As we embark upon the new constitutional era of American history, we begin our presidential history. Many people are fascinated by everything surrounding our presidents and I understand why. Think about it...of ALL the men since 1789 that have been eligible to run for president, less than 50 have gained that office. Let's just say the number of eligible men since 1789 was 100,000,000 (a low estimate by the way), then the percentage of Presidents:Potential Presidents would be .000043% of our population! That's incredible!
So what makes these men (and hopefully one day women) so special? Are the rest of us too dumb to be president? Do those people have more connections and opportunities than the rest of us? Are we too poor to be president? Were some of them elected out of sheer dumb luck? The answer is probably "Yes" to varying degrees to each man we call president.
This leads us right to George Washington. As our nation's first president under the Constitution, everything he did was going setting a precedent for future leaders. A precedent is like "setting an example for others to follow". Think about the pressure that would bring!
We will discuss during Chapter 8 the many legacies Washington left behind. For now, visit this website for at least 30 minutes and learn as much as you can about the man. Check every video, picture, artifact and link available and then in the comments section record the 20 most interesting things you learned.
1)He was called "Colonel Washington" for 16 years after he retired.
ReplyDelete2)During the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion was the last time he commanded and army in the field.
3)Washington had a 28 year military career.
4)He inspired his men through simple gestures like giving one of them a pair of his spurs.
5)He was so popular that in only one year 650 visitors went to his home at Mount Vernon.
6)The earliest book found that he signed was from when he was only eighteen.
7)He accepted commanding the Continental Army in 1775.
8)His library contained about 900 bound volumes by 1799.
9)He copied "110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" by and before he turned 16.
10)Colonial Virginians (like Washington) thought the tea ceremony was a proper expression of genteel behavior.
11)He was born on February 22,1732 and died on December 14, 1799.
12)His family moved to Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River when he was 6.
13)When he was 17 he became a county surveyor for the frontier county Culpeper.
14)He married Martha Dandridge Custis and they had 2 kids.
15)His horseman skills were legendary, and he enjoyed fox hunting with his friends and neighbors.
16)He led a secret crossing the Delaware River to attack Hessians.
17)He saved countless lives at the hard winter in Valley Forge by building hospitals and having his troops inoculated with smallpox, and stayed with his troops almost every day in the war.
18)He resigned his commission and went back to civilian life on December 23,1783.
19)In 1789 at his first inaugural he had to get dentures because he only had one of his own teeth left.
20)He was sworn in as the first president at New York City's Federal Hall on April 30,1789.
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1~Even though George Washington retired from being a colonel, he continued to be known as Colonel Washington.
ReplyDelete2~Newspapers said Washington was the "ultimate citizen-soldier."
3~The last time he commanded an army was to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.
4~Washington began his celebrity life at 21 years old.
5~Citizens admired him so much that over 650 people visited Mount Vernon in one year.
6~At his home, Mount Vernon, Washington had a two-story banqueting hall called the "New Room."
7~He cared greatly about a "fashionable and elegant" home.
8~Washington's library had almost 900 books, as well as maps and pamphlets.
9~Authors loved him, putting dedications in their books just for Washington.
10~He loved books and didn't just buy them for himself, but for his wife and others living with him.
11~Washington's study was almost "sacred". You only went in with invitation.
12~He wrote about 20,000 letters during his life.
13~"Consumer Revolution" was their way to communicate their social status.
14~Washington copied the "110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation", trying to learn how to be mannerly.
15~He wanted to go to the Navy, but his mother wouldn't let him. Instead he became a surveyor.
16~At 19 years old, George was 6'2" and 175 pounds.
17~Washington rejoined the army in 1754 after he resigned his commission.
18~His first extraction of his teeth was in April 1756.
19~He resigned from the army in 1758.
20~His wife was Martha Dandridge Custis.
~209 words~
1. George Washington did not want to become king
ReplyDelete2. Led by example
3. Family moved to Rappahannock River when he was six
4. Wanted to become a Virginia gentlemen at age 12
5. Believed there was nothing morally wrong with slavery, but was later convinced otherwise
6. Became a Freemason at age 20
7. Was not paid as general of Continental Army
8. Loved foxhunting with friends
9. Horseman skills were legendary
10. Great spy
11. Stayed with his troops during the war
12. Voted unanimously as first president of the United States
13. Received four full sets of dentures
14. Visited every state during first term
15. Chose the site of Washington D.C.
16. Built one of the largest whiskey distilleries in America
17. Entertained more than 600 guests in one year
18. Died at 67 on December 14th
19. Freed his slaves in his will and was the only Founding Father to free his slaves
20. Martha Washington burned all of the letters with her husband after he died to protect their privacy
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1.George Washington started a military career in 1752 and did it for twenty-eight years.
ReplyDelete2. People still called him by Colonel Washington after he retired and returned to being a farmer.
3.When he was president he tried to avoid conflict with the European powers, but he also tried to raise a strong army to defend themselves.
4.Last time he commanded an army in the field was the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.
5.When Major General Braddock was dying he gave his sash to George Washington as a token of appreciation.
6.He once gave spurs to Lieutenant Thomas Lamb, because he volunteered to go to Boston for supplies.
7.He once said his home was “a well-restored tavern,” because of all the people who visited him.
8.He furnished his house with high-quality goods around the world.
9.When he died his study had almost 900 bound volumes, many pamphlets, and collections of maps.
10.He got many of his books as gifts from admiring writer and publishers.
11.Many authors even dedicated books to him.
12.He placed a big importance on books and the knowledge you could gain from them.
13.In his lifetime he composed a total of 20,000 letters.
14.Before he was sixteen he devoted time in copying the 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.
15.He had two older half-brothers named Augustine and Lawrence.
16.His education ended at age of fourteen, because they didn’t have enough money.
17.He inherited 10 slaves at age eleven when his father died.
18.His half-brother Lawrence taught him social grades and introduced him to wealthy land owners.
19.He wanted to be in the navy, but his mother wouldn’t let him.
20.In 1786 the king of Spain gave him a mule which he named “Royal Gift.”
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1) Thomas Jefferson described George Washington as, “the best horseman in his time
ReplyDelete2) They still have Washington’s original table ware.
3) Washington’s private study had almost 900 different volumes in it.
4) He had his plantations on the bank of Potomac River.
5) Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estates in America.
6) Washington’s tomb is in Mount Vernon.
7) At age 19 George surveyed the unexplored wilderness of the Virginia frontier.
8) George Washington was born in February.
9) He had to older half-brothers.
10) His dads name was Augustine Washington.
11) His dad died when he was eleven.
12) At age 12 George copied the 110 Rules of civility and decent behavior in company and convergation.
13) At age 11 he inherited ten slaves.
14) He wanted to join the British navy, but his mother did not want him to.
15) Surveying paid George well and also gave him land in Virginia as well.
16) At age 19 he was 6 ft. and 2 inches.
17) He also weighed about 175 pounds, at that age.
18) His half-brother, Lawrence, died of illness at age 34.
19) Washington was the heir to the Mount Vernon estate.
20) 2 years after Lawrence died George began leasing the Mount Vernon estate. (213)
1-George Washington was born in Virginia on February 22, 1732.
ReplyDelete2-He was born on one of his father’s many properties and also had two half-brothers from his father’s first marriage.
3-When George Washington was six years old, his family moved to Ferry Farm near a river called Rappahannock River. They were very close to the town of Fredericksburg.
4-George’s father died when he was only 11 years of age.
5-After his father’s death, there was little money so George’s education ended when he was 14.
6-When Washington was 12 year old he copied the “110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company & Conversation." (which was a blog a few months back)
7-Whne he was 11, George inherited 11 slaves from his father.
8-As a teenager, he spent most of his time with his half-brother Lawrence who her greatly admired.
9-His half-brother introduced him to many wealthy land owners and taught him many social graces.
10-As the age of 19, washing was 6 foot 2 inches and weighed 175 pounds.
11-In 1752, Washington’s half-brother, Lawrence, died of a long term illness. He was only 34 years old.
12-In 1753, Washington volunteered to help on the dangerous mission over the Ohio River Valley.
13-Two years after his brother’s death, George began to lease out some of his land or property on Mount Vernon.
14-Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759. She had two small children from her first marriage, Jacky and Patsy.
15-When he married Martha, the amount of slaves doubled at Mount Vernon. They had over 40 slaves living there as of 1759.
16-In 1761, George Washington inherited the entire Mount Vernon estate because of the widows death.
17-Throughout Washington’s life, he had an amazing skill for fox hunting and quite enjoyed doing it.
18-In 1775, George Washington was unanimously elected as Commander and Chief of the Continental army by the second Continental Congress.
19-During the winter of Valley Forge, Washington received help from the Prussian military officer named Friedrich von Steuben. (yet another blog)
20-With help from the French, the Continental Army beat the British at the battle of Yorktown.
21-I just thought I should finish it up and say that Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67.(374)
1. George Washington was known as “Colonel Washington” even after he retired.
ReplyDelete2. He was featured in Boston and London newspapers.
3. When he was president, the only time he called on the army was to subdue the Whiskey Rebellion.
4. He detested drunkenness
5. The most popular historic estate in America is Mount Vernon.
6. Washington was also a successful business man, owning a fishery, a gristmill, and a distillery.
7. His father died when he was only 11.
8. He inherited 10 slaves from his father.
9. Because of the area George lived in, he didn’t think anything was wrong with slavery.
10. Scientists “de-aged” a life mask and a sculpted bust of him to find out what he looked like when he was younger.
11. When his journal about his trip to the Ohio River Valley was published, George became famous overnight.
12. He tried to take care of his teeth, but had an extraction in April 1756.
13. He married Martha Dandridge Custis, who was very rich.
14. He made his house bigger by raising the roof to make a third floor.
15. He was really good at espionage.
16. He had a horse named Blueskin because he had a bluish color.
17. Martha helped George by tending to the sick and wounded soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
18. At Washington’s first inaugural, he only had one of his real teeth left.
19. His favorite chair was his “uncommon chair” because the circle seat could rotate on 4 rollers.
20. He died when he was 67 from a throat infection. {244}
~Hey_its_Mo!:)~
1. George Washington was born on a plantation.
ReplyDelete2. At six years old they moved to a ferry farm.
3. At eleven years old his father died.
4. George had ten slaves.
5. Washington admired his half brother Lawrence.
6. He spent a lot of time at Mount Vernon.
7. George wanted to join the British Navy but his mom would not let him.
8. They had a family Bible in the house.
9. George was a county surveyor.
10. At the age nineteen he was six foot two tall.
11. He weighed one hundred and seventy five pounds.
12. Lawrence died from sickness at the age of thirty four.
13. I have the same birthday as George Washington.
14. It is February 22.
15. His teeth were gross.
16. Once he retired he went home to a private life.
17. He married Martha.
18. He got more slaves!
19. About 40 of them!
20. His birthday is the best day ever.
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1. George Washington was born on a Virginia plantation in Febuary.
ReplyDelete2. George's father died when he was 11 and the young Washington devoted his time to try to be use proper aettiquite.
3. His older step-brother Laurence Washington taught his social graces and introduced him to rich people like the Fairfax family.
4. Laurence, who George really admired, died in 1752 at age 34.
5. This sad death also made George the residuary air to his step-brother's estate: Mount Vernon.
6. Washington joined the British army and undertook the mission in the Ohio territory that led to the battle with the French at Fort Necessity.
7. Washington lost the battle but later tried again to take the valley as an aid to General Edward Braddock of the British army.
8. This failed because the army was ambushed and Braddock died. Washington saved many lives by taking charge and leading to troops to saftey.
9. His courage spread after this event and he became leader of all Virginia forces.
10. Washington tried to take care of his teeth, but in April 1756 he had his first extraction.
11. Washington married Martha Dandrige Custis in 1759. She brought her children Jacky and Patsy since it was her 2nd marriage and Washington's 1st.
12. Washington was a genius at espionage, working for the British to spread false info and deliver secret info to the British forces.
13. In 1773, Washington's teeth deteriorated more and he could only eat softer foods.
14. In 1775, Washington bacame leader of the Continental Army, fighting against the army he served years ago.
15. Washington had a manservant named Billy Lee, who fought by Washington's side during the revolution. He was known for his courage and expert horsemanship.
16. Washington crossed the Delaware and won the battle at Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776.
17. In the winter of 1777, Washington saught help from Friedrich Von Steuben to train the Continental Army into a fighting force.
18. In 1781, Washington won the battle of Yorktown, the last big battle of the revolutionary war.
19. 1783: Washington's teeth have had enough. Teeth come out and are replaced with dentures.
20. December 14, 1779: Washington dies of a throat infection at 67. His body is placed in the family vault and the nation mourns for him.
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1. Died on December 14
ReplyDelete2. Born on Feb. 22, 1732
3. Born in Pope’s Creek, Virginia
4. Son of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball
5. Inherited in 1752
6. His father died when he was 11
7. At 17, he was a surveyor in Virginia
8. Almost died falling off a raft
9. Kept a journal (It was probably a diary)
10. His journal (diary) was published and people loved it
11. In 1758 he resigned his commission and returned to Mount Vernon
12. He enjoyed farming
13. Died in 1799
14. 1758, elected to Virginias House of Burgesses
15. Resigned commission again in 1783, thinking he was done with public service
16. 1789 he became the first president
17. First term was spent shaping the rule of president
18. Second term was spent on foreign affairs
19. 1796, he officially retired
20. He turned down an offer for another term of presidency
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I, being the genius that I am, wrote a paragraph without reading the instruction well enough to know I was supposed to write facts instead I decided to post it anyway.
George Washington was the first ever president under The Constitution. Just the sound of it for him must have been intimidating. Not only did he have to run the government, like presidents in modern time, he had to CREATE the government as well! Whatever laws or changes he made to the government or even the country, would have a large effect on presidents to come. Being an intelligent man, he knew this. He didn’t have much “ruling” experience, as he confessed, but he did lead the army with bravery and wit, and for our people, that was enough. He showed his true colors in Valley Forge, refusing to leave his men in the toughest of times. Maybe this was a pleasant reminder for the people. Possibly they thought, “If he didn’t leave then, he won’t leave now.” That was true. He wasn’t going to abandon his beloved country when they needed him, even though he really didn’t know what he was doing with himself, trying to rule a country that’s just freshly been created. But, he really did try his best. And that’s probably one of the things people most admire about him. (193)
1. He was born on February 22, 1732.
ReplyDelete2. He was born in Virginia.
3. He didn't want to become a "king' of America.
4. His personal journal was eventually published.
5. He had almost 900 books.
6. He was in the military for 28 years.
7. Was referred to as "Colonel Washington"
8. 11 years old when his dad died.
9. eventually had about 40 slaves!
10. Many books are dedicated to him.
11. at 19 he was 6' 2"
12. His Half-brother Lawrence died at age 34.
13. Voted unanimously to be first president.
14. Loved foxhunting.
15. had four sets of dentures.
16. he wrote about 20,000 letters in his lifetime.
17. he wanted to be in the navy but his mom said no.
18. he inherited 10 slaves from his father.
19. at 19 he weighed 175 lbs.
20. he died at 67 from a throat infection.
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ReplyDelete1) When his half-brother, Lawrence, died he become part of the district adjutant of Virginia.
ReplyDelete2) His military career was 28 years long.
3) His earliest military title was Major.
4) His first three military missions ended as a fail.
5) Those missions were in the Ohio Country.
6) Less than a year after that he accepted the duty of commanding the Virginia Regiment.
7) He created the Virginia Militia.
8) One if his greatest military strengths was knowing the landscape.
9) He had his first formal portrait in 1772.
10) His militia’s color was blue.
11) He was very respected in the army.
12) Both London and Boston newspapers praised him.
13) He gave up his command in 1783.
14) He tried to retire but it didn’t last long.
15) When in politics he tried to avoid the British.
16) When he was the president he focused mainly on the army.
17) His army was called into duty only once during the whiskey rebellion.
18) He was a celebrity from age 21 till death.
19) He had many visitor at his home called Mount Vernon.
20) He had a lot of furniture and decorations around his home.(198)
1. Apparently George Washington was an entrepeneur
ReplyDelete2.He was born on a Virginia plantation
3.His father's name was Augustine
4. He had two older half brothers
5.When he was 6, the family moved to a Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River
6. When George was 11 years old, his father died
7.when he was 12, he copied down the 110 rules of Civillity and decent in company and conversation
8.when he was 11, he ingherited slaves from his father4
9. As a teenager, he spent a lot of time at Mount Vernon
10. he wanted to join the Bitish Navy
11. He read mathematical texts to learn the geometric principles necessary for surveying
12.When he was 17, he secured an appointment as county surveyer for the newly created frontier county of Culpepper
13. when he was 16, he was 6'2
14.when he was 16 he was 175 lbs.
15. his elder half brother Lawrence died at age 34
16.at age 20, he was initiated into the Masonic lodge
17. he volunteered to undertake a dangerous mission into the Ohio River valley
18.Along the way, he kept a journal of Indians he encountered
19.He began leasing Mount Vernon from Lawrences widow
20. He died on December 14, 1779 (197)
1. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732.
ReplyDelete2. He inherited Mount Vernon in 1752.
3. In 1753 George Washington delivered a ultimatum to the French in order to make them evacuate the Ohio Territory.
4. In 1755 he accompanied British Major General Edward Braddock on a mission to drive the French out of the Ohio Territory.
5. Washington married Martha Custis in 1758.
6. He enjoyed farming.
7. In 1758 Washington decided to participate in colonial politics and was elected to Virginia’s House of Burgess.
8. He started to resent the British rule shortly after this.
9. In 1775 he was unanimously elected commander in chief of the Continental Army.
10. In Washington’s first term as president he focused on shaping the roles of the president.
11. During the first term he appointed the very first presidential cabinet.
12. He also appointed Alexander Hamilton the Treasury Secretary.
13. George Washington also made plans for the nation’s new capital.
14. His second term centered on foreign affairs, making the declare for neutrality world spread.
15. He dealt with the Whiskey Rebellion.
16. Washington also sent Chief Justice John Jay to England to negotiate a peace treaty.
17. He didn’t approve of emerging political parties.
18. He refused a third term as president.
19. He retired in 1797.
20. Washington soon developed a severe throat infection that resulted in his death on December 14, 1799.
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1 he began his military career in 1752
ReplyDelete2. It lasted 28 years
3he got his first position because his half brother died
4His brothers name was Lawrence
5he wanted a royal commission.
6he never received it
7 that his house is a museum.
8his first three missions ended in failure
9he was commander of Virginia regiment
10he made it a good militia
11it was because of his knowledge of the land
12was referred to Colonel Washington
13 was unamisly selected as leader of American forces
14was the ultimate citizen solider
15he suppressed whiskey rebellion
16 was a temporary leader when relations with France were bad
17he wanted to make Americas have a good army
18had that position until his death
19 he and his family shaped America
20 he was a hero
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1. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Virginia.
ReplyDelete2. He had about 900 books in his library, including maps and pamphlets.
3. He wrote about 20,000 letters during his life.
4. He started his military career in 1752. He did this for 28 years.
5. When his dad died, George Washington inherited 10 slaves at age eleven.
6. After he retired and returned home from being a farmer, people stilled called him Colonel Washington.
7. He had two half-brothers from his first father’s marriage.
8. As a teenager, he spent most of his time with Lawrence, his half- brother.
9. When he was 19 years old, he was 6 feet and 2 inches and weighed 175 pounds.
10. Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in America.
11. He had an extraction on his teeth in April of 1756.
12. He was featured in Boston and London newspapers.
13. He was born on a plantation.
14. His mom would not let him join the British Navy, even though George wanted too.
15. He spent most of his time in Mount Vernon.
16. He eventually had 40 slaves.
17. He was voted unanimously to be the first president.
18. He didn’t want to become the “king” of America.
19. When he was 6, his family moved to a ferry farm.
20. He died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67 from a throat infection. (241 words)
1. He was born to his father’s second wife.
ReplyDelete2. His father died when he was 11
3. Almost died in 1753
4. He had a journal of his adventures that was later published
5. Before he died his farm expanded from 2,000 to 8,000 acres
6. Elected as president in 1789
7. Refused to have a third term as president in 1797
8. Retired in 1797
9. Died on December 14, 1799
10. Had passion for farming
11. He copied the “110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation”
12. Inherited 10 slaves when his father died
13. He was 6 feet 2 inches at 19 years old
14. When his half-brother died he leased Mount Vernon for the brother’s widow
15. Washington rejoined the British army as an unpaid aide to General Edward Braddock
16. He tried to take care of his teeth during the French and Indian war, but it didn’t work
17. He loved fox hunting with other people
18. He had a slave named Billy Lee join with him in the revolution
19. The king of Spain gave Washington a mule as a gift.
20. Unanimously elected as president for his second term
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20 Facts:
ReplyDelete1. described as the best horseman of his time
2. military service refined his private character
3. service established his public image
4. service propelled his ascent as the social figurehead of nation
5. service propelled his ascent as the political figurehead of the nation
6. service propelled his ascent as the material figurehead for the young american nation
7. many of his table wares survived
8. shows his fashion and propriety
9. JOhn Parke dedicated a book of poems to Washington
10. first signed book at 18 years old
11. cared about proper manners
12. purchased travel guides
13. purchased literary works
14. the quasi-war with France made him consider using new military technology
15. wrote over 20,00 letters
16. he read and wrote fequently
17. hunted a lot
18. 1755 helped Edward Braddock
19. married Martha Custis
20. resigned 1758
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Delete1. George Washington was unanimously voted as commander in chief of the american war effort.
ReplyDelete2. George was respected by his troops.
3. The only time that George called his army as president was to suppress the Whiskey rebellion.
4. George Washington at dinner at 3 in the afternoon.
5.George kept a sense of elegance without being extravagant.
6.At a young age, George kept a sense of manner by copying by hand the 101 rules of being a gentleman(paraphrasing).
7.George had a half-brother.
8.George Washington never chopped down a cherry tree (my childhood was a lie)
9. Was a very profitable farmer who made outstanding decisions.
10. expanded his 2,000 acre farm to 8,000 through farming.
11. was in Virginia's house of Burgesse's
12.before George took the reigns of the american forces we had already fought Lexington and Concord.
13. George turned down fame to be a farmer. ( i wish someONE would go the same DIRECTION in life).
14. in 1789 he became the first president of the United States
15.served two terms as president
16. refused a third term
17. when George died his library had 900 books.
18.George Washington pretty much ran a bed and breakfast.
19. he wrote about 20,000 letters in his life.
20. George Washington died on December 14,1799.
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