George Washington Timeline

  • George Washington's birth

    George Washington's birth
    George Washington was born into a wealthy farming family. His father was a rich planter who owned plantations, businesses, and mines.
  • Early life

    Early life
    He didn’t go to college and taught himself important skills needed in life by watching others and reading books.
  • Views on slavery

    Views on slavery
    At first he thought nothing was wrong with it and had over a hundred slaves at Mount Vernon. His opinions on slavery slowly changed because Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other influential people were against it and he worked with them.
  • Public Service

    Public Service
    He did public service at age 17 and was a land surveyor and became the official surveyor of Culpeper county.
  • Military Service - Militia

    Military Service - Militia
    He joined the colonial militia and had fought in the French and Indian war in Ohio at the beginning of 1754 and became commander of Virginia's troops.
  • House of Burgesses

    House of Burgesses
    He served in the House of Burgesses which was Virginia’s assembly of representatives.
  • Marriage

    Marriage
    He married Martha Dandridge Custis at age 27. She was a widow with large land holdings and numerous slaves.
  • Retirement from militia

    Retirement from militia
    Washington retired from the militia as a Colonel.
  • Revolutionary War

    Revolutionary War
    He got appointed Commander in Chief for the Continental Army and fought against the British during the Revolutionary war and won the war. After this, he became the most respected and popular man in the US.
  • Commander in Chief of the Continental Arm

    Commander in Chief of the Continental Arm
    After he was elected to the House of Burgesses, he was a delegate for the Continental Congress and was appointed Commander in Chief and General of the Continental Army.
  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention
    He served as president of the Constitutional Convention. There, representatives designed the new US government and made the Constitution.
  • US Presidency

    US Presidency
    He was the first US president who was unanimously voted for and left office after 8 years/2 terms. He also appointed the nine Supreme Court Justices.
  • Death

    Death
    He freed all of his slaves in his will after his death.
  • Legacy

    Legacy
    He is the most popular founding father (founding fathers - group of men that established the US) of the United States of America and is on the 1 dollar bill.
  • Mount Rushmore

    Mount Rushmore
    He is one out of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore.