George Washington
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| George Washington | |
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| In office April 30, 1789 – March 3, 1797 |
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| Vice President(s) | John Adams |
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| Succeeded by | John Adams |
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| Born | February 22 1732 Westmoreland County, Virginia |
| Died | December 14 1799 Mount Vernon, Virginia |
| Political party | None (1789-93) none (1793-1797) |
| Spouse | Martha Custis Washington |
George Washington (February 22, 1732 to December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. He was also the commander of all American forces during the American Revolutionary War.
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[edit] Early years
His mother was Mary Ball and his father was Augustine Washington. They were farmers. They lived in Virginia. As a child, Washington did not attend school for very long.
[edit] Before the Revolutionary War
Washington was a farmer like his father. His large farm, or plantation, was called Mount Vernon.
Washington began his military career during the French and Indian War. He was first a messenger for Virginia. He later led troops against the French. The British did not think soldiers from the colonies were as good as they were, so Washington went home and started to farm again.
In 1759, Washington married Martha Custis Washington.
[edit] The Revolution
Washington wanted the Thirteen Colonies to be independent. Washington was chosen by the Second Continental Congress to be the commanding general of the Continental Army. Washington led the army until the end of the war in 1783. He is noted for leading troops across the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1777, in a surprise attack on German mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey. The British had many more troops and more supplies than Washington. However, Washington kept his troops together. He did not win many battles, but he never let the British destroy his army. With the help of the French navy, Washington made the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781.
[edit] After the war
When the Revolutionary war ended, Washington went home to Mount Vernon. He wanted the colonies to have a strong government. Washington was president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Washington wanted the states to ratify the Constitution and they did.
[edit] Presidency
Washington was the first President of the United States. Washington helped the government get started. He stopped the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington did not belong to a political party. He was re-elected to a second term. He chose not to run for a third term.
[edit] Retirement
Washington went home to Mount Vernon after his second term ended in 1797. He died on December 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon. He was the only leader of the early United States that freed all of his slaves when he died. Washington, D.C. and the state of Washington are named after George Washington. He is on the one dollar bill and the quarter.
| Presidents of the United States of America |  |
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| Washington | J. Adams | Jefferson | Madison | Monroe | J. Q. Adams | Jackson | Van Buren | W. H. Harrison | Tyler | Polk | Taylor | Fillmore | Pierce | Buchanan | Lincoln | A. Johnson | Grant | Hayes | Garfield | Arthur | Cleveland | B. Harrison | Cleveland | McKinley | T. Roosevelt | Taft | Wilson | Harding | Coolidge | Hoover | F.D. Roosevelt | Truman | Eisenhower | Kennedy | L. B. Johnson | Nixon | Ford | Carter | Reagan | G. H. W. Bush | Clinton | G. W. Bush | ||
