1. By : Chase Lewis

2.  George Washington was born February 22, 1732.  He was a military and political leader of the United States of America from 1775 to 1797.  George Washington became known as "The Father of Our Country“.  George was born in Virginia to Augustine and Mary Ball.  He only went to school for 7 or 8 years, and his favorite subject was math.  His father died when he was 11.  He grew very tall. He was 6 foot 2.  When he was 16 he went to live with his half brother Lawrence.  George married a widow named Martha.

3.  Before George Washington became our first president he was the commander and chief of the colonial army.  He led the soldiers to help make the colonist free from British rule.  After the war George Washington was chosen to preside over a great convention.  Then George Washington was elected to be the 1 st president in 1789.  Washington was fifty-seven years old at of his inauguration.

4.  George Washington is the only president to have received 100 percent of the electoral votes.  His vice president was John Adams. Washington was paid $25,000 dollars a year.  But since he was already wealthy he declined his pay. Then the Congress urged him to accept his pay.  So he did so that other presidents could also get paid.  Washington was elected to serve a second term as president.  The people wanted him to run for a third term but he refused.

5.  George Washington helped decide where the permanent location for the government would be.  He signed the Residence Act of 1790 which made the District of Columbia the permanent seat of the government.  The District of Columbia is now called Washington D.C. in honor of George Washington.  In March of 1797 Washington retired from the presidency. He returned to Mount Vernon to live.  In 1798 he helped President John Adams plan for a Provisional Army to meet any emergency that might arise.  But gave over the command and did not lead the army. He once again returned home to Mount Vernon.

6.  George Washington died December 12, 1799.  He had been working on his farm in the snow and freezing rain.  He woke up with a sore throat and became very ill.  He was 67 when he died.  He was buried in Mount Vernon, Virginia.  A monument was later built in Washington D.C. in his honor.  He is on a one dollar bill and the quarter.  He has also been on many postage stamps. George Washington is still known as the “Father of Our Nation”.

7.  Click the link to see a reenactment video of George Washington’s inauguration as President of the United States of America. http://myspeaking.speakingchan nel.tv/_George-Washingtons- Inaugural-Address-219-Years- Later/video/203108/9176.html