Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

by

Sarah Vowell

Thomas Conway Character Analysis

Thomas Conway was a French-born Irishman who, after meeting with Silas Deane, traveled to America to fight for the Patriots in the American Revolution. At a time when George Washington was increasingly unpopular, Conway pushed to take over as Commander in Chief of the American troops (a scheme now known as Conway Cabal). Though Conway was unsuccessful, the fact that such a plot ever gained traction demonstrates just how low Washington’s standing had become.

Thomas Conway Quotes in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

The Lafayette in the Somewhat United States quotes below are all either spoken by Thomas Conway or refer to Thomas Conway . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Democracy, Disagreement, and Compromise Theme Icon
).
Pages 126-190 Quotes

When Lafayette wrote his letter to Washington worrying that America could lose the war not at the hands of the redcoats but rather “by herself and her own sons,” he might not have been referring solely to the Conway cabal. He may have also had in mind the observable fact that the military, congressional, and state bureaucracies responsible for supplying the common soldiers with luxuries like food, water, and shoes word, to use an acronym coined by the grunts of Ike’s war, FUBAR.

Related Characters: Marquis de Lafayette (speaker), Sarah Vowell (speaker), George Washington, Thomas Conway , Dwight D. Eisenhower
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lafayette in the Somewhat United States PDF

Thomas Conway Character Timeline in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

The timeline below shows where the character Thomas Conway appears in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Pages 126-190
Democracy, Disagreement, and Compromise Theme Icon
Youthful Glory vs. Mature Leadership Theme Icon
War, Politics, and Family Theme Icon
The most involved attempt to replace Washington was known as the “Conway cabal.” Thomas Conway was a Frenchman who had wound up in America because of his... (full context)
Democracy, Disagreement, and Compromise Theme Icon
...had not quieted down. While Washington was trying to—at last—introduce military discipline to his troops, Conway and Gates were still gunning for the top job. Plus, to punish Lafayette for his... (full context)
Democracy, Disagreement, and Compromise Theme Icon
War, Politics, and Family Theme Icon
...didn’t hurt that the soldiers finally got uniforms). Washington even promoted Steuben, angering Gates and Conway but pleasing Beaumarchais. Ultimately, Washington had proved himself, and Congress sided with him while his... (full context)