Richard.Palermo



George Washington   George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. The Washingtons moved to America from England in the mid 1650’s. Very little is known about George's childhood and remains the most poorly understood part of his life. When George was eleven, his father died. He spent the next few years with his mother and half-brother in Mount Vernon. George never went to college like his two older brothers. When he was 17 years old, he was appointed county surveyor. That experience led to his appointment as a Major in the Virginia militia. The Virginia Governor assigned 21 year old Washington to warn the approaching French to stay off English land. The French laughed at young Washington and sent him off. He was later promoted to Lieutenant and ordered to attack the French. However, he lost to the French. This skirmish would lead to the French and Indian War. He was then made Commander in Chief of all Virginia forces. Over the next two years he recruited more men and focused on fortifying the frontier. Then, with English help, drove the French out of the land. Soon after, he retired and married Martha Curtis and adopted her two children. In 1758, George Washington was elected into the Virginia House of Burgesses. Having this role molded his views on English acts towards the colonists, like the Stamp Act. He attended many meetings and conferences about the issues with England. At the second continental congress meeting, he was the only one in full army uniform, showing he was ready for a war. He was unanimously voted as the Commander in Chief of all continental forces. Washington assumed the role of Commander in Chief in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The continental army was low on many supplies, most importantly gunpowder. He ordered men to raid ships to find some. During the Revolutionary war, Washington had many victories and losses. Some members of the continental congress wanted to impeach Washington after he lost Philadelphia to the English. After the colonists won the war, becoming the United States of America, there was a leader gap. The congress wanted Washington to be their King. Washington said that is what the whole war was for. This led to the president and the three branches of government each with their own responsibilities. Washington was unanimously voted to be the first President of the United States in 1789. Washington helped shape important documents like the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. He established many departments of the execuative branch like the cabinet, and treasury. He set up a tax policy to pay off the Revolutionary War debt and to establish American credit. Washington started a second term as president and had to deal with foreign policies. The French and British were fighting against each other. While some members wanted to aid England and others wanted to aid France, Washington decided to stay away from Europian affairs and be neutral, although that term was never used. As he retiered, he went to Mount Vernon to live. However, when America had the Half War with France, President John Adams appointed Washington as Commander in Chief. But since Adams resolved the war with diplomacy, he never actually took command. George Washington died on December 14, 1799 of a throat infection. Congress made a marble tomb for Washington's grave. But when it was finally completed in 1884, Washington's remains were never moved. George Washington was, and is famous because he led the American people to victory during the Revolutionary War and was the first President of the United States. He shaped the government and for the most part has stayed the same for all of American history. Some important events during his life were The French and Indian War, and the Pre-Revolutinary war when the rebellion was just begining with the Boston Masacure and the Boston Tea Party. Other events were the Revolutinary War, and the Half War. George Washington was a fearless, brave man with many ambitious ideas. He always put others before himself and stuck by his beliefs, like in the Revolutinary War. He made his opinions clear and acted apon them by becoming Commander in Chief. I chose George Washington because I think he is one of Americas greatest heroes. If it weren't for him, we may have been ruled by England to this day. I also picked George because he is one of the most famous people in American history, and if people can write entire books on him, then I can write an essay on him.

Biboliography:

Infotrac-George Washington-1998 Encyclopedia of World Biography-1998-Farmingtom Hills, Michigan World Book of American Presidents-Chicago-World Book inc.-1998 The American Presidents-Auther-Whitney-Place of Publication-Plesantville, New York-Year-1985