GEORGE WASHINGTON 1732 – 1799

            April 30, 1789. General George Washing­ton stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. Around him were many of the greatest men in America.

           Slowly solemnly, Washington took the oath that made him the first President of the U.S. He leaned forward and kissed the Bi­ble on which he had sworn. Everyone was sure they had chosen their best leader to be the first President.

              But what was the job of the President? Was he to be a dictator who would run the coun­try to suit himself? Was he to be a figure­head who would sign laws that Congress passed? The answer lay in the hands of the tall man on the balcony. He would shape the job, and with it the future of the new nation.

             Washington realized this. He once said: “I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct that may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.” Washington was born on February 22, 1732, near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Washing­ton’s father was a well-to-do farmer. The boy spent much of his time outdoors. He grew tall and lean with fair skin that sun­burned lazily. He became an excellent horse­man. He went to school only off and on, and only until he was about 15. But he was always good at figures. At 14, he surveyed his father’s farms just for fun.

           At 15, George went with a party of survey­ors to work in the Shenandoah Valley. Lat­er he worked for a time as public surveyor of Fairfax County, Virginia. Then, when he was 21 years old, his military life began.

            At this time the American Colonies still be­longed to England. Canada belonged to France. French soldiers from Canada had built forts in the Ohio Valley on land claimed by England. The governor of Virginia ap­pointed young Washington to ride through the wilderness and tell the French they would have to leave.

               One French fort was near what is now Wa­terford, Pennsylvania. Here the French com­mander greeted Washington politely but said that the Ohio Valley belonged to France and that the French soldiers would not leave.

                  A year later Briton General Edward Braddock led a small army against the French and the Indians (the Native Americans). Washington was Braddock’s aide-de-camp. The British general knew nothing about fighting in the wilderness. His troops marched straight into an ambush and were badly defeated. But in the fighting Wash­ington showed the qualities of a first-rate officer. He had a coal, thoughtful courage. He was not hurt, but two horses were killed under him and his uniform was slashed by four bullets. It was largely due to his lead­ership that part of the Briton Army escaped.

                   After this battle Washington was made com­mander of all Virginia troops. For several years he led them in small frontier fights against the French and Indians. Then when he was 26 years old, he quit the army. He had met a rich young widow named Martin Danbridge Custis. He married her and set­tled down.

                  For the next 15 years Washington spent most of his time at his farm called Mount Vernon. He was a wealthy tobacco, planter. Like most other successful planters, Wash­ington was a slave owner. He raised horses and cattle, apples, peaches, and pears. This was one of the happiest times in by life. He had no children of his own, but he loved the little girl and boy who were Martha’s children by her first husband.

                 As this time great changes were taking place in the American Colonies. The Colonies still belonged to England but many Americans thought they were not being treated fairly. They thought the Colonies should have more to say about their own government. At last the quarrel grew into a war.

            On April 19, 1773, British soldiers clashed with American at Lexington and Concord. The Revolutionary War began. Because of his military experience, George Washing­ton was appointed Commander in Chief of the American army. The fact that he was a Southerner was very important. Most of the army outside Boston was Yankee, and Congress wanted a general who would at­tract Southerns to join. Congress also want­ed a wealthy man as general since they could not afford to pay him.

                At this time France also was at war with England with the help of a French fleet. American soldiers trapped a British army at Yorktown, Virginia. On October 21, 1781, the British surrendered. The peace treaty was not signed for almost two years, but Yorktown was the end of the actual fight­ing. The Colonies had won. Now they were free and independent states.

                 After the war American soldiers expected some reword from Congress, but Congress was slow to act. The soldiers became angry. Some of them wanted Washington to lead a revolt and make himself king. But Wash­ington returned to turn against his own gov­ernment. Once more he quit the army and went back to his home at Mount Vernon.

               Washington was very happy at home with his family. But soon the new nation was in trouble. Each of the states considered itself independent. There was danger they might start fighting among themselves.

                    In the summer of 1787 men from the dif­ferent states met in Philadelphia to try to draw up plans for a new government. The meeting was called the Constitutional Con­vention. Many of the most important men in America were there. George Washington was elected chairman of the convention. His job was to hold the convention together as he had his army together. All summer he kept there men working.

                  The plan they finally drew up was the Con­stitution of the U.S. With some changes it is the same basic plan by which we are gov­erned today. It called for a strong central government headed by a President. George Washington was elected the first President. He received every vote.

                  Washington did not believe in government by political parties. He thought his job was to be President of all people, and he appoint­ed to this Cabinet the best men he could find.

                  With his great personal influence, Wash­ington might have made himself dictator. He might have told Congress what laws to pass and what not to pass. On the other hand he might have left everything to Con­gress, if he had wished. Instead, he set a middle course. Some later Presidents have made the office of President stronger, some weaker. But all have been influenced by the course that Washington set.

                  Washington was not a brilliant man. Tho­mas Jefferson said Washington’s mind “was slow in operation” but sure in conclusion.” He never acted “until every circumstance, every consideration was maturely weighed” but when once decided upon, going with his purpose whatever obstacles opposed”.

                  Washington believed that as the chief of­ficer of a new nation, he should present a dignified appearance like the King of Eng­land - his only model at that time. So Wash­ington dressed very formally. Whenever he travelled he went in a handsome carriage pulled by beautiful horses. He could laugh at jokes, but he rarely told any. He inspired awe rather that friendship even in the great men around him.

                  In 1793, Washington was elected to a sec­ond term. Now the nation was facing new and ever more difficult problems.

             Franceand England were at war again. Many Americans now wanted to help France. Washington wanted to keep his country at peace. The U.S., he said, should stay out of European troubles.

                   More trouble came when the federal gov­ernment placed a tax on whiskey. Many peo­ple did not believe that the federal govern­ment had the right to tax individuals in that way. They refused to pay. It was called the Whiskey Rebellion, government tax col­lection in Washington County, Pennsylva­nia, were badly beaten. The governor of Penns refused to punish the rebels.

                 Washington knew that no government could last unless it had the power to enforce its laws on individuals. He sent troops into Pennsylva­nia and put down the rebellion. He proved that the federal government could enforce its laws.

                     Now for the first time a number of people be­gan to complain about Washington. Even so, most people wanted him to be President for a third term. He refused a third term and went back to the life he loved at Mount Vernon.

                      He did not enjoy it for long. On December 12, 1799, he was caught in a snowstorm while riding around his farm and became ill. Two days later he died.

                       The news of his death came as great shock to the whole world. Even the British, whom he had fought, had learned to admire and respect him. Thomas Jefferson, who often disagreed with Washington, said “He was indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and a great man”. But it was one of Washington’s old sol­diers who put the nation’s feelings into words. Washington, said General Henry Lee, was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen”.