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Biography of George Washington for Kids: Meet the American President - FreeSchool

Feb 18, 2020
You're watching Free School! Today we are going to learn about the American

president

, George Washington. George Washington, the first

president

of the United States, was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was homeschooled until age 16, when he left home to become a surveyor. A surveyor is someone who maps and surveys the land. Washington was a talented cartographer who made dozens of maps throughout his lifetime. When he was 20 years old, his older brother died and Washington inherited his family's property in Mt. Vernon. At age 22 he became a major in the militia. At age 23, he was promoted to colonel and commanded all Virginia soldiers.
biography of george washington for kids meet the american president   freeschool
At the time, George Washington and his men were fighting on the same side as the British in the French and Indian War. In 1758, Washington left the military and returned to his home in Mt. Vernon. He married and was elected a member of the Virginia house of burgesses. The House of Burgesses was a government body of representatives, similar to today's congress. During this time, the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonies began to strain. The British had lost a lot of money in the French and Indian War and they wanted to get some of that money back.
biography of george washington for kids meet the american president   freeschool

More Interesting Facts About,

biography of george washington for kids meet the american president freeschool...

Unfortunately, they did this by creating heavy new taxes that the colonists had to pay, and they did so without giving them a say in the matter. When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, George Washington was named general and commander in chief of the Continental Army. The British Army had more soldiers and more supplies than Washington, but he did not surrender! A famous battle he fought was the Battle of Trenton. Washington led his troops across the frozen Delaware River to surprise the Hessian soldiers stationed there. The sneak attack allowed him to capture more than 1,000 soldiers without much trouble.
biography of george washington for kids meet the american president   freeschool
Another important victory in the Revolutionary War was at Yorktown. Washington and his men defeated the British and they were forced to surrender. It was fought in 1781 and was the last major battle of the war. The American colonists had won. It took the newly liberated colonies a few years to create a strong government, but in 1787 the constitution was created. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States of America. He is the only president in history to be elected unanimously, meaning everyone voted for him. When he finished his first four-year term as president, voters elected him again.
biography of george washington for kids meet the american president   freeschool
In fact, he was so popular that he ran unopposed, meaning no one tried to be president in his place. George Washington was so beloved that he probably could have been president until his death, but he did not want America to have a leader like a king, who would be in charge for his entire life. To help ensure that presidents after him would resign when his time was up, he led by example and returned to his home at Mount Vernon in 1797. On December 14, 1799, George Washington died at the age of 67. . He was buried at his estate in Mt.
Vernon, where his body remains to this day. George Washington left a lasting legacy. He is often called the "father of our country" because he played such an important role in the founding of the United States. His image appears on one-dollar and quarter bills, there is a monument to him in Washington, DC, the capital city named after him, and we celebrate his birthday every February. More than 200 years after his death, he is still remembered as it was written of him: "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." I hope you enjoyed learning about American President George Washington.
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