George was originally born on February 11, 1732. George grew up near Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a boy George never cut down a cherry tree that myth was created by: “Parson” Weems. George Washington was not what everyone made him out to be. A flawless man of integrity and compassion towards others, that’s what everyone thought and still most of us think today but it is just another myth about George. George Washington also was not educated as well as you might think. He was very self- conscious about the lack of education that he gotten during his youth. Which also got him into a lot of trouble during his commanding years. Everyone always thinks that George Washington was this great monument statue of power, strength, and confidence. In actuality George Washington feared that somehow someone would notice or discover his lack of education and ruin him. He was always trying to move up in the social world, that was one of his biggest goals, to be a well respected gentleman. He always wore good tailored army outfits to show others that he was the right to be commander. He did not have a very self esteem until he married to one of the wealthiest widows in Virginia. George Washington had another flaw, blaming others for his mistakes. He really was not an oringal thinker, even though he loved being in control, that is why he always had aids from his advisers and when something did go not was planned he would blame one of them for the mistake. Washington’s lifelong need for control expressed itself through a mastery of nearly everyone and everything around him. Washington was not a good leader nor a good politician. He not only told lies, he lived them. In fact, no small part of his genius as a political leader was his ability to convince everyone, himself included, that he was no politician. Washington’s capacity for self-deception did not end there. Painfully sensitive about his lack of formal education, he refused to write his war memoirs because his awful writing skills. But there were means better than self-interest, and causes greater than personal elevation. Over time, Washington’s campaign for nationhood, rooted in the fundamental idea that men could be confided to govern themselves without the superintendency of an established church or divinely appointed monarch. That is why he was the man who would not be king. At his best, Washington hoped to illustrate by force of example that men could love their country no less than themselves.

George Washington

George Washington was more than just the first president of the United States. Not only did he serve as a role model for countless soldiers during America’s Revolutionary War, but he set the pace for Presidents of the future. He will always be remembered for his dedication and bravery. Although Washington had more total loses than he did vidtories, he continued to maintain his dignity and respect for his superiors.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. The Washington were of wealthy English decent and made their home along the Potomac River. The estate was furnished with six rooms, two of them were on the upper level and four more were on the lower one. They owned six good pairs of sheets, ten secondary pairs, and seven pillow cases. Most of their utensils were whittled from wood. All of these things were considered “luxuries. Augustine also owned twenty slaves, seven able to work, eight of moderate value, and five not capable of work. . At a young age, George studied mathematics, the classics, and surveying, most of which were taught to him by his father and older brother Lawrence. George’s father died in 1743 and left ten-year old George to go live with Lawrence, who was much like a second father to him. It is said that George was not very popular with girls because he was a bit awkward looking; he was over six feet tall with reddish hair and gray-blue eyes, his face was massive, and his shoulders narrow for his height although his hands and feet were huge. He often frightened young women.

In 1748, George began his profession as a surveyor in Shenandoah Valley. He assisted in the laying out of the Virginia town of Belhaven in 1749 and was promoted as a surveyor for Culpeper County. George’s brother Lawrence became infected with tuberculosis so the two traveled to Barbados to cure him of it. Unfortunately, this trip proved to be unsuccessful and Lawrence died in 1752, shortly after returning home.

In 1753, at the age of twenty, Washington became a major in the Colonial Army. Sent to Ohio in 1754, he established a post and found out that the French already had a fort there so he moved to intercept them. On October 31, 1753, he began a journey of five hundred and sixty miles to Williamsburg. On the way he made an alliance with the Indians while also requesting an escort. He finally reached Williamsburg on January 16, 1754. After doing that, he moved his troops to Fort Necessity and attempted to keep surrounding enemies away. The battle for the fort went on for many days and several of Washington’s troops were killed. Washington was defeated when he refused to surrender his troops. Discouraged by his defeat, and frustrated with the unfairness between the difference in pay and rank concerning the British and colonial officers, Washington resigned in 1754. In 1755, however, Washington volunteered to join British General Edward Braddock’s expedition against the French. Braddock was attacked by the French at the Monongahela River and even though Washington was extremely ill he attempted to get his Virginia troops together to assist Braddock. This act helped out Washington for his future career tremendously.

In 1758, Washington left the army and went back to Mount Vernon. His intention was to restore his estate that had been neglected for the years he had been gone. Washington made many changes in his estate. He built new buildings, bought new furniture, and planted new crops. In 1759, at the age of 23, Washington was made Commander in Chief of the Virginia Militia. In that same year he was also married to Martha Curtis who had two small children. Martha was a loving and devoted wife who supported Washington in everything he did. “Her great concern was the comfort and happiness of her husband and children. She was also very well-off herself and helped add to the wealth and power of Washington’s growing future. Martha was always very warm and friendly to the guests, making sure that she knew each one personally and that they felt comfortable while being in their house. In 1759, Washington also made his entrance into politics serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He ironically defeated the same opponents that had defeated him the year before.

In late 1769, Washington led Virginia’s opposition to Great Britain’s colonial policies. His plans for western land speculation were halted due to Britain’s land policies and restrictions. In 1774, he became a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress. Even though he did not have an active part, his presence was extremely desired and respected. In 1775 he was voted unanimously by congress as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

Prior to the beginning of the American Revolution, Washington devoted most of his time to training his fourteen thousand troops. Forcing the British to evacuate on March 17th, Washington the journeyed to New York City where he defended it against the army of Sir William Howe. Also in New York, Washington made a mistake by concerning himself only with Brooklyn. However, he was fortunately able to save his army by retreating from Manhattan into Westchester County and through New Jersey and finally into Pennsylvania. Washington, frustrated because of his lack of troops and supplies, almost quit. The British were now in soul control of New York, the enlistment period was almost coming to an end for many of the troops, many of the soldiers, also frustrated, abandoned Washington, many of the civilian people were scared and no longer optimistic, and because of Congress’s fear of a British attack on Philadelphia, they had withdrawn from the city. Thankfully, the civilians were once again on Washington’s side with the capture of Trenton, New Jersey. This took place on Christmas night when Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised Hessian Garrison. After defeating Garrison, he moved on to Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777, but then found things going back downhill in October of 1777 when they arrived in Pennsylvania. Because Washington was losing more battles than he was winning, some members of Congress considered replacing him with a more successful commander, such as Horatio Gates. The substitution failed because of the lack of public support it received. Although Washington hadn’t won many battles as most had originally planned, the people still showed much respect and the fait they had in him convinced Congress not to replace him.

By now, Washington’s army was worn down and rejected. Their confidence was gone and their outlooks were pessimistic. However, after making it through the hard winter at Valley Forge, Washington soon realized that France had finally recognized the independence of America. With the help of the Prussian Barron von Steuben and the French marquis de Lafayette, he concerned himself with transforming his army in to a strong, unbeatable force. By the spring, the confidence had risen and Washington, along with his troops, was prepared to fight and perhaps be victorious. In 1778, Washington attacked the British near Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey, soon after their withdraw from Philadelphia to New York. Even though Washington’s plan to defeat the army of Sir Henry Clinton was terminated by American General Charles Lee’s lack of enterprise, Washington’s quickness on the field allowed for an American Victory.

In 1780, the war turned south. Even though the stations in Virginia and the Carolinas were run by other generals, Washington was still in charge of the main direction of the war. After the French arrived in 1780, Washington’s main concern was organizing allies. In 1781, he began cooperation with the Comte de Rochambeau and the Comte d'Estaing which was the intelligent strategy by the Yorktown campaign. This assured them an American Victory.

Throughout the war it was obvious how much Washington had grown. At the beginning, he was a stubborn solider who had trouble listening to anyone but himself. However, by the end of the war, he began to accept the advice of the more experienced officers like Horatio Gates and Charles Lee. Even though he sometimes became frustrated with congress for their refusal to supply him with troops, he gradually learned how to deal with authority and how to get what he wanted. As a result of losing so many battles during the war, he quickly learned other strategies to act on. He was sometimes accused of being paranoid and overly precautious; however, he could be very brave when the situation presented itself

Washington returned to his home at Mount Vernon after the war had ended. Even though he was elected President General of the Society of the Cincinnati (a group of former Revolutionary War officers), he tried his best not to get involved with Virginia politics. Most of his focus was concentrated on his estate that was once again in a declining mode. He built a greenhouse, a mill, an icehouse, and added new land to the estate. He learned about and tried crop rotation, bred horses and hunting dogs, went on several ventures, looked into the development of the Potomac River navigation, and traveled west in 1784 to see his land holdings near the Ohio River.

Washington led the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention in May of 1787 and was elected presiding officer. Even though he didn’t make many contributions, his presence was well noted. He also supported the idea of a strong central government. Shortly after the constitution was submitted and because operative, Washington was elected President of the United States. While in office, Washington made wise decisions. His intention was to build a house that would satisfy future presidents. In hopes to stop sectionalism from splitting up the nation, Washington traveled to New England in 1789 and to the South in 1791. A conflict that arose frequently was the problem between Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, and Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Washington agreed with many of Hamilton’s policies such as the assumption of state debts, the Bank of the United States, and the excise tax. This unfortunately caused Washington to become the aim of attacks by the Jefferson Democratic-Republicans. Washington was elected again in 1792. In 1793 a crisis broke out among Washington’s cabinet. The issue concerned the American neutrality during the war between France and England. Because Washington’s policy of neutrality frustrated the pro-French supporters of Jefferson, he was extremely upset by the tactics of the French Revolution and angry because of the strategies of Edmond Genet, the French minister in the United States. Genet’s strategy was basically to interfere in American politics. Washington, however, agreed with the supporters of Hamilton that peace with Great Britain was vital. Jay’s Treaty settled the many differences between the United States and Britain. However, the Democratic-Republicans saw it as a surrender to the demands of the British.

When Washington left office in March of 1797, the Indian threat east of the Mississippi was gone, the country’s financial system was successfully established, and Jay’s Treaty and Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain had allowed the United States territory to grow and eliminated many diplomatic conflicts. Even though there were so many differences between the Democratic-Republicans and the members of Hamilton’s Federalists, the two parties agreed on the creation of the new federal government.

Refusing to run for a third term, Washington’s Farwell Address warned the United States against permanent alliances abroad. He yet again returned home to Mount Vernon and the presidency was taken over by his Vice-President, Federalist John Adams. In 1798 Washington agreed to command the army but did not have an active role. He knew that his age was catching up with him and he wanted to spend his last years at his estate in Mount Vernon. In December Washington became infected with laryngitis. The sickness quickly invaded his body and defeated him. He died on December 14, 1799.

George Washington had many accomplishments in his life, and his tactical and good judgments made winning a war possible. Although Washington could have truly relished the power of being President, he instead tried his hardest to not make the presidency “monarchial. He also unselfishly kept future presidents in mind while forming the presidency. To honor George Washington and his many achievements, February 22 has been designated as a national holiday so that all may remember and celebrate the victories of this great president.

Bibliography:

Davis, Burke. George Washington and the American Revolution. New York: Random House Publishing Company, 1975. Dyke, Paul Van. The Son of His Country. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons Publishing Company, 1931. Markson, Jeffery. “The Life of George Washington” http://www.walik.com/sr/washbio.html. Marling, Karl Ann. Washington Slept Here. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1964. Weems, Mason. General George Washington. Philadephia: Philadelphia and London Publishing Company, 1918. Williamson, Hugh. The Life of George Washington. New York: B.F. Johnson Publishing Company, 1954

 

George Washington was probably the single most influential person in the development of the United States government. He not only set the standards for those presidents who would succeed him, but also for the country that would rise out of the ashes of the Revolutionary War. Washington fully understood the significance of his presidency. "I walk on untrodden ground," he said, “there is scarcely any part of my conduct that could not be drawn into precedent.” Washington invented the model for the presidency that has been preserved to this day: gathering a cabinet of advisors, limiting himself to two terms, establishing the authority of the executive branch, and respecting the separate powers of the legislative and judicial branches of government. Besides that, Washington established foreign policy precedents, fostered the concept of a strong central government, and faced the problem of how strictly the constitution was to be interpreted.

George Washington was inaugurated into office on April 30, 1789. Within six months of taking the oath, President Washington had staffed the new government. During his two terms, Washington would do innumerable things to influence the future of the presidency. One of the first things that he did with his new staff was to establish a cabinet of advisors. Washington found the perfect mix of liberals and conservatives, combining the talents of Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, Thomas Jefferson, and Edmund Randolph. This appointment of a group of advisors by the president continued on, and is now pretty much a requirement for the president.

The Constitutional Convention had occurred only two years before Washington’s inauguration, and there were still many issues to be resolved. He knew that there was a widespread wish to add a Bill of Rights to the original Constitution, specifying in plain words the inalienable rights of individual citizens, and this he approved. But he also knew that an attempt might be made to bring forward amendments eliminating the clauses that gave Congress power to levy taxes, including customs duties on imports, and to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states. These provisions had been hotly debated in the Constitutional Convention, and although adopted, were bitterly disliked by powerful political figures. To Washington, however, they provided the means of regaining financial stability and restoring the national credit, and were therefore indispensable.

Feeling as strongly as he did on these points, it is significant that Washington used such restraint in letting Congress know of his sentiments. He held himself in check because he was resolved above all else not to overstep the limits of his branch of government, established by the Constitution. He scrupulously respected the independence of the legislative and judicial branches of government. He was especially anxious to set no precedents that would start a dangerous trend toward monarchy or any form of dictatorship, but at the same time he was determined to be a strong president, not merely a figurehead. In this way, Washington was slowly molding the presidency into a working machine. He was creating a model for future presidents that would restrict them where necessary, yet allow them to work freely within their mandate.

One of the most important things that Washington did for the presidency was to establish its authority. As mentioned before, Washington was determined to have the people see the president as an energetic leader, not a ceremonial figurehead. To accomplish this in the practical area, Washington simply made sure that he received the respect and consideration that his post deserved. He required subordinates to seek his approval for their actions, and accepted personal responsibility for their conduct. While he consulted with the Senate on appointments, he insisted that the president alone had the authority to fire an appointee, guaranteeing his control of every member of the executive branch. Although Washington employed the president’s constitutional power of the veto only twice, he asserted the president’s right to reject legislation with which he disagreed.

The most significant action that Washington took to establish the authority of the presidency was the put-down of the Whiskey Rebellion in his second term. Grain farmers to the west of the Appalachian Mountains often distilled their grain crops into whiskey to sell in the east. This allowed for much easier transportation over the mountains, and many grain farmers decided that this was the best way to make a quick profit. When the US passed an excise tax on whiskey, however, the farmers got extremely angry and considered the new tax an attack on their liberty and economic well being. Organized resistance to the tax, even including the tarring and feathering of some revenue officials, rapidly assumed grave proportions. In a proclamation issued in August 1794, President George Washington ordered the insurgents to disperse, but in vain. Protests continued, and Washington began to get aggravated. Calling upon the states of New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia to provide him with militia, he gathered a force of 15,000 troops. When these troops marched into the affected area, resistance immediately collapsed. With the demise of this insurrection, Washington demonstrated the full power of the executive branch.

Throughout his career; George Washington was constantly molding the structure of the new United States government. He actually began impacting the future form of the new government even before the Revolutionary War was completed. As commander-in-chief of the continental army, Washington never lost sight of the fact that his authority came from Congress, and that the purpose of the army was to carry out the will of the civil government. Even when Congress voted Washington broad-reaching emergency powers late in 1776, he was careful not to exceed the bounds of his legal authority. Late in the war, Washington’s officers were angry because Congress had not paid them as promised. They plotted to march on Congress and either forcefully take what was owed to them or install themselves as the leaders of the new United States. Washington refused to support their plan. Instead he confronted the officers planning this action, known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. Washington won their allegiance when he made an example of his own self-sacrifice. Eyewitness accounts relate that Washington used his failing eyesight as the example, saying, “Gentlemen, you will permit me to don my spectacles, for I have grown not only gray but nearly blind in the service of my country”, when he was unable to read a document.

The most important public example that Washington gave of the military being subordinate to civilian government occurred at the end of the Revolution, when he returned his commission, the symbol of his authority, to Congress. At the time he took this step, his popularity and power over the army might have permitted him to seize control of the government, as victorious generals had done before and have often done since. Julius Caesar in ancient Rome, and Napoleon Bonaparte in France were all successful military leaders who found the temptation of political power irresistible. By these actions, Washington so strongly established the precept that the military serves the people of the nation and their civilian government that there has never been a threat to the American government from its own military.

The first session of the 1789 Congress saw two important foreign policy precedents established by President Washington. He had thought of his constitutional power to negotiate treaties “with the advice and consent of the Senate” as requiring him to appear personally before the Senate to seek such advice before starting to negotiate a treaty. He tried this procedure once, in connection with a proposed treaty with the Creek nation. But the senators argued over every little detail, and Washington went away muttering that he would never try this again. He concluded instead that it was better for the chief executive to carry through the delicate process of treaty negotiation first, and then submit the finished product for the Senate’s advice and consent. This procedure has been followed ever since.

Also, Washington initiated the convenient practice of using nonpermanent executive agents, who did not require confirmation by the Senate, in the informal or preliminary negotiations with foreign powers. In the first use of this method, Washington requested Governor Morris, then traveling in Europe, to discover the view of the British ministry regarding a commercial treaty with the United States.

Possibly the greatest contribution to the formation of the United States government that Washington ever made was setting a precedent as to whether the Constitution should be rigidly or flexibly interpreted. In the December of 1790, Alexander Hamilton, who was requested by Congress to report any action necessary to establish public credit, submitted a proposal for the chartering of a national bank with a capital stock of $10 million. This proposition immediately inflamed a whirlwind of opposition from those who said that a strict reading of the Constitution yielded no power to Congress to charter a national bank. Hamilton vigorously expressed his opposing view, saying that the Constitution did give Congress wide powers in such matters as taxation, payment of the public debt, coining of money, and regulation of commerce. To Hamilton a national bank was essential for the “effective exercise of these powers.”

Eventually, the resolution of the debate fell into Washington’s hands, when he was given the bill to sign. Washington had frequently made clear his unshakable belief that a strong central government was essential to the survival of the United States. Since strong government required reasonable freedom of action due to unexpected situations, Washington decided that a more liberal interpretation of the Constitution was needed on some points. Hence, he signed the bill in February 1791, creating the first Bank of the United States.

Throughout his career, George Washington exerted heavy influence on the United States. It was during Washington’s farewell address that he set the final precedent for future presidents. He stepped down from the presidency after two terms. After guiding the new nation for 8 years, and providing models that would prove to be the true bulwarks of the Constitution, Washington stepped down from office, and “transferred the power, by constitutional means, to a new set of hands.” Although not all presidents limited themselves to two terms after Washington, it slowly became part of the nature of the presidency, and later became the maximum amount of time that one person can be in office.

Whether Washington was setting new precedents for the executive branch, or plotting the advancement of the nation as a whole, he was constantly impacting something. He set the standard for those around him, and those who would come after him. The country was like a new ball of clay, and with every touch, Washington gave it more shape and direction. George Washington truly influenced United States in a way that no one else ever has. President Adams said of Washington at his funeral: “His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age but in future generations as long as our history shall be read.” He was right.

Bibliography:

1. Brookhiser, Richard Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington New York: The Free Press, 1996 2. Flexner, James Thomas George Washington and the New Nation Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1970 3. Nordham, George W. The Age of Washington: George Washington’s Presidency Chicago: Adams Press, 1989 4. Thayer, William Roscoe George Washington Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1931

Americans know George Washington as being the first president of our country, the man who laid the first block to the massive structure our country is today. It is by the precedent he set that we live and govern our nation and ourselves. Washington was an ordinary person whose brave soul, good heart, and patriotism turned him into a brilliant general and a successful president.

George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732. He was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Bell Washington, who were prosperous Virginia gentry of English descent. Washington spent his early years on the family estate in Pope’s Creek along the Potomac River. He received most of his education at home; his early education included the study of mathematics, surveying, the classics, and the “rules of civility”. Upon the death of his father in 1743, he moved to Mount Vernon with his half brother Lawrence, who became a substitute father to George. Lawrence married into the prominent and influential Virginian Fairfax family, who helped Washington launch his career. George Washington’s early ambitions to go to sea were discouraged by his mother turning him to surveying. He helped lay out the Virginia town of Belhaven and was appointed surveyor for Culpeper County. Lawrence died from tuberculosis in 1752 and George inherited the Mount Vernon estate (Flexner).

In 1753, Virginia was alarmed when a French expedition from Canada established posts on the headwaters of the Ohio River. Conflict over this area eventually erupted into the French and Indian War, in which Washington played a major military role that established his reputation as a commander (Martin). In April of 1754, on his way to establish a post at the Forks of the Ohio, Washington learned that the French had already set a fort there. George quickly threw up fortifications at Great Meadows, Pennsylvania, naming the entrenchment Fort Necessity, and marched to intercept advancing French troops. In result, the French commander was killed and most of his men were captured. Washington pulled his force back into Fort Necessity where the French overwhelmed him. Surrounded by the enemy with food supply cut off and dampened ammunitions useless, Washington capitulated. Under the terms of the surrender signed that day, he was permitted to march his troop back to Williamsburg. In the fall of 1758, the French were defeated and the war ended (Flexner).

Following his work in the war, Washington married Martha Dandridge Curtis, a wealthy young widow. Washington matured into a solid member of Virginia society. From 1759 to 1774 he served in the House of Burgesses (Flexner). By 1774 Washington had become a key supporter of the colonial cause. That same year he was elected to the First Continental Congress. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress elected Washington commander in chief of its army. In July, Washington arrived in Massachusetts, where the battles at Lexington and Concord had been fought. The British pulled back most of their troops to winter in New York City, leaving scattered garrisons of German mercenaries in New Jersey. On December 25, Washington led his small army across the ice-clogged Delaware, successfully attacked a garrison at Trenton, and re-crossed the Delaware without interference. In January 1777 near Princeton, he defeated three British regiments marching to reinforce General Charles Cornwallis. The British eventually surrendered. After the victory, Washington rejected a plan, which had the support of the army, of establishing a monarchy with himself as king. In 1789, members of the first Electoral College unanimously voted George Washington as President of the United States (Callahan).

With no model on which to base himself, Washington was unsure of his abilities as he took office. He had the help of only a few officials. Additionally, he and Vice-President John Adams were the only heads of the executive branch. Washington believed that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches should have a large gap between them. He also believed the president should not influence Congress in the passing of laws. However, if he does not agree with a certain bill, he has the power of vetoing it. He viewed the responsibilities of the president largely as administering the laws of Congress and supervising relations with other countries. Washington had set an important precedent when he attained the power to appoint and dismiss his own department heads. Without this example, Congress could go behind the President’s authority and allow unwanted department heads to stay in office against the President’s wishes. Washington was elated about forming his cabinet, and he and his advisers acted with exceptional energy. Washington was well equipped for the work of building a structure of administration. He had a talent for taking a plan and putting it into action. He would get together the necessary facts and reach a decision. Washington carried out these plans with vigor and persistence. He was never lazy in making decisions for his country; he always acted promptly and decisively. Washington expected the same enthusiasm from every one in his administration. On September 24, 1789, Washington passed the Judiciary Act, setting up a federal court system. Since the president is considered the chief enforcer of federal laws, it is his duty to prosecute cases before the federal courts. This duty is fulfilled through the work of the attorney general. The Judiciary Act of 1789 was designed so well that most of its essential features have survived through to current day (Martin).

By the values of his courage, honor, and devotion to his country, Washington helped shape this country into the Democratic perfection it is today. George Washington was the first true pioneer of the newly born United States of America. With all the contribution Washington made, it is not surprising for him to be “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen  (Henry Lee).

Bibliography:

1. Callahan, North. George Washington Soldier and Man. Copyright 1972. William Morrow and Company, Inc. The book, George Washington Solider and Man, gave me a better understanding of the person George Washington was before he was president. It talked mostly about his involvement in the wars he fought in and also a little about his family life.

2. Flexner, James Thomas. Washington The Indispensable Man. Copyright 1974. Little, Brown & Company (Canada) Limited. The book, Washington the Indispensable Man, talked mostly about George Washington’s family life and his careers before he became the brilliant man everyone knows him as. It also talks about how his early life molded him into the person he became.

3. Martin, Dan. George Washington. 2002 The essay I read on George Washington gave me a structure to go by when writing my essay. I took some good information from that essay and combined it with other information I found and used them to put together my essay.