George Washington
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 on Popes Creek Farm in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The family George was born into consisted of his father, Augustine Washington, his mother, Mary Washington, and five brothers and sisters: Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred. There were also three other older children from his father's first marriage to Jane Butler, who died in 1729: thirteen year-old Lawrence,
twelve year-old Augustine and nine year-old Jane.
When George was almost three, his family moved to the large, undeveloped plantation that was later called Mount Vernon. George's only playmates were his younger sister and brothers. They had no neighbors that lived close by, but George was kept busy by exploring the nearby woods and helping out with the farm work as best as he could. He saw little of his father, who made many trips to his ironworks about thirty miles away.
When George was nearly seven years old, his father decided to move to the 260- acre Ferry Farm, on some of Augustine Washington's land on the Rappahannock River across from the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Most of the work done around the eight room house and in the fields was done by slaves. Augustine provided food, clothing, and homes for these people, but he did not have to pay them anything.
Soon after George and his family moved to Ferry Farm, George began his schooling, which consisted of learning to read and write and do arithmetic. Arithmetic was George's favorite subject. He wrote his lessons in ink on heavy paper. His mother then sewed the paper into notebooks. George studied enough history and geography to know many things about the outside world. Altogether George had no more...
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...and in Europe as the Seven Year War.
Throughout the Revolutionary War Washington seldom commanded more than 15,000 troops at any one time. He described his soldiers as "raw militia, badly officered, and with no government." Washington's army was defeated many times because the militia turned and ran when they saw red coated British soldiers.
On December 12, 1799 George Washington went on his daily horseback ride around Mount Vernon. It was snowing and then began raining. When he came home from his ride he ate dinner before changing out of his wet clothes. Between 2:00 A.M. and 3:00 A.M. December 14, he woke up with a sore throat but would not let his wife call for a doctor until dawn. By the late afternoon, Washington had been examined by four doctors. They could not provide any help, and George Washington finally died around 10 P.M., December 14, 1799.
...didn’t over step his authority or attempt to subvert the army for his own purposes. Instead, George Washington sets the example of the military commander who was subservient to civilian political leadership. He also showed patience and coolness in the face of adversity. On many occasions in the book, the author cites Washington’s expressions of doubt and fears of failure, yet Washington never showed fear or doubt in action in front of his troops.
Although unknown to the Congress when they appointed Washington to lead the colonies, he would prove to be a great military genius. Washington was simply selected because he was a rich Virginian with everything to lose. In 1776 at the Battle of Long Island, Washington proved that he was a great military leader. Washington narrowly escaped to Manhattan Island, crossed the Hudson and finally reached the Delaware Rive with the British on his tale. Washington was known as a " sly fox" because of his tricky maneuvers to get his troops out of dangerous situations. A few weeks later Washington showed his sly ways once again when he captured a thousand Hessians the day after Christmas. Without Washington's amazing military mind, and his sly maneuvers the Americans never would have defeated the British.
Washington's selection to be the leader of the Continental Army was the wisest choice that the newly formed Continental Congress could have made. Washington's selection as Commander of the Continental Army did more to win the Revolutionary war than any other decision made during the conflict. His personal character epitomizes perfectly the five traits required in a successful general: wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage, and strictness. (Sun Tzu p. 65) These five crucial traits will become apparent and Washington's strategy to win the War of Independence is elaborated on further
George Washington was selected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army because of his courage and bravery, his ability to motivate and command respect from his followers, and his strategic ability in battle. His reputation as a daring and successful leader inspired confidence and loyalty in his followers. If it weren't for George Washington, it would be a different America today. Washington's military experience started when he was selected by Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to travel to the Ohio Valley to tell the French to leave. He was only twenty-two years old, inexperienced, and naive.
Washington understood that what lies ahead would be difficult, considering he would be facing the most powerful country in the world. But he probably didn't expect his worst problems to come from his own army, which was an undisciplined and untrained group that would eventually tamper with his great patience. Through it all, he would stay determined and always try to stay one step ahead of the enemy. In the summer of 1775, the Americans prepared to attack the British in Boston. But Washington was informed that they were shorthanded on gunpowder.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at the Bridges Creek Plantation in Wakefield Virginia. George was the eldest child out of
At the start of the war, the Continental Army lacked training and organization. While the scattered guerilla tactics seemed to waste time and resources, they helped Americans stay alive. In addition, the colonists had the advantage of perseverance; they had to fight for their freedom as a nation. Another facet that helped survival was the leadership of George Washington. His knowledge and expertise was critical in making sure his soldiers stayed alive; having the home field advantage boosted his effectiveness as well. All of these assets culminated into a powerful force against the British
In 1896 George Washington Carver, a recent graduate of Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now Iowa State University), accepted an invitation from Booker T. Washington to head the agricultural department at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute for Negroes (now Tuskegee University). During a tenure that lasted nearly 50 years, Carver elevated the scientific study of farming, improved the health and agricultural output of southern farmers, and developed hundreds of uses for their crops.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, author of the Declaration of Independence, was born on April 13, 1743 and grew up on the family plantation at Shadwell in Albermarle County, Virginia. His father was Peter Jefferson, who, with the aid of thirty slaves, tilled a tobacco and wheat farm of 1,900 acres and like his fathers before him, was a justice of the peace, a vestryman of his parish and a member of the colonial legislature. The first of the Virginia Jefferson's of Welsh extraction, Peter in 1738 married Jane Randolph. Of their ten children, Thomas was the third. Thomas inherited a full measure of his father's bodily strength and stature, both having been esteemed in their prime as the strongest men of their county. He also inherited his father's inclination to liberal politics, his taste for literature and his aptitude for mathematics. The Jefferson's were a musical family; the girls sang the songs of the time, and Thomas, practicing the violin assiduously from boyhood, became an excellent performer.
“Full power to direct all things relative… to the operations of war.” (Dupuy 63-64). Although Washington did not see this as much of an honor he did what he could with his new power. In ten days his army would no longer have to serve and could go home to their families, the war would be over. Despite the constant reminder that the patriots were going to lose, Washington refused to believe it and took the leadership of forming a plan. Washington decided to make the courageous decision to attack the British at least one last time (Dupuy 63-64).
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. George grew up on a plantation where his father owned slaves and grew tobacco. Not much is known about George’s child hood, which is why some biographers created the “cherry tree” myth. He
President Thomas Jefferson 1801 - 1809. Thomas Jefferson came into presidency with the intention of limiting the size and power of the central government. His success and failures in accomplishing this goal were many. Thomas Jefferson was America’s third president in reign from 1801 – 1809, once tying in the presidential race with Aaron Burr, where the decision was made by the House of Representatives to choose Jefferson, whom they thought was less dangerous than Burr. As president he was the first to be inaugurated in Washington, which was a city he had helped to plan. President Jefferson's inauguration was probably the start of the changes in government.
Eventually George would escape from the people who capture him, and join his brother again as they would be guided by there owners. As being a black slave, they never adopted the last name from there parents. Only after the end of the Civil War, both James and George picked Carver to be their last name. George would stay with his owner’s that took care of him, and he would help out with the chores to show his appreciation. He became very fond of plants and at a early age George would plant and maintain the garden on the farm. He became so good at planting and gardening, his owner’s would give him the name “The Plant Doctor.” The Carver’s taught George many of the basic things that every child should know at the ealy age. George learned how to read and write with no problems. Many people thought and knew that George had an excellent future ahead of himself due to the fact that he has a quick ability to pick up on new traits that he learns.
"His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong . . . Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed." (Thomas Jefferson, as cited in "George Washington," 2006, para.19) George Washington is one of the most recognized and famous leaders in all history of the United States of America. He contributed greatly to the establishment of this prosperous country, from leading the Revolutionary armies into battle, to running the country as the first president, Washington has set precedence and example for all who have and are yet to follow. He was a noble man who demonstrated characteristics one would expect from a hero figure. He was not power-hungry, but did things and played his role for the good of the country, for patriotic purposes, to help America become the success it is today. In March of 1783, the soldiers of the American military were restless, bored and in a terrible state of doubt and distrust concerning the newly formed congress of the country. When these soldiers joined the army, they were promised a certain amount of money according to their service, but by the war's end, congress was nearly broke and not in a position to pay them all they had earned. The soldiers planned a rebellion against congress for their unjust treatment, and attempted to hold an unauthorized meeting of the officers on the matter. Washington forbade the meeting, but called for one a few days later, in which he gave his speech concerning the Newburgh Conspiracy ("The Rise and Fall," 2006, para.2). General Washington was a highly respected man among his peers, soldiers, and fellow men. His opinions, approval, and presence alone were enough to validate many plans, documents, and meetings throughout his life, so it is no wonder that even simple words or acts performed by General Washington were respected, and more often than not, taken to heart by his audience; perhaps this is why it may seem surprising that one of the most important speeches he ever gave fell on relatively deaf ears, leaving the audience hesitant, confused, seemingly unaffected by his powerful use of diction, and emotional appeal.
Martha Washington lived a life full of love and sacrifice. She was born as a simple little girl Martha Dandridge to her plantation home in New Kent; she was married at 18 to become Martha Dandridge Custis. Still yet she was widowed at the age of twenty-six with two children and a land of over 17,000 acres to run on her own. Then she met a gentleman by the name of George Washington and Martha became the figure we know today as Martha Dandridge Custis Washington or Martha Washington.