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
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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
The revered and respected first president, George Washington, gave the US hope during one of its most difficult times. Using the events and circumstances of his life to learn and advance his position, he grew from humble beginnings into a legend. George Washington had a valuable, well-rounded education from ages seven to fifteen, studying all the subjects (Nevins and Graff). Due to his father’s death, George grew up under the supervision of his half-brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon, learning many lessons and developing thoughts, actions, and manners he used later in life (Nevins and Graff). He worked as a surveyor for his first career and learned the benefits of hard work, endurance, and resourcefulness (Nevins and Graff). After Lawrence died, George took over running the family plantation and found farming an honorable, delectable, amusing, and profitable occupation (Nevins and Graff). Standing six feet tall with broad shoulders, Washington cultivated a lavish lifestyle of dancing, cards, billiards, and hunting as a prominent and active member in his community and church (Nevins and Graff). George Washington started his military career in November of 1752, and in 1755 he took the position as commander of all the Virginian troops at the young age of 23 years (Nevins and Graff). Washington desired more honor and respect than he received, so he resigned from the military in the fall of 1758 full of frustration (Nevins and Graff). War moved slowly, troops did not receive enough
The Battle of Trenton persuaded men to reenlist so Washington would still have an army in the new year. Washington planned on surprising the British in Princeton, but decided to wait considering Ewing and Caldwalader never made it across the river. A week later, on January 3, 1777 Washington recrossed the Delaware River with his troop into Princeton. The battle lasted less than an hour, but around one hundred British men were killed or wounded and they captured two hundred. The Americans only suffered forty casualties (Dupuy 83-84). These two wins boosted the patriot’s morale and helped Washington rise back to the top as a military commander (Murphy). These two victories also convinced America that the war was not over yet, there was still hope. Overall winning these battles created a spark of hope and a wave of electricity. There were many battles Washington led, but
Later on, in 1775 George was unanimously selected to be Commander-in-Chief of the Second Continental Congress, ("Primary Documents in American History"). Even though Washington was used to commanding a small militia, he had an excellent strategy. His first move was to occupy Dorchester Heights, where he brought supplies from Fort Ticonderoga and forced the British to evacuate Boston. Throughout the war for Independence, Washington continued to use his unique strategies. His strategies he used on the Hessians in Trenton was the surprise attack. Most of the battles he fought, he planned out very well. He failed sometimes, but that didn’t stop him from fighting. Washington was well organized, very attentive to details, and expected hard work and effort from his troops. During every war Washington would visit his home ten times, he stayed in Valley Forge. During the wars he would also write letters to help his army by giving cattle to his army to feed them. Then, The Treaty of Paris ended the war for Independence and started The Revolutionary War. In June of 1775, Congress ordered General Washington to lead the Continental Army in
The Battle of New York would soon prove to be a disaster. It was Washington's first command on a large scale battle. He and his general officers had not only failed, but they looked like fools from the British point of view. After the battle, troops began to run away in fear. Even Washington's closest friend, Joseph Reed, began plotting behind his back. Washington suffered another bitter defeat at Fort Washington, N.Y. The colonists were intimidated, and surrendered Fort Washington. It was a severe blow to the colonists, 2000 were taken prisoner, 59 killed, 146 cannons lost to the British and Hessians in a matter of hours. It was a humiliating blow. During one particularly disastrous skirmish with the British, Washington saw his own troops fleeing from the enemy, and they were refusing to obey orders. Washington threw his hat on the ground in disgust. And
Washington was born February 11, 1731 in Virginia, which at that time was a British colony. According to the New World Encyclopedia, “Washington was the oldest child from his father’s second marriage. Washington had two older half-brothers: Lawrence and Augustine, Jr and four younger siblings: Betty, Samuel, John Augustine and Charles.” (2) Washington’s parents were of British descent and his father was a plantation owner, which included slaves. George’s youth was spent living at various properties in Virginia that the Washington family owned.
“On Christmas night, in a blizzard, he leads his men across the ice‐flecked Delaware River to Trenton, NJ, surprises a drunken Hessian garrison, and seizes Trenton for a time. Washington slips away to Princeton, where he strikes the British rear. Leading the attack on his horse, he shouted: “Parade with me, my brave fellows!” And when the British lines break, he leads the charge with another shout: “It is a fine fox chase, my boys!” (Timeline of George Washington) The Battle of Trenton was a beautifully won battle and Washington was the one to lead it. This was a major example of Washington’s skills as an effective leader. Using the Delaware river was a risky move, but Washington was determined to get to Trenton. Reflected in this battle
“Although Washington hated partisanship and political parties, he tolerated dissent, vicious attacks on his reputation and name, and a divisive press—all in the interest of freedom” (Knott). As he was writing the constitution others saw his leadership, and saw that he was fit to become the first president. At first he didn’t want to become president, but he finally caved in and ran for presidency. During the election on Jan. 7, 1789, he won and became the first US president. When he became president he controlled 11 states, since most of the states were being created. Each decision he made, he knew that they would effect the next president and the way they would govern the US. He nominated the chief justice of the US Supreme Court, creating a first national bank and made his own presidential
General Washington now had a combined force of over 16,000 American and French Soldiers ready to begin a siege of Cornwallis and his British force of only 7,500 Soldiers. The French Navy had decisively defeated the British Navy. There was no chance of escape for the British, both land and sea routes were blocked. On September 29, 1781, the Battle of Yorktown began. As Washington moved his Army closer to the British, the British would engage them from their defensive positions. Over the next 6 days, the French and Americans would establish their trenches needed to begin the siege. The French and America Armies moved Artillery pieces into position to engage the British.
In August of 1781, General Cornwallis made a mistake by trapping himself along with over 8,000 soldiers near Yorktown, Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay. The French General Lafayette observed the position of the British troops and realized that they could easily be surrounded and overtaken. He immediately sent a swift rider to carry a message to General Washington. Along with the French generals who were their allies by this time, Washington took his army and headed to join General Lafayette and his men. The French army of 4,000 and the American army of 3,000 started their march to Yorktown on August 19. The two armies traveled to the tip of the Chesapeake Bay and then sailed down to Williamsburg, Virginia on the French Fleet. On September 28, Washington had command of over 7,800 French soldiers, 3,000 militia men, and 8,000 men of the Continental army. When they arrived at Yorktown, the French Navy successfully blocked any chance of the British escaping by sea. Under the leadership of Lafayette, the French troops blocked the British from escaping by land. Once the British were surrounded the Americans began to bomb the British fortifications at Yorktown. The bombardment lasted for over a month while the British army hid behind their walls and fought back. Finally, after a long battle, the American cannons had destroyed the British fortifications. On October, 14, the Americans and French
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. During his early life, "he had three great strengths: his mother's ambitious drive, a shy charm, and a gift for mathematics"(Miller Center). As the French and Indian war was nearing, George showed signs of natural leadership. Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, named Robert Dinwiddie, "appointed Washington adjutant with a rank of major in the Virginia militia"(biography.com). After Washington attacked the French at the Ohio border, he "was given the honorary rank of colonel and joined British General Edward Braddock's army in Virginia in 1755"(biography.com). He then worked with the British to come up with a plan to
On October 19th, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to French and American forces lead by General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the American Revolution. In the past, Cornwallis had driven General George Washington’s Patriot forces out of New Jersey in 1776, and led his Redcoats in victory over General Horatio Gates and the Patriots at Camden, South Carolina, in 1780. His following invasion of North Carolina was less successful, however, and in April 1781, he led his weary and battered troops toward the Virginia coast, where he could maintain seaborne lines of communication with the large British army of General Henry Clinton in New York City. After conducting a series of
Because of these experiences and his successes later on he was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to fight the British in the American Revolution. Washington fought in a few wars and many battles throughout his military career to include the American Revolutionary War and the French-Indian war (or seven years war). Some of his Revolutionary war battles include the siege at Boston, Valley Forge, the Battle of Brandywine, the Surrender at Yorktown, and the Battle of Long Island among others.
George Washington’s military career began as an officer in the Virginia militia. He was sent to to tell the French they had to leave Fort LeBoeuf. After traveling over 400 miles in the snow, Washington reached the French fort. However, the French refused to leave.
According to “George Washington” by Dennis J. Mahoney, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at Bridges Creek, Virginia, United States. He was the third son of a prosperous planter and he learned the trade of surveying in his teens. At the age of twenty-one he was appointed to the rank of major in the Virginia Militia, and at the start of the French and Indian War he was appointed to lieutenant colonel and by the end of the war he was promoted to the rank of coloned and named commander in chief of all the Virginian forces. In 1759 he married the widow Martha Custis, their combined wealth gave him financial independence, allowing him to spend the rest of his life in a career of public service. He was a member of the House of Burgesses
It also says he would serve two terms (1789-1797). This website gives you an in detailed background on Washington’s family, and basically his culture and foundations he comes from. This site talks about how George Washington started the French and Indian War, by attacking a French post at Fort Duquesne. The website gives you some brief information on Washington’s finances, and says that in his time was one of the most wealthiest men in Virginia. The site says that George Washington and his army also fell at the Battle of Brandywine; however, Philadelphia would soon fall two weeks later. It says that Washington had come to learn that the political nature of war was equals to the military one. This site also says that Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and the cold harsh winter of 1777 was the worst time for Washington and his Continental Army.