Becky birth a biography of george washington

Becky birth a biography of george washington: An introduction to the life of

They believed Washington was the only one who could hold the new country together. He refused to join the Federalists, despite mostly agreeing with their policies. In some respects, Washington preferred the idea of strong central government. Although he fought the British, he appreciated the strength of a unified political body. However, Washington was keen to avoid the pomp and ceremony associated with Monarchs.

Inhe published a Farewell Address which offered his thoughts on civic virtue and political governance. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. George Washington was widely considered to be an able administrator and person of exemplary character.

Washington is considered to embody qualities of integrity, self-discipline, courage, honesty, resolve, and respect for others. George Washington died aged 67, on 14 Decemberthree years after his retirement, at his home of Mount Vernon. He succombed to a becky birth a biography of george washington illness where he felt cold and feverish.

His last words were. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault less than three days after I am dead. Reception [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, Now a woman has taken him on". The Washington Post. A near-mutiny was avoided when Washington convinced Congress to grant a five-year bonus for soldiers in March By November of that year, the British had evacuated New York City and other cities and the war was essentially over.

The Americans had won their independence. Washington formally bade his troops farewell and on December 23,he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army and returned to Mount Vernon. For four years, Washington attempted to fulfill his dream of resuming life as a gentleman farmer and to give his much-neglected Mount Vernon plantation the care and attention it deserved.

The war had been costly to the Washington family with lands neglected, no exports of goods, and the depreciation of paper money. But Washington was able to repair his fortunes with a generous land grant from Congress for his military service and become profitable once again. InWashington was again called to the duty of his country.

Since independence, the young republic had been struggling under the Articles of Confederationa structure of government that centered power with the states. But the states were not unified. They fought among themselves over boundaries and navigation rights and refused to contribute to paying off the nation's war debt. In some instances, state legislatures imposed tyrannical tax policies on their own citizens.

Washington was intensely dismayed at the state of affairs, but only slowly came to the realization that something should be done about it. Perhaps he wasn't sure the time was right so soon after the Revolution to be making major adjustments to the democratic experiment. Or perhaps because he hoped he would not be called upon to serve, he remained noncommittal.

InCongress approved a convention to be held in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. At the Constitutional ConventionWashington was unanimously chosen as president. Washington, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton had come to the conclusion that it wasn't amendments that were needed, but a new constitution that would give the national government more authority.

In the end, the Convention produced a plan for government that not only would address the country's current problems, but would endure through time. After the convention adjourned, Washington's reputation and support for the new government were indispensable to the ratification of the new U. The opposition was strident, if not organized, with many of America's leading political figures — including Patrick Henry and Sam Adams — condemning the proposed government as a grab for power.

Even in Washington's native Virginia, the Constitution was ratified by only one vote. Still hoping to retire to his beloved Mount Vernon, Washington was once again called upon to serve this country. During the presidential election ofhe received a vote from every elector to the Electoral College, the only president in American history to be elected by unanimous approval.

As the first president, Washington was astutely aware that his presidency would set a precedent for all that would follow. He carefully attended to the responsibilities and duties of his office, remaining vigilant to not emulate any European royal court. To that end, he preferred the title "Mr. President," instead of more imposing names that were suggested.

However, Congress persuaded him to accept the compensation to avoid giving the impression that only wealthy men could serve as president. Washington proved to be an able administrator. He surrounded himself with some of the most capable people in the country, appointing Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State.

He delegated authority wisely and consulted regularly with his cabinet listening to their advice before making a decision. Washington established broad-ranging presidential authority, but always with the highest integrity, exercising power with restraint and honesty. In doing so, he set a standard rarely met by his successors, but one that established an ideal by which all are judged.

During his first term, Washington adopted a series of measures proposed by Treasury Secretary Hamilton to reduce the nation's debt and place its finances on sound footing. His administration also established several peace treaties with Native American tribes and approved a bill establishing the nation's capital in a permanent district along the Potomac River.

Then, inWashington signed a bill authorizing Congress to place a tax on distilled spirits, which stirred protests in rural areas of Pennsylvania.

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Quickly, the protests turned into a full-scale defiance of federal law known as the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington invoked the Militia Act ofsummoning becky birth a biography of george washington militias from several states to put down the rebellion. Washington personally took command, marching the troops into the areas of rebellion and demonstrating that the federal government would use force, when necessary, to enforce the law.

This was also the only time a sitting U. In foreign affairs, Washington took a cautious approach, realizing that the weak young nation could not succumb to Europe's political intrigues. InFrance and Great Britain were once again at war. At the urging of Hamilton, Washington disregarded the U. Inhe sent John Jay to Britain to negotiate a treaty known as the "Jay Treaty" to secure a peace with Britain and clear up some issues held over from the Revolutionary War.

The action infuriated Jefferson, who supported the French and felt that the U. Washington was able to mobilize public support for the treaty, which proved decisive in securing ratification in the Senate. Though controversial, the treaty proved beneficial to the United States by removing British forts along the western frontier, establishing a clear boundary between Canada and the United States, and most importantly, delaying a war with Britain and providing over a decade of prosperous trade and development the fledgling country so desperately needed.

All through his two terms as president, Washington was dismayed at the growing partisanship within the government and the nation. The power bestowed on the federal government by the Constitution made for important decisions, and people joined together to influence those decisions. The formation of political parties at first were influenced more by personality than by issues.

As Treasury secretary, Hamilton pushed for a strong national government and an economy built in industry. Secretary of State Jefferson desired to keep government small and center power more at the local level, where citizens' freedom could be better protected. He envisioned an economy based on farming. Washington despised political partisanship, believing that ideological differences should never become institutionalized.

He strongly felt that political leaders should be free to debate important issues without being bound by party loyalty. However, Washington could do little to slow the development of political parties. By early adulthood, he was writing with what his biographer Ron Chernow described as "considerable force" and "precision". Fairfax became Washington's patron and surrogate father.

InWashington spent a month with a team surveying Fairfax's Shenandoah Valley property. Washington took his oath of office on July 20,and resigned in InWashington left mainland North America for the first and only time, when he accompanied Lawrence to Barbadoshoping the climate would cure his brother's tuberculosis. Lawrence Washington's service as adjutant general of the Virginia militia inspired George to seek a militia commission.

Virginia's lieutenant governor, Robert Dinwiddieappointed Washington as a major and commander of one of the four militia districts. The British and French were competing for control of the Ohio River Valley : the British were constructing forts along the river, and the French between the river and Lake Erie. In OctoberDinwiddie appointed Washington as a special envoy to demand the French forces vacate land that was claimed by the British.

Washington was also directed to make peace with the Iroquois Confederacy and to gather intelligence about the French forces. This name, meaning "devourer of villages", had previously been given to his great-grandfather John Washington in the late 17th century by the Susquehannock. Washington's party reached the Ohio River in November and was intercepted by a French patrol.

The party was escorted to Fort Le Boeufwhere Washington was received in a friendly manner. Saint-Pierre gave Washington his official answer after a few days' delay, as well as food and winter clothing for his party's journey back to Virginia. In FebruaryDinwiddie promoted Washington to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of the strong Virginia Regimentwith orders to confront the French at the Forks of the Ohio.

In May, having established a defensive position at Great Meadows, Washington learned that the French had made camp seven miles 11 km away; he decided to take the offensive. His small force of Virginians and Indian allies [ c ] [ 26 ] killed the French, including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonvillewho had been carrying a diplomatic message for the British.

The French later found their countrymen dead and scalpedblaming Washington, who had retreated to Fort Necessity. The rest of the Virginia Regiment joined Washington the following month with news that he had been promoted to the rank of colonel and given command of the full regiment. They were reinforced by an independent company of a hundred South Carolinians led by Captain James Mackay ; his royal commission outranked Washington's and a conflict of command ensued.

On July 3, French soldiers attacked Fort Necessity, and the ensuing battle ended in Washington's surrender. He refused, as it would have been a demotion—the British had ordered that "colonials" could not be ranked any higher than captain—and instead resigned his commission. When he rejoined Braddock at Monongahela, still very ill, the French and their Indian allies ambushed the divided army.

Two-thirds of the British force became casualties in the ensuing Battle of the Monongahelaand Braddock was killed. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas GageWashington rallied the survivors and formed a rear guardallowing the remnants of the force to retreat. The Virginia Regiment was reconstituted in Augustand Dinwiddie appointed Washington its commander, again with the rank of colonel.

Washington clashed over seniority almost immediately, this time with Captain John Dagworthywho commanded a detachment of Marylanders at the regiment's headquarters in Fort Cumberland. Loudoun humiliated Washington, refused him a royal commission, and agreed only to relieve him of the responsibility of manning Fort Cumberland. The French had abandoned the fort and the valley before the assault, however, and Washington only saw a friendly fire incident which left 14 dead and 26 injured.

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Frustrated, he resigned his commission soon afterwards and returned to Mount Vernon. Under Washington, the Virginia Regiment had defended miles km of frontier against twenty Indian attacks in ten months. Though he failed to realize a royal commission, which made him hostile towards the British, [ 31 ] he gained self-confidence, leadership skills, and knowledge of British military tactics.

The destructive competition Washington witnessed among colonial politicians fostered his later support of a strong central government. Martha was intelligent, gracious, and experienced in managing a planter's estate, and the couple had a happy marriage. As a result, he became one of the wealthiest men in Virginia, which increased his social standing.

At Washington's urging, Governor Lord Botetourt fulfilled Dinwiddie's promise to grant land bounties to those who served with volunteer militias during the French and Indian War. Crawford allotted 23, acres 9, ha to Washington, who told the veterans that their land was unsuitable for farming and agreed to purchase 20, acres 8, haleaving some feeling that they had been duped.

As a respected military hero and large landowner, Washington held local offices and was elected to the Virginia provincial legislature, representing Frederick County in the Virginia House of Burgesses for seven years beginning in Washington was opposed to the taxes which the British Parliament imposed on the Colonies without proper representation.

In response to the Townshend Actshe introduced a proposal in May which urged Virginians to boycott British goods; the Townshend Acts were mostly repealed in Parliament sought to punish Massachusetts colonists for their role in the Boston Tea Party in by passing the Coercive Actswhich Washington saw as "an invasion of our rights and privileges".

The American Revolutionary War broke out on April 19, He was unanimously elected by Congress the next day. Similarly, Washington was impressed by Alexander Hamilton 's intelligence and bravery; he would later promote Hamilton to colonel and appoint him his aide-de-camp. Washington initially banned the enlistment of Black soldiers, both free and enslaved.

The British saw an opportunity to divide the colonies: the colonial governor of Virginia issued a proclamation promising freedom to slaves if they joined the British forces. In Aprilin response to the growing rebellious movement, British troops occupied Bostonled by General Thomas Gagecommander of British forces in America. When the Charles River froze over, Washington was eager to cross and storm Boston, but Gates and others were opposed to having untrained militia attempt to assault well-garrisoned fortifications.

Instead, Washington agreed to secure the Dorchester Heights above Boston to try to force the British out. Washington entered the city with men, giving them explicit orders not to plunder. After the victory at Boston, Washington correctly guessed that the British would return to New York City and retaliate. He arrived there on April 13,and ordered the construction of fortifications.

He also ordered his forces to treat civilians and their property with respect, to avoid the abuses Bostonians suffered at the hands of British troops. Howe's troop strength totaled 32, regulars and Hessian auxiliaries ; Washington had 23, men, mostly untrained recruits and militia. Overruling his generals, Washington chose to fight, based on inaccurate information that Howe's army had only around 8, soldiers.

Howe sent a message to Washington to negotiate peace, addressing him as "George Washington, Esq. In November, Howe captured Fort Washington. Loyalists in New York City considered Howe a liberator and spread a rumor that Washington had set fire to the city. Washington crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvaniawhere General John Sullivan joined him with 2, more troops.

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Washington returned to New Jersey on January 3,launching an attack on the British regulars at Princetonwith 40 Americans killed or wounded and British killed or captured. In the Battle of Brandywine on September 11,Howe outmaneuvered Washington and marched unopposed into the American capital at Philadelphia. A Patriot attack against the British at Germantown in October failed.

Concerned about Burgoyne's movements southward, Washington sent reinforcements north with Generals Benedict Arnold and Benjamin Lincoln. On October 7,Burgoyne tried to take Bemis Heights but was isolated from support and forced to surrender. Gates' victory emboldened Washington's critics, who favored Gates as a military leader. Washington and his army of 11, men went into winter quarters at Valley Forge north of Philadelphia in December There they lost between 2, and 3, men as a result of disease and lack of food, clothing, and shelter, reducing the army to below 9, men.

Washington's supporters resisted, and the matter was ultimately dropped. Washington made repeated petitions to Congress for provisions and expressed the urgency of the situation to a congressional delegation. In earlythe French entered into a Treaty of Alliance with the Americans. He chose to order a limited strike on the retreating British.

Generals Lee and Lafayette moved with 4, men, without Washington's knowledge, and bungled their first strike on June Washington relieved Lee and achieved a draw after an expansive battle. The British continued their retreat to New York. Washington would not fight the British in a major engagement again for more than three years". Washington became America's first spymaster by designing an espionage system against the British.

Washington had disregarded incidents of disloyalty by Arnold, who had distinguished himself in many campaigns, including the invasion of Quebec. He assumed personal command at West Point and reorganized its defenses. Washington was reinvigorated, however, when Lafayette returned from France with more ships, men, and supplies, [ ] and 5, veteran French troops led by Marshal Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Island in July.

General Clinton sent Arnold, now a British brigadier general, to Virginia in December with 1, troops to capture Portsmouth and conduct raids on Patriot forces. Washington sent Lafayette south to counter Arnold's efforts. Inexperienced in siege warfare, he often deferred to the judgment of Rochambeau. Despite this, Rochambeau never challenged Washington's authority as the battle's commanding officer.

The final American offensive began with a shot fired by Washington. When peace negotiations began in Aprilboth the British and French began gradually evacuating their forces. The account was settled, though it was vague about large sums and included expenses his wife had incurred through visits to his headquarters. When the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3,Britain officially recognized American becky birth a biography of george washington.

Washington disbanded his army, giving a farewell address to his soldiers on November 2. In early DecemberWashington bade farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern and resigned as commander-in-chief soon after. I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers. Ferling wrote that he was delighted to be "free of the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life".

Washington reactivated his interests in the Great Dismal Swamp and Potomac Canal projects, begun before the war, though neither paid him any dividends. Creditors paid him in depreciated wartime currency, and he owed significant amounts in taxes and wages. Mount Vernon had made no profit during his absence, and he saw persistently poor crop yields due to pestilence and bad weather.

His estate recorded its eleventh year running at a deficit in To make his estate profitable again, Washington undertook a new landscaping plan and succeeded in cultivating a range of fast-growing trees and native shrubs. Before returning to private life in JuneWashington called for a strong union. Though he was concerned that he might be criticized for meddling in civil matters, he sent a circular letter to the states, maintaining that the Articles of Confederation were no more than "a rope of sand".

He believed the nation was on the verge of "anarchy and confusion", was vulnerable to foreign intervention, and that a national constitution would unify the states under a strong central government. When Shays' Rebellion erupted in Massachusetts in AugustWashington was further convinced that a national constitution was needed. He had concerns about the legality of the convention and consulted James MadisonHenry Knoxand others.

They persuaded him to attend as they felt his presence might induce reluctant states to send delegates and smooth the way for the ratification process while also giving legitimacy to the convention. Washington arrived in Philadelphia on May 9,and the convention began on May Benjamin Franklin nominated Washington to preside over the meeting, and he was unanimously elected.

The delegates to the Convention for the first presidential election anticipated a Washington presidency and left it to him to define the office once elected. Livingston administered the oath, using a Bible provided by the Masons. Washington wrote to James Madison : "As the first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part that these precedents be fixed on true principles.

Washington was an able administrator and judge of talent and character.