George Washington Essays (1121 words) - George Washington

George Washington George Washington George Washington by far is one of the greatest revolutionaries in the history of the United States. His role in gaining our independence for the American Colonies and helping to unify them under the new U.S. federal government can not be overestimated. After an eight-year struggle his quest for victory brought final defeat to the British, thus giving us our independence. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in West Moreland, Virginia. Washington was the eldest son of a well-to-do family. Young Washington received most of his schooling from his father and always wanted to be a surveyor. George grew up a strong, tall young man, who excelled in outdoor pursuits and music. When George was 17 he was appointed surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia, this was the first public office he held. In 1751 George had his first and only experience of foreign lands when he joined his brother on a trip to the West Indies in hopes to better the symptoms of his brothers tuberculosis. Even though the trip did little good for his brother, George did get something out of it; George came down with small pox. Although it seemed like a bad thing at the time having this immunity to small pox would help him later on when the colonial army had a brake out of small pox. When his half-brother Lawrence died in 1752 George inherited the beautiful estate of Mount Vernon, one of six farms held by his family. Lawrence had held the position of adjutant in the colonial army; a full-time salary paid position, carrying the rank of major. After his brothers death only at the age of twenty Washington felt he could handle the job and Governor Robert Dinwiddie soon appointed him adjutant of the southern district of Virginia. During the Seven years war Washington found out that Britain was sending over less-experienced officers that would have higher ranking over him. He found this intolerable and in 1754 Washington resigned. Through all this time Washington's reputation was getting bigger and bigger and in 1755 Governor Dinwiddie appointed Washington commander in chief of all of the colonies armed forces, with the rank of Colonel. For the next three years Washington fought along side with British General John Forbes at Fort Duquesne, and when they had one the fort Washington resigned once more. The year was 1759 and Washington had better things on his mind such as marrying the women that he loved. And he did in January of 1759 Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. Washington spent a few years with his wife on their farm trying to figure out the best way to rotate his crops and what crops would make him the most money. Then in 1765 Washington's perspective broadened and he became involved in the protests of Virginians against the restrictions of British rule. Washington saw it more and more that the King and his ministers saw the American people as nothing more then inferior people and they sought to control ?our whole substance.? Washington began to see the deepening division between Britain and the Colonies, as a member of the House of Burgesses he opposed such measures as the Stamp Act, Washington also foresaw that British policy was doing away with self-government in America all together. Washington's anti-British feelings were strengthened by the introduction of the Townshend Acts in 1767. His voice joined in Virginia's decision in 1770 to ban or boycott all any British goods from the colonies. By 1774 with the American resistance well developed, Washington had become one of the key Virginians supporting the colonial cause. Washington was elected to the First Continental Congress. How ever he knew that more then paper resolutions would be needed to save the American liberties, and so he spent the winter of 1774 and 1775 organizing a militia. On June 15, 1775 the Continental Congress unanimously elected George Washington as General and commander in chief of the colonial army. Washington was chosen for two basic reasons; first of all he was respected for his military abilities, his selflessness, and his strong commitment to colonial freedom. Secondly, Washington was a Virginian and it was hoped that with his leadership it would bind the southern colonies more