GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington is ----athe much-admired person in many respects.As ----athe first president of ----athe United States,he set the course upon which ----athe current three-branch system of federal government is based.George Washington is perhaps ----athe one person who can most claim ----athe title of Founding Father.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. During his youth, ----athe British Empire ruled the 13 colonies. Despite what you might assume, he was hardly ----athe revolutionary and his stated goal was to become ----anthe officer in ----athe British Army! Obviously, that goal never came to fruition.

In 1775, ----athe colonies formed a Continental Congress to address ----athe conflict with the British. George Washington was elected Commander of all colonial forces. War had already broken out in ----athe Massachusetts.

Facing ----athe total defeat and ----athe lack of money, George Washington did ----anthe amazing thing. He rallied his ragtag colonial forces and paid their wages out of his own finances. By ----athe late December of 1776, the colonial forces were starting to turn the tide against the British. After ----athe more victories in 1777, the French offered their support. It took ----athe few years to arrive, but Washington was eventually able to completely defeat the British.In 1781, the British surrendered much of ----anthe east coast. In 1783, ----athe treaty was signed granting ----athe colonies their independence. On February 4, 1789, George Washington was elected ----athe President.in 1799, he died of ----athe pneumonia on his Virginia plantation.

Adapted from an article written by Richard Monk