George Washington

George Washington was born in the Virginia colony on February 22, 1732. George Washington was educated until he was 11, when the death of his father prevented him from receiving a higher education in England. He joined the Virginia Militia in February 1753, where he was ranked as a major. During the French and Indian War (1754–1763) Washington led the Virginia Militia in the Battle of Jumonville Glen, Battle of Fort Necessity and the Battle of the Monongahela. After being turned down by the British army, Washington resigned his place in the militia to get married and go back to running his plantations. In 1759 Washington took up his first political role, when he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses In 1775 when the revolutionary war broke out, George Washington was nominated to be commander-in-chief of the continental army, by John Adams, as he had a military background and he had gained respect for his opposition to the crown. He was famously in command in the field during the siege of Boston. As one of the founding fathers, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Peace Treaty of Paris George Washington disbanded his army on November 2 1783, before resigning as commander-in-chief of the army on December 23 1783. George Washington was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States in 1789 by the Electoral College. George Washington died on December 14, 1799. Washington was critical in establishing a distinctive American identity as he fought for the freedom of the colonies. In addition to this during his time as president the Bill of Rights was passed, this is an essential aspect of the American ideology, as it allows free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. All of these represent key ideals that are still held in American culture in the modern day.