George
Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States
of America. He served as President from April 30, 1789, until March
4, 1797 (two terms). His Vice-President was John Adams (1735-1826),
who was later voted the second President of the USA.
Early Life:
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland
County, Virginia. Washington's father died when George was 11 years
old. He had very little formal schooling, but taught himself to be
an expert woodsman, surveyor (a person who determines the boundaries
and area of tracts of land), and mapmaker. Washington grew to be
over 6 feet tall -- this was very rare in Colonial times.
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French and
Indian War:
As a young man, Washington joined the Virginia militia. He and six
men travelled 500 miles north to the shores of Lake Erie to deliver a
message to the French -- the French were ordered to stop settling
land that was claimed by the British. This land dispute led to a
battle in which Washington and 160 men lost to the French; this was
the beginning of the French and Indian War (the British and the
Colonists fought the French and some Indian tribes). After many
heroic battles, Washington became a colonel and the leader of
Virginia's militia. The British eventually won the French and Indian
War.
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Marriage:
Washington married Martha Custis in 1759; she was a rich widow who
had two children, Martha "Patsy" and John "Jacky." Their home in
Virginia was called Mt. Vernon. George and Martha did not have
children together.
A Start in
Politics:
In 1758, Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses in
Virginia (the local governing body of Virginia). |
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Revolutionary War:
In order to pay for the expensive French and Indian War, the British
taxed the Colonists (the Stamp Tax), angering them. In Boston, the
Colonists revolted, dumping precious tea into Boston Harbor (this
event is called the Boston Tea Party).
In 1775, Washington
was chosen as the Commander in Chief of the Colonial Army. In 1776,
the Colonists declared their independence from the British. General
Washington led ragtag Patriot troops who were poorly trained, barely
paid, badly equipped, and outnumbered by the British. Patriot women,
like Molly "Pitcher," often helped on the battlefields, carrying
pitchers of water to cool down the cannons so they could be re-fired,
and also nursing the wounded.
Due to the
brilliant planning of George Washington and some help from the
French late in the War, the British were defeated in 1781 after many
bloody battles. The Americans were now independent of the British.
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