George Washington is key to the history of the United States of America. Also known as “Father of the Nation,” he was a gentleman farmer and war hero, and the first president of the United States.
George was born on February 22, 1732, on his family’s Virginia plantation. His parents were modest and successful farmers who were considered members of the landowners. At that time, the colony was rich in tobacco, sugar and coffee, and employed slaves as free labor. Adept at mathematics and cartography, after school he became a successful surveyor in the Virginia wilderness, earning enough money to buy his own land. When his half-brother Lawrence died of tuberculosis, George inherited the Mount Vernon estate, also on the Potomac River in Virginia.
In 1752, George became commander of the Virginia militia despite having neither military training nor experience. He also married Martha, a wealthy widow wife. He became a gentleman farmer and expanded his holdings on Mount Vernon.
Britain began increasing taxes on American colonists over the next decade. George saw this firsthand and joined the growing movement of the colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain.
In 1774, he represented in the First Continental Congress, and in 1775 the American Revolution began. Because of his previous militia experience and the fact that he was from Virginia, Washington was named commander in chief of the Continental Army. Despite lack of training and equipment, General Washington managed to defeat England in 1781 and drive them out of the country. He retired in 1783 and was declared a national hero.
He returned to his estate and peaceful farm life. But in 1787, he was asked to lead the committee that drafted the new U.S. Constitution. He was so impressive that other representatives of what are now known as the Founding Fathers of the United States thought he was the most suitable to be the first president of the United States. He was remarkably taciturn, yet resigned to the public tumult. At age 57, he won the first presidential election in 1789, with his opponent, John Adams, finishing second to become first vice president.
When Washington took office, the United States grew from 11 to 16 states. He has to set the tone for how the new president should conduct domestic/national and foreign affairs. George consciously models fairness, unrelenting integrity, strength, and discretion. He established the American judicial system and the first national bank. He also formed a cabinet to deal with the various sectors of the growing civil society. He promotes an agenda of neutrality and puts America’s interests first when dealing with other nations.
Leading a nascent nation from remote colonial England to greatness was no easy feat. But George Washington did, and more than 220 years after his death, his legacy of dignity and integrity can still be felt in the Oval Office.
