George Washington

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George Washington

Who: George Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia. He was the first president of the United States. When he was 16 Lord Fairfax hired him to help survey Shenandoah lands. He was married to a widow named Martha Dandridge Washington. Washington had great interest in military arts and western expansion. He is remembered as a leader of men and to some he was the greatest President our nation has ever seen. At the end of his second term Washington retired. He died of a throat infection on December 14, 1799 in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

What: George Washington was a lieutenant colonel in 1754. He took part in some of the first battles of what would become the French and Indian War. After a few mishaps on the fields of battle Washington retired back to his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. When the Revolutionary War broke out he was elected the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress. Though he was not a military genius, he knew the British would not be beaten in open battles. Thus he told the Continental Congress that only hit and run attacks would serve against the British forces. It was through his use of "guerilla tactics" that Washington eventually forced the surrender of Cornwallis.
After the war was over Washington saw a nation in need of leadership. The Electoral College unanimously elected George Washington as the first President of the United States. Washington kept a neutral outlook on internation affairs. When France and England went to war he refused to entirely accept advice from either pro-France Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson or his pro-England Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. When he retired at the end of his second term he asked that the nation forswear excessive party spirit and refrain from long term international alliances.

Where: He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He d...