don't fuck with me" or else - Pretty much
More like "don't threaten the president of the United States again."
Genêt made a large error. He anticipated a relationship between two republics as a relationship between two monarchies. The nature of both relationships have wildly different reasons for existing and maintaining stasis, a notion Genêt did not understand.
"Tread carefully, sir." Gentleman-speak for "If you don't shut the hell up RIGHT NOW, I will destroy you."
I love how they kept showing Jefferson in the corner trying to refrain himself. Makes you wonder what was on his mind. :)
It is hard to tell, after all, it is France he demanded America to help, but he respected Washington a lot too.
Jefferson was an idealist, not a politician or administrator. Washington had more of the organizational mindset.
@@sirmount2636 He was also a general and knew full well how a war would play out.
Meanwhile Hamilton is sharp and direct.
@@briansheehan3430 He was also a dick. Being a dick means your ideas and ideals are ignored, no matter how right they are or are not.
To many people dismiss tact and kindness as pointless and always fall short of their goals because people get tired of being around them.
Or they get shot in a duel before they can do anything.
For real- Washington's Cabinet is literally an All-Star team
92 dream team!
I can only imagine what they’d be able to accomplish if they were the current Presidential administration for the United States with all the power and resources we have now.
And he had to stop them from strangling each other
Spoiler: Genet instead became US citizen and married Cornelia Clinton in 1794, the daughter of New York Governor George Clinton
Interesting.
Of The P Funk All Stars?
And his great-grandson, Edmond Genet, was the first American flier to die in the First World War when America joined in 1917.
Don't they all?
Is George Clinton Related to Bill And Hillary Clinton?
@1:57 "Tread carefully, sir." I would've shit my pantaloons right then and there. David Morse plays Washington with aplomb!
Juan Ortega agreed! He was an excellent choice.
Everyone has their limits, and even the chivalrous and honorable Washington wouldn't be pushed around
I’d like to think the real General Washington would’ve been as authoritative. In fact, I’d like to think Washington would’ve risen to his feet before looking down on the ambassador to say, “Tread carefully.”
He is the tallest man in the room. He's bound to leave an impression on the little men.
This scene truly displays the difference between the constrained and conservative American Revolution, and the unconstrained and radical French Revolution.
More subtle is Jefferson’s clear support of the French and distaste in isolationism while showing Hamilton’s distaste for the murder of the previous monarch.
You might want to find some better adjectives for the American Revolution
It was basically a civil war. A civil war where the leaders literally kept their heads.
Because the american revolution wasn't a revolution.
@@XMysticHerox Sure it was. It birthed the first Federal Republic. The French "Revolution" resulted in despotism.
@@briansheehan5256 Britain already was democratic. It was hardly a revolution.
The french revolution resulted in a lot more than despotism.
Hamilton is trolling this Frenchman so bad 😄
"I remind the ambassador that our treaty with France was made with King Louis. The king's murdered and as that compact no longer binding."
I wonder how many Frenchmen at the time angrily muttered in response to that technicality, "Shit."
C'EST LA VIE!
It is an irrelevant technicality. If countless French soldiers fought and died to help America defeat England - their respective debt is to the French people and not some fat king.
Hamilton s argument is too dismissive of the sacrifices made. He'd be a lousy diplomat even today.
@@angelomaldini3316 May I remind you that those countless French soldiers fought and died on the orders of that some fat king when he signed the treaty agreeing to aid the US?
@@KTChamberlain look up the word cop out. It's an insult to everything they contributed. On stat I never forgot from my visit to the Smithsonian is that France accounted for 90% of all gunpowder used in the war by those opposing the British. Without France, Americans would have fought without guns.
@@angelomaldini3316 That may be but my point, Washington's point and Hamilton's point all remain valid. Life isn't always fair even in those days.
At the time, France wanted all this help. The U.S. didn't have the navy for it, the army for it, nor the economy to sustain it. And most of the economy we did have was still reliant on Britain. For us to go to war with the French against Britain at that point would've been national suicide, and we likely would've ended up in the pocket of France, trading one master for another.
Love how well spoken they were during this time. “Ambassador Genet has taken leave of his senses”.
... Ambassador Genet was young, Washington and rest maybe respected age above all else. They thought different back then. Nowadays if Mexico has revolution and they sent a 18 year old to bargain with US would Biden think this showed a unsteady mexico govt? . . . And France was Catholic, the Founding Fathers didn't want to side again Protestant England, not sure Church of England pastors in New England would support that... And France was taking on all of Europe and would mostly lose I guess til Napoleon, and Washington knew the odds were high..... Just saying it's be surprising if US ignored all this amd risked a war with England and fire the first shot across the Canadian border, literally it's a big step for Washington to choose to start that fight after decades of peace.... Yes France was now a Republic but by 1800 the US sorta could see Parliament in UK ran things, UK was a democracy too if one looked deep, and I gotta think Ben Franklin and Jefferson knew this.... I'm no expert, just guessing..
While I love this series and am intrigued by the accuracy of the relations between Genet and Washington's cabinet presented in such a small time within the series, there's an element that bothers me: the fact that Genet was displayed as having been overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the king's death. To the contrary, Genet was a Girondin, known for his charges against the execution and support for sending the king to America instead. While I understand that the series was trying to get across the fervor of the ambassador's arrival in America and the subsequent fears of American moderates and Federalists, it's a little detail that we might consider when looking at such a figure.
One could argue that he was putting on a mask in order to sway public opinion.
Give David Morse his own miniseries of Washington.
Agreed....Washington in retirement and reflection rather than an over the top mythological story. Davis Morse in 2024 is 70 and would be PERFECT in the role.
Hamilton: "I remind the ambassador that our treaty was made with King Louis."
Ambassador Genet: "Well shit.."
Hey man, you gotta keep an open mind about stuff like this
Hot-headed young man requesting help from a cool-headed old man with demands and halfway threats...sounds about right. “Taken leave of his senses” indeed he has Mr. President! Handled well by you, sir!
Washington was the glue that kept everything together.
you know what's amazing of the whole thing here is the fact that we are so lucky that Washington deemed it a good idea to have a video camera present during all of this so that we can have footage to look back and appreciate.
Astute insight. I agree.
The US stayed out of the conflict for a multitude of reasons. Not just economic and self-interested ones, but also ideological.
At the time, many Americans viewed the French Revolution as going way too far. They were fine with tearing down the monarchy, many even approved of the redistribution of wealth (although this was highly controversial). Where the Americans drew a red line was blatantly executing entire families of people for the crime of being rich.
To make matters worse, when Robespierre began is reign of terror, many poor people and enlightenment figures began to be executed simply for not supporting his government. Seeing as one of the founding principles of America was freedom of speech, it didn’t make much sense for the US to support the revolution anymore.
Very well said. That's one reason why a draw a line between revolutions and independences.
Proving once again, the Americans think that the wealthy need to be protected, that the wealthy need to be comforted, on the small small impossible chance, your average schmuck could become wealthy
The American dream. Suckers.
@@noydb2148 this was the late 1700’s. The “American Dream” was barely even a concept yet.
This sentiment came from a simple standpoint of “killing people simply for being rich seems like a bad idea”.
Especially when you consider that the Revolution became so violent that eventually even regular people were getting targeted.
Finally, it even ended in a man declaring himself emperor, and attempting to conquer all of Europe.
So in comparison, I’d say the founding fathers had the right idea.
@@537monster sorry, anytime I hear someone congratulating the founding fathers, I have a feeling they are of a particular political persuasion that could really care less what the founding fathers thought or what's good for the country now
Founding fathers would have flushed Trump down the toilet. Of that you can be certain
@@noydb2148 Trump lost and you clowns still talk about him. I guess when you support a guy like Biden all you can do is deflect with whataboutism
"We must keep ourselves separate from affairs to which we have no attachment" to bad we didn't keep that motto.
no wonder Washington only served 2 terms , he must have thought "This SHIT is too stressful I want to go home and relax"
Actually he stepped down so he wouldn't look like a king.
David Morse did a great job playing Washington in this series.
A very good mini series that I recommend to anyone. These men left a lot of letters, some very personal, for us to read. The historicity of this production is pretty good.
Thanks god for Washington and John Adams for keeping us out of that war...we were a young nation, this war could of ruined us
"Mr. Jefferson, Ambassador Genet has taken leave of his senses."
French fry trying to threaten a guy that crossed an icy river to slit the throats of sleeping enemies the night of Christmas Eve
While the French Revolutionaries during the republic era where at a civil war while fighting all Europe at the same Time and having a reign of terror with the best general of History napoleon Bonaparte and still winning
I never noticed but Genet looks over his shoulder at Jefferson when he doesn't speak up against Hamilton. He feels betrayed when the most radical American in the room won't defend him.
even then I imagine Jefferson was appalled by the events that happened in France during the reign of terror.
Hamilton was also thinking rationally, because if France's Republic did fail and its monarchy was restored, they very easily might have disqualified any payment of the debt owed to France by the United States during the French Republics existence(which France wld be justified under the Law of Nations). The Neutrality Proclamation(mainly designed by A.H.) was the best policy to adopt. The newly formed American Nation was in no position for any kind of war - commercial or military
Hamilton also had a distrust of mob rule, which made the stable British more favourable than the unstable and passionate French.
200 years later and it's almost like every president forgot about what Washington stood for.
That's because 200 years ago, the US wasn't a world or even regional power. They couldn't have projected power if they wanted to. Tiny army, navy, and economy. What were they going to do? Most countries didn't even think the US would last much longer after independence.
Washington was soft-spoken when he tells you to "tread carefully" you oughten naught trodden at all.
that wasnt a very good negotiating. it sounded more like Genet expected the United States to do what the French Republic wanted. even going as far as saying when he returns, Washington WILL obey. which made it worse because telling your ally you are to obey will make them think you see them as puppets. the US Military was not ready for war yet. it was still small and young. there was more militiamen in the military than regular US Soldiers in blue uniforms. if the US joined, it wouldve been devastating. it took us another 10-20 years to build a mighty military force after the war of 1812
GP it was a huge cluster mess in early years of USA. It wasn’t perfect and it’s military was not well funded due to mistrust of professional permanent standing armies.
I can see both arguments though, but yes, it wasn't good negotiating at all.
"Mighty force"?
The US military didn't come close to a European standard until WW2.
@@marsnz1002 thats very wrong. some time after the war of 1812, the US became the dominant force in the Americas where even the British, French, and Spanish didnt want to risk war with them. the French taking over Mexico happened because the US was occupied with a civil war and afterwards, the US was then supplying the Mexican Republicans. it also had a strong navy and was involved with Japan and China. not only that, they crushed the Spanish Empire in 1898. the US also built up greatly in ww1 when they declared war against the German Empire and in their own major offensive, the fresh US troops vroke through the German defensive of elite, well trained, and heavily experience german forces and were the 1st to cross the rhine. afterwards, they continued to buils up their navy which matched the Royal Navy and that worried the British. enough where they even secretly discussed ways to cripple the US Navy (which wouldnt be beneficial because the US is heavily patriotic and would probably invade Canada. a reason to why the British didnt want to take this risk), but ended up deciding to become partners and work together
@@marsnz1002 Well, no, but the French Army was worst and still they defeat 5 european coalitions
David Morse has always been a greatly underestimated actor.
I always found It interesting how Washington says "your country", and not 'France' at 0:34.
It actually says at a lot about the cabinet's views on Revoltionary France, without explicitly saying so.
I love this. T Jeffers is just like "Oh shit." And Hammy's all like "haha, Jefferson sucks". And WHO IS THAT GUY BEHIND HAMILTON? He makes the best faces
Mr. Bean?
Pickering I think
His name is Timothy Pickering
Washington made the right call in remaining neutral.
“Tread CAREFULLY sir.”
Be honest, you backed up when he said that.
If Washington ever told me to "Tread carefully" I think I'd pee my pants right on the spot.
@@hellogoodbye4061 I’d be lucky if peening my pants was the ONLY thing I did.
Washington had a temper! But he also had a slow fuse. It took a lot to set him off, but once you did... "Katy, bar the door."
"Tread carefully, sir." is the equivalent of a rattlesnake buzzing before he strikes!
He fought a revolution during a smallpox epidemic. He evacuated his troops out of New York by ship under cover of fog right under the British 's nose, he rallied his freezing troops to cross the Delaware in the middle of the Night Christmas morning to surprise attack the Hessians, this French pansy didn't faze GW at all!
David Morse as George Washington is spot on. He plays the part brilliantly and is a dead ringer for GW himself.
Great, great, great show....a must for your children that way they see the sacrifice that our fathers had to endure and maybe have American fall in love with America once again....John Adams is one of my heroes
This sounds very brainwashing.
To an uneducated individual like yourself ofcourse it does, because left ideology brainwashed you into believing that this is not the greatest nation in the world (hence why every puts their lives in danger to come here illegally). You are what I called an over privileged American, travel the world and live in other countries for a while and you will soon realize this is the greatest nation in the world.
This scene is a little misleading as Genet never met with President Washington. It is, though, a good example of a composite scene in a historical film as it moves the plot forward and accurately portrays the viewpoint of each character often with actual words they used in a different context (usually written.)
Even the best historical movies introduce events that didn’t occur. In the “The Crossing” there is a scene where General Horatio Gates ridicules Washington’s plan to cross the Delaware and attack Trenton. David Hackett Fischer’s book mentions Gates going to Philadelphia and not meeting Washington, which Washington was not happy about.
Need i remind you sir, that this is a drama mini series and not a documentary
@@brianweyne5723 I think my remark addressed that issue. Still, why does a filmmaker take on a historical subject if they have little interest in portraying that subject accurately? This show is in fact rather accurate though there are still unnecessary inaccuarcies.
@@DavidJGillCA these kinds of detail tweaks are usually in service of keeping good pace for the film or aligning the story well. I hate these kinds of inaccuracies as much as everyone else but as long as they make these in a semi-historically-accurate fashion then I have no problem with it
@@DavidJGillCA How about you just accept the fact this is NOT a documentary, who are you to say what is necessary and what isn't? You some type of French lover or something? Who's side are you on?
Thank you sir, you outdo me in humility.
100% agree it should've been avoided.
Washington was a big proponent.of staying out of foreign wars....remember, Europe had been fighting war after war after war for damn near all of recorded history. Washington knew that getting involved in a European war would tie it up for generations and bind it to European affairs.
"Threat to France, threat to America" - Sounds familiar? Anyone?
"Threat to Israel, Threat to America"
@@chloroxbleach8561 To be fair, a threat to France was very much a threat to America, without France, only Spain would be able to defend the Americans from Britain, even though they would fall in the "Napoleonic Wars". Logically, a threat to France was a threat to America as America did actually depend on that alliance in the case that Britain attacked again, but, I can see Washington's point too.
I'll take Donald Trump for $200 please
France was and is an actual and natural ally to America, unlike the artificial state of Isnotrael
@@bamicinder7635 True it was Frances and Britians Feud that let to the formation and survival in its early days.
This is from an excellent HBO series called "John Adams".
"You will hear from me again, and I will speak to you with a million voices. And you will obey." - Ambassador Genet
"I wish a motherfucker would!" - George Washington's stare
"Black" Washington.
”The US is a new and _independent_ nation. It’s in our best interest to keep ourselves apart from (pause) _affairs_ we have no attachment to”
Translation: sorry France but America just got herself out of a toxic relationship. That wartime alliance was just a fling. We need to spend some time apart and figure things out for ourselves. Also tell Lafayette we said hi
(Okay joking aside this was well acted and I really need to watch this miniseries)
Also: Oh yeah,the guy we made the deal with-you just cut his fucking head off.
Translation: sorry France, now that it's my turn to hold up my part of the deal, I want to break it.
George Washington never died. Many years later he was seen executing John Coffey in Louisiana.
XD
He's an alien that went back to his beach side hangout through the universal travelling network...
angc214 In French Louisiana or in Louisiana with the boot. Cause I’m from Louisiana.
The Green Mile...
And some odd 200 years later John Adams was managing NWA.
you do realize that the French republic broke apart mainly because its military became too powerful, and that was a consequence of them being Attacked by every monarchy in Europe. That's the main difference between our two republics. When we won our revolution, the British and Spaniards had no strength to destroy our republic again. When France won hers, she had to fight nearly a dozen wars with Austro-Hungary, Prussia, Russia, the Holy Roman Empire, Great Britain, Spain, Naples, and the Sultan
This guy threatens Washington. Washington’s response:
Dude I literally took down the British Empire. You think I’m scared of you?
Well put
Without the French they would have lost, there is no doubt in this. This was betrayal not only of the cause but of those who America owed it's existence to.
While French revolutionaries under the republic era waged war against all Europe while having a civil war and a REIGN OF TERROR while having the best general of history Napoleon Bonaparte and still winning during the Republic era.
I love washington,from Bangladesh.
It would’ve been absolutely hilarious if after Genet left the room, Washington quietly turns to his cabinet members and says “…..the French.” and then everybody erupts with laughter
Haha Hamilton's statement is gold..
The weird moment that Adams realizes that the King Louie he and Franklin once meet is gone now...
This is perhaps the only thing I disagreed with Jefferson on. Washington took the correct path. America needs to go back to minding it's own business.
Your country owes the French for its very existence, and yet you refuse to pay this debt of blood and honour? Yours is a nation of self-interested cowards.
@@TMThesaurus And who was it that landed in Normandy and spent weeks liberating Paris? The debt was paid.
@@randomtraveler9854 After France surrendered so quickly.
@@LordTalax That's not the point. France helped create America and America freeded France from Nazi Germany. Debt paid.
We really do. Too long have we been meddling in foreign affairs that much of the world hates us for it now. We've spilled too much American and foreign blood for interests that aren't important and for resources we don't need. The United States is long overdue for a good period of isolation and reconstruction.
Interesting to note that later on Washington practically saved Genet’s life
yep, that arrogant French ambassador dodged the guillotine thanks to a comfy exile in the USA
Speaking from a strictly neutral perspective... can you imagine being a fly on a wall in that room? Surrounded by all those great men (save Genet). Would be epic.
"Tread carefully". This is the moment that Washington became Heisenberg.
lol Jefferson's face when Washington talked evenly slightly out of tone with the Frenchman.
That "tread carefully" hit so hard.
Adams: Oh damn.
Jefferson: Don't look at me bro.
Hamilton: I'd shut up if I were you.
Washington: I might throttle this little peacock..
If George Washington ever looked at me and said "Tread carefully sir" I think I would have peed my pants right there on the spot.
Hamilton…. Lawyer on his vacation from banker. Good day sir
Considering Washington had a really bad temper, I think Genet should consider himself lucky that he didn't get sent back to France. Especially, after the French Republic issued a warrant for Genet's arrest soon after this.
This scene encapsulates a lot of modern problems: Genet wants the US to adopt a liberal foreign policy abroad, getting involved in everyone else's business; George Washington wants us to attend to liberalism at home, without trying to crusade around the world.
That’s why the French Revolution is considered such an important event for historians.
Unlike old revolutions like the British glorious revolution of 1688 Or American Revolution who wanted Liberty for themselves, the French Revolution’s goal is for the French to bring Liberty at home but also to the entire world.
It is the first revolution which talks about exporting revolutionary ideals to the rest of the world in which goal is universal and has for mission to benefit the entire human race.
@@revolutionariesoffreedom2374 I think the purpose of the French revolutionaries originally was to help their nation only. The attempt of the other monarchical countries to restore the French monarchy helps Napoleon and many of his generation to spread their ideas to the rest of the continent
"Tread carefully, sir."
The equivalent of a rattlesnake buzzing before he strikes. You're in danger! Back up!!!
Washington: Let's not get involved.
Adams: Let's not get Involved.
Jefferson: Let's not get involved.
Madison: Fuck it, attack Britain.
I remember in middle school, my social studies teacher made us watch clips of this series
Just imagining how wonderful it would be if bubble-level camera tripods existed back then.
Founding Fathers were some smart people gifted with amazing foresight.
1:23 Real nigga shit right there.
It took some time for the animosity between ourselves and the US after the revolution to cool down, but today, we are still great and loyal friends to each other.
Crazy how the UK overtook france to have a special relationship with the Us
It is very ironic indeed.. The purpose of all of it at this point..
Cuz USA made UK a puppet after defeating UK pro monarchy and pro empire ideologies and instead USA forced his ideology of freedom and democracy against UK’s will
Crazy how USA owns Britain as a puppet now but France is still independent
Don't you mean Israel ?
I've never heard the US had a "special" relationship with the Uk (also, special in what way ? toxic ?)
@@goofygrandlouis6296Actually I have heard both sides calling the US-UK relations as ‘special’.
History doesn't repeat itself but it sure does rhyme.
Washington is like, “….the hell is this guy?”
Thank God we stayed away from the horrors that were the bloody French Revolution.
Adams: Oh shit.
Jefferson: Don't look at me bro.
Hamilton: Say something smug you little bastard.
Washington: I'm going throttle this little peacock.
Funny how things have remained more or less exactly the same. I can see a discussion like this happening regarding Ukraine somewhere in DC.
It’s shameful that Biden allowed Americans to be recruited by Ukraines foreign legion into war with Russia, Washington would be disappointed with Biden
Never try goin' full Gangsta on G.W., it just aint gonna go your way.
"We owe the French so much...but they're such unmitigated, opinionated a$$holes, every time we have to deal with them!" - every American President since Washington.
We settled our debt to France TWICE, first in 1918, where we helped defend French soil from German invasion, the second on June 6, 1944 when we fought to liberate France from Nazi tyranny. Both times the debt was paid in the blood of our soldiers.
You’re welcome.
It's amazing how the revolutionary savagery looks uncivilised even with a mere doll.
He was known to have a temper and adding his size(for the time) must have been very intimadating to speak to the man who would not be king.