December 8, 2007

December 8- Free topic within the subject of American Government on any topic that interests you.

We have so many famous Presidents that have done so very much for our country. We live fairly comfortably in today's world if we work hard. And we have all of our Presidents to thank. They run our country so that we can live in it. Whether they have done a good job or a widely criticized one, they still worked very hard so that we can remain a free country. In this blog, I will take a better look at the role of our first President, George Washington.

Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He grew up the then colony of Virginia and his famous home, Mount Vernon, is located in his beloved state. He was a tall boy and seemed to be very bright. His father died when George was only eleven, and he had a very strained relationship with his mother.

In 1754, Washington joined the French and Indian War at 22 years old. "With his American Indian allies led by Tanacharison, Washington and his troops ambushed a French scouting party of some 30 men, led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. Washington and his troops were overwhelmed at Fort Necessity by a larger and better positioned French and Indian force. The terms of surrender included a statement that Washington had assassinated the scouts and their leader at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. Released by the French, Washington returned to Virginia, where he resigned rather than accept demotion....In fall 1755, Washington was given a difficult frontier command in the Virginia mountains. In 1758, he took part in the Forbes Expedition, which successfully drove the French from Fort Duquesne. Later that year, Washington resigned from active military service and spent the next sixteen years as a Virginia planter and politician.<sup>" (Wikipedia)

He also served a major part in the American Revolution serving as Commander in Chief. Between the two wars, He married his wife</sup> Martha Dandridge Custis. Among his many awards was his being voted unanimously as President over the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. Then in 1789, he was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States.

George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. He was a very important and influential person in American History. We owe a lot to this man and can in turn learn a lot from him. It is largely thanks to him that we live in the free country today.