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French and Indian War
Responding to the defiant French, Lt. Governor Dinwiddie ordered the newly promoted Lt. Col. George Washington and approximately 160 Virginia militia to return to the Ohio country in March of 1754. Dinwiddie wanted Washington to "act on the defensive," but also clearly empowered Washington to "make Prisoners of or kill & destroy…" all those who resisted British control of the region. -
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was where elected representatives of colonists assembled in revolt against British rule. The Virginia House of Burgesses served as a model for the Continental Congress. Virginians Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Peyton Randolph invited delegations from all of the other colonies to meet in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774 to debate the course of action in response to grievances of colonies against Great Britain. -
Washington takes control
On July 3, 1775, Washington officially took command of the poorly trained and under-supplied Continental Army. After six years of struggle and despite frequent setbacks, Washington managed to lead the army to key victories and Great Britain eventually surrendered in 1781. -
Battle of Trenton
After being driven out of New York by the British and forced to retreat to the West bank of the Delaware during the late summer of 1776. In the harsh winter, Washington was faced with the annual crisis of the expiry of the Continental Army’s period of enlistment. He resolved to attack the Hessian position at Trenton at the extreme southern end of the over-extended British line along the Delaware, before his army dispersed. -
Battle of Yorktown
On this day in 1781, General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown, Virginia, in the most important battle of the Revolutionary War. -
The War ends
With help from the French, Washington crushed British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, with 17,000 troops. The combined ground assault and fleet of French ships sailing toward Chesapeake Bay overpowered Cornwallis, leading to his Oct. 19, 1781, surrender and ending the war. -
First presidency
On February 4, 1789 George Washington was elected the first president of the United States of America. He was unanimously chose to be the president. -
Thanksgiving
On November 26, 1789, George Washington proclaimed that Thanksgiving would be a national holiday on November 23. Washington declared that the day sprung from the Almighty’s care of Americans both during and after the Revolution. Washington himself marked the day by attending services at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City, and subsequently donating drinks and food to imprisoned debtors in the city. -
Re-elected president
In 1792 George Washington was elected president of the United States again. Washington received 132 electoral votes, one vote from each participant in the Electoral College. Fifteen states cast electoral votes in 1792: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. -
Farewell Address
On September 19, 1796, newspapers around the country published President George Washington’s Farewell Address. In his address, Washington summarized his presidential tenure, cautioned against political divisions, and advised future American leaders to minimize connections with foreign powers.
