Spellbreakers Ep. 144: The Real Young George Washington

On this Thanksgiving-week episode of Spellbreakers, Matt Trump dives into the true early life of George Washington, using the upcoming film Young Washington as a launching point for a deep historical journey. After opening with holiday reflections, parade observations, and shifting cultural symbolism, Matt explores the origins of Thanksgiving through Washington’s own proclamations before moving into a sweeping lesson on colonial America. He traces Washington’s family roots along the Potomac, the rise of Virginia’s planter class, the formation of the Ohio Company, and Washington’s three expeditions into the Ohio Country that helped ignite the French and Indian War. Through maps, anecdotes, and vivid descriptions of Washington’s encounters with the French, the Iroquois, and the brutal frontier, Matt unpacks how a 21-year-old Washington—ambitious, flawed, and untested—played a direct role in sparking a global conflict. He follows this thread to the fall of Fort Necessity, Braddock’s disastrous campaign, Washington’s improbable survival, and the eventual British victory that set the stage for the Revolution. Blending humor, personal stories, and meticulous research, Matt brings to life the young man who would become America’s founding giant.