George Washington Becomes American Fabius

During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington earned the nickname American Fabius because he used a Fabian strategy similar to the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, known as Cunctator, or the delayer. Instead of seeking large, decisive pitched battles, Washington avoided full-scale confrontations and focused on wearing down British forces through attrition, raids, and strategic retreats. This approach preserved his army and helped keep the revolution alive until conditions favored a decisive victory.

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