1.+George+Washington

=** George Washington **=

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//I. A Brief Introduction//
George Washington was the first president of the United States, and often considered the most influential president: he suggested revolutionary ideas to the creation of our constitution and government, fought battles for our nation against Britain in times of need, and developed a concrete base for our country and for the future.

Washington was the primary commander in the war against Britain, or the **Revolutionary War (1775-1783).** After seceding from Britain's arduous hold in 1783, Washington developed a constitution and government for our country, still being seen today.

i. Early childhood and family
George Washington was born in 1732; specifically, February 22nd, 1732. Additionally, Washington was raised in a middle class family; not necessarily living in poverty or facing the cruel effects of being poor, but rather living in a household with middle-class ranking. His family was most definitely not a leading family in the Virginia Gentry. Washington grew up in a populated house hold, with several blood-related and half siblings. As a common effect in growing up in a new territory, filled with several unknown diseases, a portion of Washington's family died due to small pox and genetic disorders. Washington himself faced the perils of contracting small pox, permanently scared in his upper facial region. However, growing immunity to such illnesses in his younger years, Washington eventually overcame the disease and triumphantly survived.

ii. Teen / Early adult years
One of Washington's interests was militia and the armed forces; while the US had not been created, or even seceded, yet, George was eager to join Britain's armed forces, at an early age of 15. Throughout his education, he wished to travel the Atlantic and study at England's Appleby School. Most of his older siblings had studied at the Appleby school, receiving higher educations than most.

After his older, step brother, died from tuberculosis, Washington decided to take on the position as Adjutant General of Virginia. At this time, George Washington also decided to join the [|Freemasons].

iii. Early adult years
Washington pursued two relevant interests as a young adult: military topics and western expansion throughout the land today known as The United States. At 16 he helped survey Shenandoah lands for Lord Fairfax Thomas. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes of what became the French and Indian War; while not a particularly popular war, this event led to several key actions which caused Washington to take action in future events. The next year, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. Washington eventually concluded the French and Indian war, leaving with no serious injuries.

From 1759 to the emerging of the **American Revolutionary War**, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses as a young adult. Married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life; Martha soon became the love of his life. But like his fellow planters, and several other thousand colonists, Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations / taxes. As the quarrel with the mother country grew fierce, he moderately but firmly voiced his resistance to the restrictions. This eventually lead to the development of the **American Revolutionary War.** ======

i. First president of The United States of America
George Washington, being the first president of The United States, had actions that were eventually set as precedents for future presidents. Additionally, Washington had no previous precedents to base his presidential and executive decisions on; he was the first president of a newly created country, his previous country was based on an entirely different governmental basis, and he had just fought a war with the British. All of this combined with following the new rules set out by the Constitution was no easy task for Washington.

ii. Influence on Constitution
 Dissatisfied with the national effectiveness and progress under the Articles of Confederation, the first "Constitution", Washington advocated a stronger central government; he advocated for a government were the states were finely connected by a strong, centralized government. He hosted the Mount Vernon Conference (1785) at his home after its first meetings in Alexandria, though he did not directly participate in the discussions. Despite his sympathy with the goals of the Annapolis Convention (1786), he did not attend the convention. But, the following year, encouraged by many of his political friends, he presided over the Constitutional Convention, whose success was immeasurably influenced by his **presence** and **dignity**. Following ratification of the new instrument of government in 1788, the electoral college unanimously chose him as the first President due to his valiant and admirable influences on the newly created Constitution.

iii. First Commander in Chief
When the French Revolution led to a major war between France and England, Washington insisted that the United States of America remain neutral in the conflict. He did not accept the recommendations of his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, or his Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who was pro-British. As you can see, both political members had drastically different opinions on the conflict; if Washington were to make a decision pertaining to only one side, the other would become aggravated. The President also feared that getting involved in this European war would shatter his young country's new, delicate government. On April 22, 1793, he issued a proclamation of neutrality that urged American citizens to be impartial and not send aid or war materials to either England or France.While Presidents today may not follow this standard, at this particular time, the decision Washington made is one to be remembered; instead of helping an ally country, or fight a enemy nation, Washington decided to keep the new country away from conflict and harm.

i.Initiation of Revolutionary War
By the 1770s, relations of the American colonies with their mother country had become strained; taxes being spiked to ridiculous rates had spurred harsh emotion for the pre-American people. Measured in his behavior but strongly sympathetic to the Whig position and resentful of British restrictions and commercial exploitation, Washington represented Virginia at the First and Second Continental Congresses. In 1775, after the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, the first few battles of [|**The Revolutionary War**] Congress appointed him as commander in chief of the Continental Army. Overcoming severe obstacles, especially in supply, Washington eventually fashioned a well-trained and disciplined army. This task alone was no easy feat; being the new commander in chief of the entire Continental Army and showing his military abilities, Washington became a man of success in several national branches.

ii. Battles won and lost
The strategy Washington evolved consisted of continual harassment of British forces while avoiding general actions; this particular strategy was mostly obscure, but effective. Although his troops yielded much ground and lost a number of battles, they persevered even during the dark winters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and Morristown, New Jersey. Some of the most historic events happened during the deep, dark winters at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. Finally, with the aid of the French fleet and army, he won a climactic victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781.This win eventually brought victory to the American Revolutionary War; without the aid of Washington, this dire point in our history may have had a completely different ending.

iii. Winning the war against Britain and effects
Eventually seceding and separating from the "motherland", or Britain, a newly created government would go through harsh and unimaginable times of despair and difficulty. Without the help of Washington through this time period, our country may have never made it as far as we have today.

//V. Conclusion//
Ultimately, not only does Washington serve as a historic importance to our time period, but also as one of the greatest presidents our country has ever seen: he has shown us through determination, perseverance, and dedication, the goal will always be successfully achieved. We have seen that, while his early life may not have been deplorably desirable, it had a large impact on his future. His commitment to the armed British forces was a deep dedication to his will to fight for his country, no matter the consequences. Additionally, his involvement in politics after the revolution lead to a new strand of important implications that were instituted into our government, and still last today. George has show us true patriotic feelings for his country, our country. His role as President is a mere mile stone in comparison to his end accomplishments as a leader and diplomatic figure for our country. Not every President could accomplish the tasks Washington pursed as commander in chief during the Revolution and designated first president of The United States.

**"The fate of unborn millions will now depend, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." ** - //Address to the Continental Army before the __[|Battle of Long Island] __ (27 August 1776)//

Sources http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/gw3.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Washington