George Washington

George Washington - The Father of Our Country

Why has George Washington earned the title "Father of our Country"? He was a great military leader and served as a general in the Revolutionary War. Washington was very involved in setting up the government of the United States and served as the first President. He is the most honored of any President and there are many things that help us remember him often. With all he has contributed to the success of our country, he certainly deserves this title.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland, Virginia. He belonged to an old colonial family that believed in hard work, public service, and in worshipping God (Ashworth and Carroll). As far as formal education George only had the elementary years. His favorite subject was arithmetic. But he was ambitious and self taught. At the age of eleven, his father died and this put great responsibility on his young shoulders (Milton 12). His older half-brother Lawrence became a substitute father and helped to raise him (Flexner 5). At the age of seventeen, Washington was appointed surveyor for Culpeper county.

At the age of twenty, with no training or experience as a soldier, George applied to the governor of Virginia for a commission in the militia (Alden 8). He was fascinated with the war stories Lawrence told him and developed a keen interest in military affairs (Flexner 5). In February of 1753, he was commissioned as a major and put in charge of training militia in southern Virginia. Washington started reading and studying about military tactics and affairs. At the age of twenty-three he was promoted to Colonel and appointed commander and chief of the Virginia Militia. This was where George Washington learned how ...

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...row economically and established a sound federal government. He has been honored and revered more than any other president in history. His legacy is still remembered and celebrated. We should never forget this great man and all he did to make America the greatest country in the world. George Washington should always be remembered as the Father of our Country.

Works Cited

Alden, John R. George Washington a Biography. Baton Rouge: Lousianna State University Press, _ _ 1984.

Ashworth, Mary Wells and Carroll, John Alexander. "George Washington." World Book

_ _ Encyclopedia. 1969.

Flexner, James Thomas. Washington the Indispensable Man. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1974.

Milton, Joyce. The Story of George Washington, Quiet Hero.Milwaukee: Garth Stevens Publishing, 1988.

Twohig, Dorthy. "George Washington." Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia. 1995.