French And Indian War Washington example essay topic

George Washington George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He attended school for approximately eight years. Washington lived with his mother until the age of 16. At the age of 15, Washington took a job as an assistant land surveyor.

In 1748, he began working in the Shenandoah Valley to help survey the land holdings of Lord Fairfax. By 1749, he established a good reputation as a land surveyor and was appointed Culpeper counties official land surveyor. Washington started his military career in the Virginia militia in 1753. He started out as an adjutant for the southern part of the colony. Four months later, they promoted him to lieutenant colonel. After defeating the French scouting party in southern Pennsylvania, they promoted him to colonel.

He was then in charge of all the Virginian troops. Colonel Washington led the attack at the war known as the French and Indian war. In October, he resigned as colonel and returned to Mount Vernon. Mr. Washington was soon begged to return. He denied at first, but decided to regain control.

After the French and Indian War Washington again stepped down. He retired to Mount Vernon as a planter and a legislator. On January 6, 1759, he married Martha Dandridge Custis. She was a wealthy widow and mother of two children.

The couple had no children together, but he raised his wife's children his own. During 1759-74, he managed his plantations and sat in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In the 1770's, the relationship between Britain and the colonies was strained. Washington represented Virginia at the First and Second Continental Congresses. In May of 1775, just after Lexington and Concord, Washington showed up to the Second Continental Congress wearing his colonel's uniform. This act magnified his belief on taking military action against the British.

He made such an impression on the delegates that they unanimously elected him as commander and chief of the armed forces. He accepted modestly. On July 3, 1775, he had taken command of the troops at Cambridge. His first victory came in March of 1776, when the British evacuated Boston. He kept the British surrounded for eight months. The evacuation proved that he could beat the foreigners in a major battle.

Washington figured that the British would strike New York next. Washington met the troops with force. He and his troops suffered defeat due to lack of supplies, experienced officers, and disciplined troops. Many people feared that the war was lost. Washington took away that fear when he launched the attack on Hessian troops. He followed up this victory by a win at Princeton.

Next, he was forced to fight a battle that he knew he would lose. The British navy took over Philadelphia at the battle of Brandywine Creek. Washington's militia was strengthened in October, when General Gates won at Saratoga, New York. In the spring of 1778, good news arrived when the French decided to send money, troops, and a fleet to help the colonies. When the British heard the news they decided to consolidate their position to New York and New Jersey. In the time period between 1778 and 1781 Washington kept the British army concealed to New York City.

At the time he faced a variety of disappointments by losing the battles of Brooklyn Heights, Kip's Bay, Harlem Heights, and White Plains. The greatest event of Washington's military career came on October 19, 1781 when he defeated Cornwall is at Yorktown. Cornwall is surrendered his entire army of more than 7,000 men. The fighting was finally over, although it would still take two years to form a formal peace treaty. Washington in his early fifties resumed life as a planter confident that his days of public service were over. A few years had past and the Congress has a large inability to solve national problems.

This was partly due to the lack of authority under the Articles of Confederation. This worried Washington so much that he became a delegate on the Virginia legislature to help mend the Constitution. Several years followed before the states ratified the constitution. The Electoral College met in New York City on February 4, 1789, Washington was unanimously elected the first President of the United States of America.

They inaugurated him on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. Washington immediately began setting the traditions that were to be followed by each of his successors. In his inaugural address he appealed indirectly to Congress to amend the Constitution with a Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was eventually added, and ratified by all states. Washington faced four major problems by assuming the role of president. These were: organizing the new government and establishing his cabinet; pulling the nation out of serious financial problems; obtaining a better relationship with Great Britain; and negotiating treaties of friendship with the Indian tribes.

Washington successfully achieved solutions to each of these problems during his administration. Washington's first wanted to establish and develop the executive departments. He saw the departments to govern and execute laws. He created the rule that the president holds the right to empower executive officers and the power to remove them. Washington and his advisors worked quickly for a great end result. Congress eventually approved the legislation needed to start the five executive departments.

General Henry Knox led the war department. Alexander Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. Thomas Jefferson was appointed Secretary of State. The office of postmaster general was led by Samuel Osgood. The cabinet was complete when Washington appointed Edmund Randolph as attorney general. On February 13, 1793, Washington was elected unanimously to a second term in office.

During the second term his toughest challenges were, the war in Europe over the new French republic, and the Whiskey Rebellion. The last year of his administration was uneventful. Washington presented his farewell address in September of 1790. Many people made strong efforts to persuade him to a third term. Washington believed no president should serve more than two terms in office. This is why today a president shall not serve for more than 2 terms.

After leaving office he again set off to Mount Vernon to retire. He did not receive the peaceful retirement he planned for. In 1798, war threatened with France. President Adams asked him to accept the title of lieutenant general. Washington accepted, and helped mold a strong military. In 1798, the French crisis ended and he could finally relax to plantation life.

On December 16, 1799, Washington woke up with a severe throat infection or what is known today as strep throat. Around ten p. m. all of the fight he had was gone, and he died. Four days later his body was buried in the family vault at Mount Vernon.