The Presidency of George Washington
He was born in Westmoreland, Virginia and his father was a prosperous iron owner. When his father died at the age of 11, George moved in with his half brother named Lawrance who had owned a plantation in Mount Vernon. Washington grew up as a very intelligent man and he studied science, a subject he excelled at. In 1753 he enlisted in the Virginia militia. Two years later his superior military skill and leadership earned him command of the entire militia. In 1759 he was elected to the House of Burgess. He fought in the French and Indian wars and barely escaped being killed. In 1759 he married Martha Custis who had 2 children already with her previous husband. Washington cared for her two children as if they were his very own.
Washington’s life changed when he finally decided to rally against the British dominance despite already having a comfortable life and being prosperous. In 1774 he attended the First Continental Congress which was a meeting of U.S. statesmen. Washington was put in charge of the entire army as he had demonstrated great courage and wit on the battlefield.
In the Revolutionary War Washington’s troops suffered several losses at first due to lack of training and soldiers without military backgrounds and a dearth of supplies. His biggest victory against the British at Yorktown ended the war and made him a hero.
In 1787 he chaired the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention and was a unanimous choice to be the first leader of a brand new nation, the United States of America. Washington accepted the position and was unanimously re-elected, serving a full 8 years as president.
As president, Washington aimed to prevent the formation of political parties as he believed it would cause factions within the government. Washington set the precent for being in office for two terms and all the presidents after him served only a maximum of two terms until Franklin D. Roosvelt won a third term. Washington was known for being a wartime hero and charasmatic president. His leadership was the glue that held the nation together. Washington died in 1799 at Mount Vernon.
After his death, Washington became a hero and legend to all the people around the world and a leader of a nation that all would aspire to be.
