George Washington

 Civilian

You have heard about the story about how george chopped down his father´s cherry tree. He admitted his father the truth because he knows i was right to tell the truth. He was a succesful plantaition owner. He was a respected military man. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Virginia. Lawrence was his older half brother who would be very imporrtant in his life. George learned a lot from Lawrence. He learned how to manage a plantaition or large farm. he learned trigonometry, theater appreciate music and books. George learned the skills to be a surveyor. He learned to love the military service as Lawrence did. While Washington lived with Lawrence he developed two powerful dreams: join the army and run his own plantaition. In 1749 he was certified as a surveyor and was given th ejob of surveyor for his country. The governor of the Virginia colony gave George an appointment as the leader of the militia for the whole area. He had served the British army earlier and showed signs of beign a good military leader. George left the military in 1758with plans of becoming gentleman farmer. He married Martha Custis. he became active in local politics. he enjoyed fox hunting, playing cards, fishing, dancing, and billiards. His service to the british served the colonies for what they should do in the future. He was a delegate for the First Continental congress and elected for the Second Continental Congress. In this group they decided that they needed to be ready for war and needed a leader who would be able to organize the militia groups into battle troops. Jhon Adams nominated Wshington. George knew that if he took the job he would have to sacrifice his house, family and other things but he knew that for a country to be free he needed to do those sacrifices.

Early Military Life

Washington named his plantaition Mount Vernon after his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon. He was born to be in the army. He commanded the militia in the southern district of the colony. The British governor send George to an area the French had named Fort Duquesne, which today is Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. George was send to tell the French to leave the area. The French said they wouldnt leave. He returned to the governor and told him the mission had failed. The second time he went he was with 150 soldiers. On their way they met a scouting party for the French and had the first ral battle George had been in. He enjoyed that experience. When they arrived to their destination it didnt go so well. They were forced to run away and build a fort named Necessity. Unfortunately he didnt see where they built the fort and when spring rain came the fort flooded. Their ammunistions and food were lost but he learned a lesson from this experience. George fought during the French-Indian War called like this because the French were battling the British and some Indians were friends with the French. George was promoted to colonel by the Virginia governor.

Revolutionary

After fighting the French-indian War for the British George returned to his favorite spot, Mount Vernon. There he could manage his slaves, supervise the crops, be part of the local government and play cards. George decided to become part of the House of Burgueses but he was defeated in his first attempt to be elected. In 1758 h etired again and won. He took his place in Willinmsburg thinking that he would follow the lead of the British government. He didnt know that lofe for the colonists was about to change in the next few years. Memebers of the House of Burgueses questioned themselves with the King had the right to tax them. The colonists boycott the english imports. Colonists dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. By 1774 House of Burgueses was disbaned. No longer allowed to make decision for the colonists. GW was sent to the 1st continental congress because they believed they had the right to make their own decisions. He was to organized groups into militia. There were 2 groups: Patriots and Loyalists. The Patriots were the colonists who wanted to be free from the British and the Loyalists who wereloyal to the King. GW sided with the Patriots. During the Second Continental Coongress Delagates agreed they should be ready for war. George Washington leaded the Grand American Army. This army had no supplises and no experience fighting but what they did was courage and belive in their freedom. Only GW could bring this rag tag group of men together.

 General

When we thing of George Washington we think of a very succesful military man and leader. He wasnt always succesful. In some cases he was just lucky. British generals said it would take a little effort on their part to put an end to the foolishness of the colonists. British army was the best trained, best supplied army in the world at that time. When they needed man they pay soldiers from other countries to help them. They did exactly this in this case. German soldiers named Hessians were hired to fight. The British general named William Howe led the vain army. He planned to make short work for these american rebels while teaching them a lesson of respect at the same time. one of the first battles GW led was in New York. British had sent ship loads of men to figt in Long Island. GW marched men to Long Island also. Colonists didnt know that the British were there so they walked directly to a trap. Many colonists began to panic and run away. He called for a retreat. During Christmas Eve of 1776 the colonial army captured 900 British by surprise. Since it was Christmas Eve and the British were drunk it was the perfect moment to capture the British. Colonial Army respected GW ideas and believed in him. The war that was coming wasnt easier but he knew he was the man to led his country into a new life.

President

The Revolutionary War ended October 19 1781 when the British troops ked by General cornwallis turned their weapons over to General George Washington and the troos he comanded. The war lasted 5 years and it had costed lives and goods. The thing GW wanted to do was return to Mount Vernon with his wife Martha. By 1787 the plans for a new government were not going very smoothly. The Articles of Confederation written to guide and unify the new states were causing confussion. In 1787 men who were considered leaders of the new nation were called together in Philadelphia to write a new set of rules, a constitution. GW was unanimously elected as president for this meeting. he make sure that nothing they discussed became known to the public until an agreement had been reached. September 17 1787 a guideless constitution for the United States of America was finished. It was the best written at that time. It took almost 2 years to ratify the new Constitution. On April 14 1789 George Washington was enjoying a beautiful day at mount Vernon. A messenger rode to his home and delivered him a letter. The letter informed Washington that he was elected the First President of the United States. There would no be King nor an Emperor it would be an elected official president. George Washington knew a country couldnt be led by a man alone so he brougt the wisest man to advice him. He called Alexander Hamilton to organize a system of money that could be used anywhere in the United States. Henry Knox was chosen to take charge of the army and navy. Jhon Adams was elected vice president to assist the new president. Edmund Randolph was selected attorney general. His job was to make sure that the laws were obeyed. GW found out that his job was similar to managing to a large plantaition. George Washington served as president of the United States for 8 years. September 7 1796 he said bye to the presidency. He was succeded by Jhon Adams. December 1799 he became ill after riding around his farm. Many diseases at that time were thought to be caused by bad blood. The remedy was to remove some of his bad blood through a process called bleeding. GW became weaker and weaker. After midnight on December 15 the father of the United States quietly passed away.