George Washington

George Washington

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He attended school for approximately eight years. Washington lived with his mother until the age of 16. At the age of 15, Washington took a job as an assistant land surveyor. In 1748, he began working in the Shanandoah Valley to help survey the land holdings of Lord Fairfax. By 1749, he established a good reputation as a land surveyor and was appointed Culpeper counties official land surveyor.

Washington started his military career in the Virginia militia in 1753. He started out as an adjutant for the southern part of the colony. Four months later, they promoted him to lieutenant colonel. After defeating the French scouting party in southern Pennsylvania, they promoted him to colonel. He was then in charge of all the Virginian troops. Colonel Washington led the attack at the war known as the French and Indian war. In October, he resigned as colonel and returned to Mount Vernon. Mr. Washington was soon begged to return. He denied at first, but decided to regain control. After the French and Indian War Washington again stepped down. He retired to Mount Vernon as a planter and a legislator. On January 6,1759, he married Martha Dandridge Custis. She was a wealthy widow and mother of two children. The couple had no children together, but he raised his wife's children his own. During 1759-74, he managed his plantations and sat in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In the 1770s, the relationship between Britain and the colonies was strained. Washington represented Virginia at the First and Second Continental Congresses. In May of 1775, just after Lexington and Concord, Washington showed up to the Second Continental Congress wearing his colonel's uniform. This act magnified his belief on taking military action against the British. He made such an impression on the delegates that they unanimously elected him as commander and chief of the armed forces. He accepted modestly.

On July 3, 1775, he had taken command of the troops at Cambridge. His first victory came in March of 1776, when the British evacuated Boston. He kept the British surrounded for eight months. The evacuation proved that he could beat the foreigners in a major battle. Washington figured that the British would strike New York next. Washington met the troops with force. He and his troops suffered defeat due to lack of supplies, experienced officers, and disciplined troops. Many people feared that the war was lost. Washington took away that fear when he launched the attack on Hessian troops. He followed up this victory by a win at Princeton. Next, he was forced to fight a battle that he knew he would lose. The British navy took over Philadelphia at the battle of Brandywine Creek. Washington's militia was strengthened in October, when General Gates won at Saratoga, New York. In the spring of 1778, good news arrived when the French decided to send money, troops, and a fleet to help the colonies. When the British heard the news they decided to consolidate their position to New York and New Jersey. In the time period between 1778 and 1781 Washington kept the British army concealed to New York City. At the time he faced a variety of disappointments by losing the battles of Brooklyn Heights, Kip's Bay, Harlem Heights, and White Plains.

The greatest event of Washington's military career came on October 19, 1781 when he defeated Cornwall is at Yorktown. Cornwall is surrendered his entire army of more than 7,000 men. The fighting was finally over, although it would still take two years to form a formal peace treaty.

Washington in his early fifties resumed life as a planter confident that his days of public service were over. A few years had past and the Congress has a large inability to solve national problems. This was partly due to the lack of authority under the Articles of Confederation. This worried Washington so much that he became a delegate on the Virginia legislature to help mend the Constitution. Several years followed before the states ratified the constitution. The Electoral