George Washington
The man who changed America
Introduction
“Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance.”-J. Donald Walters. According to J. Donald Walters, leadership isn’t to show off. It is to serve your country. One of those people who show a great example of that is George Washington. Born to a wealthy and prosperous couple, as the son of Augustine and Mary Washington, in Mt. Vernon, VA, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. As a teenager, George Washington fought for the British in the French and Indian War. After the war, George Washington got married to a wealthy widow named Martha Dandridge Curtis on January 6, 1759. After a few years, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. But when tensions between Britain and the colonies are getting high (Revolutionary War), the Continental Congress formed, and they elected George Washington as the Commander of the Continental army. George Washington was a great leader before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, because of the battle of Trenton, the hardships at Valley Forge, and when George Washington was President of the United States.
George Washington crossing the Delaware River to at unprepared Hessians
George Washington at Valley Forge
George Washington as President
Research Highlights
Research Highlights
- Born to a wealthy and prosperous couple, as the son of Augustine and Mary Washington, in Mt. Vernon, VA, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732.
- He was a British soldier when he was a teen, during the French and Indian War.
- Washington got married to to Martha Dandridge Curtis on January 6, 1759, after the French and Indian War.
- After a few years, he got elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
- when tensions between Britain and the colonies are getting high (Revolutionary War), the Continental Congress formed, and they elected George Washington as the Commander of the Continental army.
- On December 26, 1776 at 4:00 am, Washington crossed the Delaware river to attack the unprepared Hessians, which was the Battle of Trenton (Murphy 57; Allen 15; Dolan 55).
- Washington lead 2,400 men across the Delaware, and they attacked the Hessians, who were paid soldiers to fight for the British (Murphy 57; Dolan 56). The raid took just 90 minutes (Allen 57), and the Americans won their first battle after so many humiliating defeats (Murphy 66). The inexperienced Americans beat the well-trained, but unprepared Hessians.
- Valley Forge was made Washington’s headquarters from December, 1777 to June, 1778 ever since the British captured Philadelphia (Allen 22; Valley Forge 1).
- Valley Forge, Washington’s headquarters, was located 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River (Allen 22). He chose this strategic location for his headquarters, so he can attack the British by land or water. During the winter of 1777 and 1778, the conditions for the Continental army were very harsh. The Continental army faced the cruelest months of the war (Dolan 59). They faced disease, lack of supplies, dirty water, etc. (Dolan 59).
- After the Revolutionary war, Washington became President in 1788 (Washington, George 7), and he served a second term in 1792 (Shogan 1). He easily won president, because of his heroic actions throughout the Revolutionary War. When Washington was president, he established many departments and practices of the federal government (Washington, George 7).
- He wanted to be a role model for other presidents. Some of these practices are about choosing a new capital, creating the nation’s first financial system, etc.
- He died 2 years later after his presidency.