America's Anti-Caesar
Washington at Newburgh
In the eighteenth century, the history of ancient Rome was known to educated people throughout the world.
This was particularly true of our Founders, many of whom identified with, and even modeled themselves after, these historical figures who had lived nearly two thousand years before. This is woven into the fabric of Aegis for Dreams.
Cato, Washington's Inspiration
A key inspiration of George Washington during the Revolutionary War was the stoic Roman Senator Cato the Younger, because of his heroic stand for liberty and virtue against tyranny, in the form of the corrupt Julius Caesar.
Washington was significantly impacted by the 1713 stage play Cato (a tragedy) by Englishman Joseph Addison. The play was hugely popular throughout the American colonies. Washington did not simply like the play, he internalized it, and often quoted lines from it in his speech and his writings.
Julius Caesar, a Cautionary Tale
The life and death of Julius Caesar was also well-known to Washington and the other Founders. Caesar was a cautionary to the liberty the Americans sought to achieve.
To aspire to be a “Caesar” was to be an oppressor. Caesar’s decision to attack Rome with his own legions led to his dictatorship, assassination and ultimately the destruction of the Roman Republic.
The Newburgh Conspiracy
Eighteen months after America’s decisive victory at Yorktown, and while a peace was being negotiated in Paris, George Washington strained to keep his unpaid, barely clothed and hungry Army intact in Newburgh, New York.
There was a plan afoot in the officer ranks under which the military to usurp the Congress and take control of the country. Washington was positioned to be atop this enterprise if he were so inclined. Like Caesar, he had an army at his disposal. Caesar-like power was within his reach.
However, Washington rejected that notion out of hand to his officers at Newburgh in an eloquent speech.
Instead, he counseled for patience and trust in the Congress. His officers followed his virtuous example. In quashing this potential coup, Washington defended our founding principle of civilian control of the military.
“…By giving one more proof of your patriotism, the world will speak of the glorious example you have established for all mankind. They will say that had this day been wanting, the world would never have seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.”
George Washington, to his officers at Newburgh
Vigilance
Because of our long history, it is easy to think that the United States was (and is) an inevitability. However, as with all things, empires do not last forever.
Aegis for Dreams depicts how without the virtue of Washington at a dangerous point in our history, America could have forfeited the liberties they had won on the battlefield. This film reinforces the need for vigilance in serving the common good, rather than merely advancing one’s own personal fortunes, especially in our hours of maximum danger.
Since the beginning of our Republic, historians and others have emphasized that Washington was indispensable to the American Founding, in writings, speeches documentaries and even TV series.
We seek to reaffirm this message by a different, culturally impactful means.
Through the power of cinema.