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George Washington

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George Washington
By Ryan Staring – 2nd period
February 16, 2012

George Washington is known as the Father of our country, the First President of the United States. When most people think of George Washington, they think of his white hair, wooden teeth and his face on American money. However, there is much more to George than just that. George did not know that he was destined for greatness as a boy. He started land surveying at age 13 and by age 17 he was a professional surveyor. He always dreamed of being in the military. He looked up to his half brother, Lawrence Washington. By age 21, he became an officer in the Virginia militia and fought alongside British soldiers George enjoyed farming and owned a plantation in Virginia. He worked on the farm as well as having help from slaves that he owned or inherited. He continued to buy land and slaves during his lifetime. He also met Martha Custis who had two children and her husband had died. He and Martha got married and settled down at Mount Vernon, that was left to him by his brother Lawrence when he died. He made a specific request to have some of his slaves freed after the death of he and his wife Martha. George Washington, as a Commander, helped the colonial forces and united them to freedom and victory and helped shape the government of the United States. He spent most of his life in politics and in the military. He kept peace between France and Britain. He wanted all Americans to work together and fight together. He was chosen to be the chairman of the Constitutional Convention by 55 men from 12 states, a job he did not ask for. The convention set rules for the government as we have today, the legislative branch headed by congress, to make the laws; the judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court to explain the laws and the Executive Branch, headed by a president

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