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Grew up with a wealthy farming family, and was a planter’s third son. -
Born in Virginia on February 22nd, 1732. -
Worked as a Government Surveyor at the age of 17. -
Washington at first believed that there was nothing wrong with owning people while fighting for freedom.
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Joined colonial militia and was quickly promoted. He later retired from the militia as a full colonel -
e led a raid on a French army in what is now Ohio. This battle sparked the French and Indian War. -
Joined the Virginia House of Burgesses. -
Became commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. -
Won the Battle of Yorktown. -
Presided over the Constitutional Convention. This was where the U.S Constitution was written.
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Was elected the first President of the United States. -
Later, his views started to change. He knew that slavery needed to end and that it wasn't right by the time he was elected president. -
Although he knew slavery wasn't right, he thought that abolishing it too quickly and too soon would tear the country apart.
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Signed the law of Judiciary Act of 1789, meaning George Washington also appointed 6 Supreme Court Justices. -
Oversaw the ratification or signing/agreement of the Bill of Rights and the first 10 amendments. -
In his farewell address, Washington warned Americans that they needed to stick together or they would lose everything they had fought for. -
Washington ordered for his own slaves to be set free, only after he had died though. -
Left many precedents, or examples. For example, he only stayed president for two terms. Although this wasn't a law, every president until Franklin D. Roosevelt only stayed for two terms. This was later made a law.
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Washington’s Estate is a National Historical Landmark.
