George Washington

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1st President of the United States
George Washington

In office April 30, 1789 – March 3, 1797
Vice President(s)	John Adams
Succeeded by	John Adams

Born	February 22 1732 Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died	December 14 1799 (aged 67) Mount Vernon, Virginia
Nationality	American
Political party	None (1789-93) none (1793-1797)
Spouse	Martha Custis Washington

George Washington (February 22, 1732 to December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He was also the commander of all American forces during the American Revolutionary War.

1 Early years
2 Before the Revolutionary War
3 The Revolution
4 After the war
5 Presidency
6 Retirement
7 Other websites

[change] Early years

His mother was Mary Ball and his father was Augustine Washington. They were farmers. They lived in Virginia. As a child, Washington did not attend school for very long.

[change] Before the Revolutionary War

Washington was a farmer like his father. His large farm, or plantation, was called Mount Vernon.

Washington began his army career during the French and Indian War. He was first a messenger for Virginia. He later led troops against the French. The British did not think soldiers from the colonies were as good as they were, so Washington went home and started to farm again.

In 1759, Washington married Martha Custis Washington. They did not have any children.

[change] The Revolution

Washington wanted the Thirteen Colonies to be independent. Washington was chosen by the Second Continental Congress to be the commanding general of the Continental Army. Washington led the army until the end of the war in 1783. He is noted for leading troops across the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1777, in a surprise attack on German mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey. The British had many more troops and more supplies than Washington. However, Washington kept his troops together. He did not win many battles, but he never let the British destroy his army. With the help of the French navy, Washington made the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The war officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

[change] After the war

When the Revolutionary war ended, Washington went home to Mount Vernon. He wanted the colonies to have a strong government. Washington was voted president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Washington wanted the states to ratify the Constitution of the United States and they did.

Lansdowne portrait of President George Washington

[change] Presidency

Washington was the first President of the United States. Washington helped the government get started. Washington did not belong to a political party. He was re-elected to a second term, but chose not to run for a third term. Because of this, other presidents chose to follow this tradition of not running for a 3rd term. However, President Franklin Roosevelt did run for a 3rd and 4th term. After he died, the Constitution was changed so it is now illegal for anyone to run for president for a 3rd term.

George Washington overseeing slaves during harvest time on his plantation

[change] Retirement

Washington went home to Mount Vernon after his second term ended in 1797. He died on December 14, 1799, in Mount Vernon at the age of 67. He was the only leader of the early United States who decided in his will that his slaves were to be freed once he himself and his wife had passed away. Washington, D.C. and the state of Washington are named after him. He is on the one dollar bill and the quarter.