1754 1763 he had solidified Americans trust as commander in chief during the American Revolution 1775 1783 When he resigned his command at the end of the war instead of seizing power as many generals throughout history had done people’s respect for him swelled He was known for his integrity his physical prowess and his calming public presence In April of 1789 the survival of the new nation depended on him once again The office Washington accepted with such unease was still an experiment as was the shaky young democracy that Washington hoped to hold together Throughout his two terms as president of the United States Washington Washington center addresses members of Congress after being elected president of the United States in April 1789 8
carefully shaped the role He saw it as one in which he should serve not rule the public He defined the boundaries between the president and Congress and established some of the office’s most crucial powers By declining to run for a third term of office he created a precedent of two-term limits that lasted into the twentieth century and eventually became law Above all he guided the United States through its rocky early years and helped lay the foundation for its future 9
CHAPTER ONE BEFORE THE PRESIDENCY George Washington was born on February 22 1732 on his family’s tobacco plantation in the British colony of Virginia George was the first of four children born to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington He had two older half brothers Augustine Jr and Lawrence from his father’s first marriage as well as four younger siblings who survived childhood When George was eleven years old his father died His half brothers inherited most of Augustine’s land while George and the other children continued to live with their mother in a six-room farmhouse at the family’s plantation George received only the most basic education and never attended college Aware of his lack of formal schooling he studied on his own all his life Young George dreamed of a career in Great Britain’s Royal Navy but although he was accepted in 1746 his mother forbade him from joining Instead in 1748 George began a career as a surveyor For three years he measured land marked property boundaries and drew maps In 1752 George’s half brother Lawrence died of tuberculosis George inherited Lawrence’s plantation Mount Vernon He also took over some of his brother’s military duties In addition 10
This illustration shows young George Washington center working as a surveyor circa 1750 For three years Washington explored uncharted territory around the colony of Virginia to being a planter Lawrence had been the commander of the colony’s militia private citizens who volunteered for military duty in wartime Lawrence’s father-in-law Lord William Fairfax recommended George for the position and Virginia’s governor appointed him as one of Lawrence’s replacements Fairfax believed that despite George’s lack of military experience he was a natural leader At 6 feet 3 inches 1 9 meters tall George cut an impressive figure standing a head taller than the average man of the time He was exceptionally strong and most important he was eager to make his mark in the military The opportunity to do so arose sooner than anyone expected 11
