Do you believe the conspirators intended to kill or kidnap Washington? What do you think would have happened had they succeeded?

Do you believe the conspirators intended to kill or kidnap Washington? What do you think would have happened had they succeeded in either case?

I think they meant to kill him in order to demoralize the ragtag army and to leave them leaderless. It might have worked. I remember reading a long time ago about the initial days of the country when Washington was President and contracted the flu. Congress delayed its start and everyone held their breath because there were fears that if Washington died the country might not make it intact. He was that important. Of course, during the war he wasn't quite as revered, but he had already built a good reputation.

I think the plot was to kill him. Kidnapping wouldn't have served the purpose of ending his symbolism as the hope for the county. I think the militia and the cause would have faltered had he been killed. The loyalists were counting on that.

I agree with both rosemaryc and Marcia S. Washington was recognized as a strong moral and political leader in the colonies. Removing him from the picture would have left those who wanted independence from England without a leader and strengthened the Loyalist cause.

I think they meant to kill him. A kidnapping may have emboldened the patriots.
Washington was the symbol of an idea of a new nation. His death would have severely impacted the cause.

I think that the conspirators would have kidnapped him, and if successful, the prior Governor of NY would have had him killed.

I agree with many of those above, that it was a plot to kill Washington. Leaving him alive could make the colonists rally. Killing him in a public and especially gruesome manner would serve as a warning and be a demoralizing blow to the inchoate revolution.

I do believe they meant to kill him. It would have completely demoralized the cause if Washington could no longer lead the troops.

I think there was a plot to kidnap him, sell him to the Crown, and then have him executed as an example. I do wonder what would have happened if they'd succeeded. It seems like the sentiment in the colonies was strong enough that another leader may have been able to step into Washington's role, but it's anyone's guess whether he would have been successful. It definitely would have set the Independence movement back a few years.

I think at least initially, the goal would have been to kidnap Washington. I feel that he would have had more benefit to his captors alive, at least at the beginning of the war.

My sense was that the Life Guards were more interested in getting extra pocket money for turning Washington over to the enemy. I do not remember reading any conversations among the Guards as to what they wanted to eventually happen to Washington and how this would affect the end of the War. We know how it was going to end. They did not and it looked pretty tenuous for the American side with the pile up of British Navy ships in NY Harbor with more on the way within the next few weeks. It certainly was not a sure bet for the American side. Make as much money as you can while still in the fight. Valerie