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Table of Contents Who Was George Washington? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Who Was George Washington? George Washington was an important man in American
Before He Was Famous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5
history. He was a hero in the French and Indian War. He led
Joining Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–7
Then, Washington became the first president of the new country.
French and Indian War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9
soldiers in the American Revolution (rev-uh-LOO-shuhn).
General George Washington
Trouble with Britain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–11 In Charge of a New Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–13 Sneaking Up on the British . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–15 Rest for His Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–17 The End of the War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18–19 Washington Becomes President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20–21 Home at Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22–23 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Before He Was Famous George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father died when he was 11. So, he moved in with his brother, Lawrence. Lawrence owned a large farm in Virginia called Mount Vernon. At age 16, Washington became a surveyor (suhr-VAYuhr) of land. He helped measure and map new towns in western Virginia. When Lawrence died, Washington inherited (in-HAIRuh-ted) Mount Vernon. This plantation became his home for many years. Washington surveying land in Virginia Map of the land around Mount Vernon
When Do We Celebrate? Surveying level
birthday is Washington’s He February 22. celebrated on , n February 11 o rn o b y ll a u was act nce? there a differe 1732. Why is to ys were added In 1752, 11 da d change helpe is h T r. a d n le the ca ith ndar line up w make the cale gain. the seasons a
Joining Forces In the 1750s, two countries wanted to control the colonies. Both France and Great Britain wanted the new land. The French were building new forts. The forts were used for their army. This made the British trappers angry. They needed the land where the forts were built. France got some American Indian tribes to help them. The French gave guns to the Indians. The Indians used the guns to help France attack the British. Indians surrounding a British fort
Death of a British general
Uniting the Colon
ies
During this diffic ult time people thought the colo nists needed to work together . To help unite them, Benjamin Fr anklin drew a sketch called “J oin or Die.” It was the very fir st American political cartoon.
French and Indian War
The French refused to leave. So, Washington and 150 men attacked a group of French soldiers. This started the French
Virginians wanted their land protected from the French. So, Washington rode to a French fort called Fort Duquesne (dew-CANE). He warned the French to stay away from
and Indian War. The war lasted from 1754 to 1763. Great Britain won the war. Washington proved to be a skilled fighter.
Virginia.
the Surviving
War
ington ttle, Wash a b e n o g Durin s shot from e s r o h o w had t ta is coat go H . im h r unde gton o. Washin o t , le o h t bulle ll! t shot at a did not ge
Washington going to Fort Duquesne
British troops in red fighting the French troops in blue
Trouble with Britain
Letters to Martha
When George was away from Ma rtha, he wrote her letters. Before Martha died, she destroyed all but two of the letters. Sh e did not want people to read her private letters .
In 1759, Washington married Martha Custis. They lived at Mount Vernon. He wanted to farm and live peacefully with his wife and two stepchildren. The French and Indian War cost Britain a lot of money. Britain wanted to make the colonists pay for the war. The colonists were forced to pay taxes.
Mount Vernon, the Washington family home
Washington did not think this was right. He went to Philadelphia in 1774. He was part of the First Continental (kon-tuhNEN-tuhl) Congress. The Congress decided that the colonies would no longer buy supplies from Britain.
The wedding of George and Martha Washington 10
British tax stamp from 1765 11
In Charge of a New Army England kept putting new taxes on the colonies. The colonists decided that they had to go to war. They wanted to
He knew this was a hard job. The army had a lot of unskilled men. Washington trained them and made them stronger. His new army went to Boston. There, they set up cannons
be free of English laws. This was the start of the American
at night. This surprised the British. Boston was captured
Revolution.
(CAP-chured) without a fight.
At the Second Continental Congress, Washington was named commander (kuh-MAN-duhr) of the Continental Army. Washington is named commander in chief.
Medal awarded to Washington for the recapture of Boston
His Tattle
tale
Teeth Washing ton had false tee of ivory. th made In 1781, he wrote letter to a his dentis t. In the he asked letter, for tools to clean teeth. Th his e British somehow the lette got r. This to ld them w Washing here ton’s arm y was!
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Sneaking Up on the British Washington knew the British had more weapons than he
Washington made a sneak attack to capture Trenton, New Jersey. Washington’s army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night. The British did not know they were coming.
did. Therefore, he had to be very smart to win many battles.
The colonists landed in Trenton and captured the city. None
Otherwise, the British would overpower his men.
of Washington’s men were hurt in the battle.
Washington crossing the Delaware River
Who Else Crossed the River? James Madison and James Monroe crossed the Delaware River with Washington. They became presidents of the United States, too.
James Madison
James Monroe 14
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Rest for His Men Washington’s men grew tired of fighting. The army
Washington asked Baron von Steuben to train his soldiers. Von Steuben helped
rested at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. They stayed there from
Washington discipline the
December 1777 to June 1778.
men. Finally, the army was
There was very little food, and it was a cold winter. Diseases spread in the camp. Many men died. In February,
ready to fight the British again.
food and other supplies arrived. After that, the army started to get strong.
Baron von Steuben
A Wise Leader As the commander, Washington could have stayed in a nice warm house at Valley Forge. Instead, he lived in the same cold cabins as his men. This made the men respect him.
Washington at Valley Forge 16
Valley Forge soldiers’ cabin 17
The End of the War The last major battle of the war was at Yorktown,
Washington marched to Virginia to catch Cornwallis off guard. Washington asked the
Virginia. General Charles Cornwallis led the British. He was
French to help. The French
waiting for supplies from New York.
set up a blockade in the water. Washington blocked the British on land.
Tricking the E
nemy
Washington tr icked Cornwa llis by pretending that his army was camping in th e North. Inste ad, Washington’s army quickly marched south to Yorktown. Cornwallis ne ver knew that the colonials were coming.
Cornwallis was not able to get his supplies. He surrendered (suh-REN-duhred) the British armies. The American Revolution was over. Victory march through New York
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Surrender of the British troops
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Washington Becomes President People knew that Washington was a great leader. So, he was elected as the first president of the United States. Washington believed the country had to have a strong
One time, Washington became upset with Congress. He thought they took too long to make laws. He said he would never go to Congress again. Instead, he would just write letters to them. Presidents still write letters to Congress today. Letter from Washington to the House of Representatives
government to be powerful. He asked for help as president. He called his assistants the “cabinet.”
Short but Sweet Washington suffered from stage fright. So, he had the shortest inaugural (in-OG-yuhr-uhl) speech in history.
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Washington’s inauguration in 1789
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Home at Last People wanted Washington to be president for a long time. He did not want to be a dictator (DIK-tay-tuhr). So, he stepped down after eight years. Washington moved back to Mount Vernon. He was happy to be home with Martha. One day, Washington was riding his horse. He became sick with chills and a sore throat. He died that night, on December 14, 1799. He is buried at Mount Vernon. Washington at Mount Vernon
The death of Washington
pital
Choosing a Ca
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ose land on Washington ch River for the the Potomac ere ital. This is wh country’s cap .C. is today. Washington, D re, ever lived the Washington n pital was in though. The ca hen he was Philadelphia w r the ok 10 years fo president. It to be built. new capital to
George Washington was a hero to many people. He led a young country to victory in the American Revolution. Then, as president, he helped the United States become what it is today. 23
Glossary blockade—to block a place from outside contact cabinet—a group of people the president goes to for advice captured—caught colonists—people who settle a new country commander—the person in charge of an army Continental Congress—a meeting of the colonists to make laws and decisions dictator—all-controlling ruler discipline—to train or teach people to follow directions elected—voted into office forts—places where an army stays inaugural speech—a formal talk given by the president as he takes office inherited—to receive something after someone has died plantation—a large farm political cartoon—a picture that uses symbols and humor to share a point of view soldiers—people who fight in an army surrendered—gave up surveyor—a person who maps out land boundaries and distances taxes—extra money people pay on goods; this money goes to the government trappers—people who capture animals for their fur
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