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George Washington's Birth
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father was Augustine Washington. He was born of English heritage as his grandfather migrated from England to America in the 1600s. -
Washington Family Moved to Little Hunting Creek Plantation (Later Mount Vernon)
Mount Vernon would later be the inherited property of George Washington where he would live, farm and develop throughout his life upto his death. -
Washington Family Moved to Ferry Farm
Where he spent most of his childhood -
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George Washington's Chilhood Days
Little is known about George Washington's childhood, which fostered many of the fables later biographers manufactured to fill in the gap. Among these are the stories that Washington threw a silver dollar across the Potomac and after chopping down his father's prize cherry tree yet he told the truth about his actions which was used to portray his honesty and courage since childhood. Much of the knowledge he would use the rest of his life was through his acquaintance with backwoodsmen and the pl -
The Cherry Tree Anecdote
Since Washington's childhood was filled with ambiguity, many stories were created to cover up the holes within this part of history. The most prominent one would be the Cherry Tree anecdote by Parson Weems which had George Washington cut down a tree. However, when asked, he confessed to the act to his father. This story was created to show the honesty and bravery of the legendary George Washington in order to teach children moral values. -
Death of Lawerence Washington
George was 20 when his brother Lawrence died in 1952, leaving him the heir to the Washington plantation of Mount Vernon. he would hold farming as one of the most honorable professions and he was most proud of Mount Vernon. He would gradually increase his landholdings there to about 8,000 acres. -
Commissioned a lieutenant colonel
Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War -
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Military Involvements in French and Indian War
George Washington was promoted to Commander in Virginia and led his British troops to many victories against the French and Indian coalition forces. By 1758, his many successes during the war brought him a great reputation. However, he decided to retire to his home in Mount Vernon in 1758 and live the life of a simple farmer, focusing on developing his land holdings and plantation further -
Braddock Disaster
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. The British sufferred major defeat, and Washington organized a retreat. However, his efforts in the war was recognized which saw his ranks and reputation rose within the army. -
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Life of retirement at Mount Vernon post French-Indian War
From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life. But like his fellow planters, Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations. -
Elected Commander in Chief of Continental Army in Second Continental Congress
When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775 to discuss their response to the British attacks at Lexington and Concord and the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, Washington, one of the Virginia delegates, was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Washington taking command of the Continental Army
On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. -
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George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolution
As Commander in chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, Washington led the heart of a colony wanting to be independent against the British Crown which imposed great abuse on laws and taxes upon the people of the American colonies. Through major battles such as Boston in 1776, Saratoga in 1777, and the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, Washington continuously proved to be a brave commander and the center of the revolution itself. He was the representative of independence itself. -
Washington Crossing the Delaware
George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, which occurred on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, was the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey on the morning of December 26. Planned in partial secrecy, Washington led a column of Continental Army troops across the icy Delaware River, defeating the British at Princeton later on which marked the turn of tides for the war. -
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown
Finally in 1781 with the aid of French allies--he forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The American Revolution was victorious and British aggression got suppressed heavily. This event marked the fall of the British colonization in America, and made way for the beginning of an indepedent nation. -
Washington resigned as commander in chief of Continental Army
In Maryland, George Washington officially resigned as the commander in chief of the Continental Army to the Congress of the Confederation. He's expecting to retire to his home at Mount Vernon and continue living a simple and quaint life of a farmer and land owner in peace and independence. -
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Retirement after American Revolution at Mount Vernon
During this time, George Washington lived in retirement at Mount Vernon, tending to his plantation. However, the young nation was not functioning well under the new government. People was rebelling, most notably the Shay's rebellion which caused massive resistance from the people. Under the Articles of Confederation, the people viewed this new government as being no better than the British colonizers. -
Washington at the Constitutional Convention and Election of Presidency
While the Convention was intended merely to revise the Articles of Confederation, the objective of its leaders was to create a new government. One vigorous debate surrounded whether the government's executive should be a single person or a board of three. Eventually a clear majority voted for a single executive based on the knowledge that Washington would be elected the first President. As a result, the presidency was written with Washington's honor and patriotism in mind -
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First President of the United States
Washinton, while in office, was the one defining what it meant to be the country's executive and what it does to maintain the nation. He did not infringe upon the policy making powers that he felt the Constitution gave Congress. But the determination of foreign policy became a Presidential concern under his decision To his disappointment, two parties were developing by the end of his first term. Wearied of politics, feeling old, he retired at the end of his second. -
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Final retirement at Mount Vernon
In his Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances. Washington stepping down after two terms in office made it the unofficial limit for following Presidents as well in honor of him. After retirement, he returned to Mount Vernon to live a farmer's life. He would, however, still be visited by many guests, mostly politicians. -
Death of George Washington
, Death came quickly, and painfully, but not all that unexpectedly. Washington was in the habit of riding around his grounds every day to inspect his holdings. On 12 December 1799 (Three years after retirement), he refused to let an ice storm change his routine. The next day he caught a cold and, by evening, it took a turn for the worse. Doctors were called in. They bled him and drugged him, but to no avail. His cold turned into a throat infection, which ultimately proved fatal.
