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Birth
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Life
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Begins Career
At age 17, Washington becomes a surveyor in a venture to the Shenandoah Valley under the landowner, Thomas Fairfax. -
Brother Passes Away
Washington loses his brother Lawrence to tuberculosis and inherits his plantation on Mount Vernon. -
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Seven Years' War
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Improves Agriculture in the Ohio Valley
Acquires additional lands near Mount Vernon and in the Ohio Valley. Diversifies agricultural production to include wheat as well as tobacco and reduces debts to British tobacco merchants. Expands and remodels house at Mount Vernon. -
Forbes Expedition
This was Washington's third attempt to capture Fort Duquesne from the French. The French had used this fort as a staging area for conducting raids on British settlements during the Seven Years' War. Led by General John Forbes, this expedition commanded over 6000 men to reach the fort. Washington and Forbes successfully drove much of the French presence away, but upon arrival at the fort, there were only smoldering remains of what once stood there. -
Marriage
Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis, and acts as a father to her two children, Patsy and John Parke. -
House of Burgesses
Washington becomes a part of the Virginia House of Burgesses and serves for 15 years. The House of Burgesses was the first established house of representatives in North America. It is essentially where the system of organized American political control and decision-making was born. -
Elected Into First Continental Congress
Represented the colony of Virginia. -
Commander in Chief
Elected delegate into the second Continental Congress. He then gets elected as commander in chief of the continental army. Washington now has control over the army. -
Declaration of Independence
Washington and the Continental Congress sign the Declaration of Independence. -
~President~
Washington is elected to be the first President of the United States. So widely loved, supported, and agreeable that people decided to make him the first person to lead the nation. -
Build a Capital
Washington approves plans to build a capital in honor of the United States. -
Bill of Rights
Washington passes the Bill of Rights, allowing basic rights to all American citizens. -
We Don't Need to Fight
Washington signs a neutrality proclamation to keep the US out of war. He takes measures to keep troops at home with their families. -
Death
A legend dies from a throat infection.