-
He was born in a wealthy farming family in Virginia -
He became a government surveyor. -
He joined a volunteer army. -
He got promoted and led a French army unit. -
He joined the Virginia House of Burgesses
-
He retired from the militia as a full colonel. -
During Washington’s time as a representative, England imposed heavy taxes on American colonies and along with many of his representatives, Washington grew to believe that the colonies needed to be separated from England. -
When war broke out, he was the general and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
-
Washington’s estate is a National Historic landmark -
After the war, he presided over the Constitutional Convention -
He was elected the first president of the United States.
-
He had come to believe that slavery needed to end but he worried outlawing it too quickly would tear the country apart.
-
He didn’t think all Americans were deserving of such freedoms and he kept hundreds of enslaved people at his estate. -
Due to friendships with northerners like Ben Franklin and John Adams, his views evolved. -
Before he stepped down in 1796, Washington delivered his Farewell Address. -
He ordered his enslaved labor to be set free -
He oversaw the ratification of the Bill of Rights. -
He left office after 2 terms, which set a precedent and it became law: U.S presidents cannot be elected to more than 2 terms in office. ratified by the states on February 27, 1951, the Twenty-Second Amendment limits an elected president to two terms in office, a total of eight years.
-
He entered public service.