George Washington

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George Washington

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George Washington was born on February 22, 1732
in a Virginia farmhouse.
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Young George liked to fish and go boating. He
watched the ships that sailed past on the nearby
river. But most of all he liked to ride his
horse.
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George learned to read and write in school. He
practiced his handwriting. But his favorite
subject in school was arithmetic.

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Legend has it that when George was a boy, he
chopped down a cherry tree. He was honest about
it, and admitted what he had done.
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When George was eleven, his father died. George
helped his mother run their farm and watch his
younger sister and brothers.
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When George was sixteen, he was given a job
surveying, or measuring, land in the Virginia
wilderness.
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When George was twenty-one, he joined the
Virginia army. He led the Virginia soldiers
against the French in the French and Indian War.
He was known as a brave soldier and good leader.
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When George was twenty-six he fell in love with
Martha Custis. They got married and moved to
Mount Vernon, a home in Virginia.
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The English won the war against the French. King
George wanted the colonists to help pay for the
war, so he taxed them. The colonists refused to
pay the taxes. They dressed up like Indians and
dumped the tea in the water rather than pay the
tax on it.

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In 1775, the colonists began to fight with
England. They wanted to be free from England.
George Washington was chosen to lead the
Continental Army.
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The war was hard for Washingtons soldiers.
Often there were not enough uniforms, food,
blankets, and guns for the soldiers.
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The war lasted eight years. In 1783, George
Washingtons army won the war. George was a hero.
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The thirteen colonies became thirteen states.
People in America loved George Washington, and he
became the first president of the United States
in 1789.
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After eight years as president, George Washington
returned to his home at Mount Vernon.
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In 1799 George Washington became ill and died.
He was sixty-seven years old.
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George Washington was a great leader. He has
been called the Father of Our Country.