George Washington

The Father of our Country

By Laurence Elizabeth Gaertner

WCFS 3rd Grader

George Washington was born on February 22,1732 in a red brick house in Virginia. He was a strong boy and very clever. He loved school but his favorite subject was arithmetic. He loved to walk the plantation learning about he animals and plants.  When George was 11 his father died. His mother grew poor so he was not able to go to England for school, as did his two half-brothers. When his half-brothers came home from England they found him pretending to be a commander of the army with his sister playing the fife and his brothers as army men. He became good friends with his half-brother, Lawrence, who enjoyed all that his little brother did,

When he was old enough to ride a pony he went to school racing along with his friends. In the evenings his mother would teach them about the Bible and never to tell a lie. One day he found some surveying tools that had belonged to his father he used them to map a turnip field. His half-brother, Lawrence, now inherited Mount Vernon. He asked George to come and visit for a while. Lawrence always had many guests. They liked George for he had been well brought up.

When George was 20 years old he became an officer in the French and Indian War. Her went back to Williamsburg for he had promised to marry a pretty young widow named Martha Custis. George Washington now inherited Mount Vernon, for Lawrence had died. They lived at Mount Vernon for fifteen years and always had many guests.

The French and Indian War had been so expensive that the British began taxing the English colonies without representation. The English colonies wanted to make their own laws. Once when the British ships came with tea the colonists pretended to be Mohawk Indians and dumped all the tea into the harbor. We call this event the Boston Tea Party.

At the same time the important men from each colony came together and wrote the Declaration of Independence. Some of the men that were included: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson. They decided to be free and independent from England. They chose George Washington to be commander of any war that might take place against England.

George Washington accompanied by some officers, set off for Boston. On the way a messenger approached them carrying news of the battle of Bunker Hill and of how bravely the colonists had fought to force the Redcoats into Boston. “The liberties of the country are safe!” cried Washington as the messenger told of how gallantly the colonists had fought. Now he knew what a courageous army he had. So he was even more encouraged to lead the continental army. Now in charge of Cambridge, right outside Boston, General Washington took command. It was a different army then you would think, these men were not soldiers, is what but farmers, hunters and other brave men. But the problem with these soldiers is that whenever they wanted to see their family they would run home and General Washington could never tell how many soldiers he had.

After a while the continental army grew so strong that they were able to force the Redcoats out of Boston. The king did not give up. He sent so many more Redcoats that Washington could not keep them from getting New York. On the fourth of July 1776 the thirteen colonies declared their independence from England. George Washington with his soldiers surprised the Redcoats at Trenton and won their greatest victory.

In the winter of 1777-78 snow began falling at Valley Forge and the soldiers were hungry, ragged and cold. General Washington would not sleep in his warm bed until the huts for his men were finished. Several thought of leaving the camp but George Washington kept them together. Some farmers came with spare food for the army while others gave food to the British. Men from Europe came to help fight and General von Steuben from Germany helped train the men. Lafayette from France was one of the men’s favorite officers.

The American soldiers were now so well trained that they took over Monmouth, New Jersey. With Frenchmen in the harbor and George Washington with his French and American men on land they surrounded Yorktown, Virginia where there were many Redcoats led by Lord Cornwallis. Handed over his sword and surrendered with his whole army.

For a long time the British army stayed in New York. After a while they signed a treaty and were no longer enemies but became allies. The English admiral invited Washington on to his ship to have a meal. The Revolutionary War was ended and the colonies were free from England. It was now the United States of America.

Washington arrived home to Mount Vernon on Christmas day. In the doorway stood Martha with a little and boy, their grandchildren. His house was again filled with many guests. Everyday he would walk over his fields watching the plants sprout up and the slaves working and singing.

The Americans needed a leader. With all that George Washington had done thrugh the Revolutionary War, he was chosen the President of the United States of America. There was much celebration when he rode into New York to be inaugurated. He served two terms.

After his terms were over he rode back to Mount Vernon with his wife. One day as walking over his fields he caught a cold. The doctors could not cure his cold. George Washington knew he was dying, yet he said: “I thank you for your attentions, but I pray you to take no more trouble about me.” The next day George Washington died. Ever since he has been known as the “Father Of His Country”.