George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14 , 1799), known as "the Father of His Country," was an American soldier and statesman serving from 1789 to 1797 as The first President of the United States. He was commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention. As one of the foremost Patriots, he was one of the Founding Fathers of the country.
Washington was born to a prosperous planter family among the nobles of Virginia. His initial education was basic, but included a survey, which launched his early career as a surveyor. He followed his brother Lawrence into the Virginia militia at the age of twenty and gained experience and reputation during the French and Indian Wars, ascending to the rank of colonel. He opposed the British policies that burdened the American colonies without giving them representation in Parliament. The Second Continental Congress made him the supreme commander of the Continental Army in 1775. He crossed the Delaware River in mid-winter and defeated England in two battles, retook New Jersey, and restored momentum to the Patriot cause. Washington's strategy, field command, army development, and alliance with France all combined to defeat British troops in every theater, reached the summit with an allied victory at the Yorktown Siege. Historians linked his success to his control over military command at work, and his respect for civilian control of the military through coordination with congressional and state officials.
After the victory was in hand in 1783, Washington rejected further rule and resigned as commander-in-chief, affirming his devotion to the American Republican. He was unanimously elected to chair the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that drafted the new Federal government. Admired for the quality of his strong nationalist leadership, he was unanimously elected President by Electoral College in the first two national elections. But in 1794, Congress was divided between rival parties established by two of its secretaries: Democratic Party-Republican Thomas Jefferson and Federalist Party Alexander Hamilton. Washington remained non-partisan and never joined the Federalist - though he strongly supported their policy. He adopted Hamilton's programs to meet federal and state debt, to establish a permanent government center, to implement an effective tax system, and to create a national bank.
Washington avoided another war with Great Britain by securing the Jay Agreement of 1795, guaranteeing a decade of peace and profitable trade despite strong opposition from the Democratic-Republican Party. He oversaw the formation of a strong and well-funded national government that maintained neutrality during the French Revolution, suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion, and won wide acceptance from the new Federal government among Americans. Its provisions form many precedents still in use today, such as the Cabinet system, the inaugural address, and the title "Mr. President". His retirement from office in 1797 after two periods set a permanent two-term limit to the presidency. Washington's Farewell Address is a primer that affects the virtues of citizenship, warning against alignment, sectionalism, and involvement in foreign wars. After his death, he was renowned as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his own people". The academic and public voting has consistently placed it among the top three presidents in American history, and it has been portrayed and respected in monuments, public works, currencies, and other dedications to this day.
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Tahun-tahun awal (1732-1752)
George Washington was the first son of Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Ball Washington, born February 11, 1731, at Wakefield at Popes Creek Estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
Washington mainly comes from the English nobility in Sulgrave, England. His great-grandfather John Washington immigrated to Virginia in 1656 and began collecting land and slaves, as did his son Lawrence and his grandson Augustine, George's father, as well as a planter, and then the Westmoreland County Judge. In his youth of Washington, his prosperous family was one of the "middle-class" Virginia "nobleman" members of a family of wealthy elite growers.
A historian portrays Washington's childhood as "around and unstable." When he was 3 years old, the family left Popes Creek (home destroyed by fire in 1779) and moved to Epsewasson, a 2,500 acre estate bought by his father on the banks of the Potomac River. Washington was one of seven surviving children of two Augustine weddings, including the older stepmother, Lawrence and Augustine from her father's first wedding with Jane Butler Washington, and full siblings Samuel, Elizabeth (Betty), John Augustine, and Charles. Three siblings died before adulthood; his sister, Mildred, died when he was about one year old, his half-brother, Butler, died in infancy, and his half-brother, Jane, died at age 12.
When Washington was 6 years old, his family moved into a house at Ferry Farm in Stafford County, Virginia near Fredericksburg that employed slave labor and served as a port city for a strong British Empire. He spent most of his childhood here, expanding the horizon, and according to American folk legend, he is said to have destroyed his father's cherry tree. Washington's father died of a sudden illness in April 1743 when George was 11 years old, and he was treated under the care of Mary, his mother of thirty-five-year-old widow. Without the protection and influence of his father, in patronage-driving society, Washington relied on an older man for his belief, including his half-brother Lawrence, to serve as his benefactor.
Washington grew up under the protection of Fairfax's powerful family. Lawrence had married Ann Fairfax, daughter of William Fairfax, a wealthy Virginia planter. William Fairfax's son, George is a close friend and fellow Washington. His wife Sally is also a friend of Washington, also an early romantic interest, and they retain correspondence when she moves to England with her father.
Lawrence Washington inherited Epsewasson from their father, and he changed his name to Mount Vernon in honor of his commander, Vice Admiral Edward Vernon. Washington inherited Ferry Farm after the death of his father and finally obtained Mount Vernon after Lawrence's death on 26 July 1752.
His father's death prevented Washington from formal education at the English Grammar Appleby School as his older siblings received. He had two or three years of education from various tutors, and also attended a school run by an Anglican priest in Fredericksburg. His education reached seven or eight years, while he lived with different families in and around Mount Vernon in Virginia. He is trained in mathematics, trigonometry, and surveying and has a natural talent for drawing and mapping. He was a loyal reader and bought books on military affairs, agriculture, and history, and popular novels of his day. There was talk to get an appointment for him in the Royal Navy when he was 15 years old, but the idea was abandoned because of objections from his widowed mother.
In 1751, Washington traveled with Lawrence to Barbados (his sole travel abroad) in the hope that the climate would benefit Lawrence's declining health, as he suffered from tuberculosis. Washington had smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly injured but immunized him from future exposure to the disease. Lawrence's health failed to improve, and he returned to Mount Vernon where he died in the summer of 1752. That year, Washington became a member of the Temporary Freemasons in Fredericksburg, although his involvement was minimal.
Colonial survey
Washington was introduced to survey through school practice followed by practical experience in the field. The first survey took place in the area around Mount Vernon; In 1748, just two days after getting permission, he joined a survey party hosted by his neighbor, George William Fairfax, to lay a vast land along the West Virginia border, where he gained valuable experience. He began his professional career in 1749 at the age of 17 when he received a commission and licensed surveyor from the College of William & amp; Mary and was appointed as Surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. He completed his first survey in less than two days, plotting a plot of land of 400 hectares. Therefore he can buy land in the Shenandoah Valley, the first of many land acquisitions in western Virginia. On March 23, he recorded his first encounter with the Indians when his survey crew met with warlords who returned from combat; Washington noted that the people in the crew were "very surprised".
Washington also surveyed land in West Virginia for the Ohio Company, a land investment company funded by Virginia investors. Governor Lieutenant Robert Dinwiddie noticed him thanks to Lawrence's brother's position as commander of the Virginia militia. In October 1750, Washington resigned from his position as an official surveyor, although he continued to conduct a professional survey for two more years. By 1752, he had completed nearly 200 surveys on a number of properties totaling over 60,000 hectares, and he continued to conduct surveys at different times throughout his life. Colonial military career (1752-1758)
Washington's military career began shortly after his older brother Lawrence died, leaving the vacant position as General Adjutant. Washington decided to stop doing surveys, start a soldier's life, and pursue that position; his military ambitions have been inspired by Lawrence's ministry with Admiral Edward Vernon. The province of Virginia is divided into four districts, with an adjutant in charge of each district. He wanted to keep an eye on the Northern District, but he was assigned to the less prestigious South District on 13 December 1752 by Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie. However, William Fitzhugh decided to move to Maryland and resign as an adjutant to the Northern District, and Washington immediately lobbied for the position. He was elected a military ambassador to the British crown to French and Indian officials north of Erie, Pennsylvania (Northern District) in 1753. He was only 21 years old and eager to prove himself, so he immediately accepted the mission.
The British government has ordered Dinwiddie to keep British territorial claims in the Ohio River valley, protecting trade activities with Indians and others in various settlements. He ordered Washington to send a letter at the end of 1753, asking the French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre at Fort Le Boeuf to empty the Ohio Valley, and give him a safe escort to Lake Erie. Washington is also at peace with the Six States.
Washington and six frontiersmen reached the Ohio River in November, but France has resigned. He met with Tanacharison (also called "Half King") and other Iroquois Six States heads in Logstown and gained their support for France if necessary, and then went on 60 miles and met France in Venango - but the letter was rejected. Washington then reached Fort Le Boeuf and sent the letter to his commander, who told Dinwiddie to send his request to the New French Major General in his capital city of Quebec City. Washington's diary of the expedition was printed by William Hunter according to Dinwiddie's orders, giving recognition of Washington's name in Virginia and England; it also helped him earn a commission to raise a male company.
French and Indian Wars
In 1753, the French expanded their military control to the State of Ohio, an area already claimed by the British colonies in Virginia and Pennsylvania. This competing claim led to the War of France and India (1754-62) and contributed to the beginning of the global Seven Year War (1756-63). Washington was involved in it by chance in 1754, and it was his first combat experience.
On March 15, 1754, Governor Dinwiddie commissioned Washington as Lieutenant Colonel in the newly formed Virginia Regiment and sent him on a second expedition of Ohio State to guard the construction of a fortress in Pittsburgh. He left on April 2 with 150 people, but he received word on the journey that the French forces had driven out the colonial merchants and started the Fort Duquesne development. Tanacharison and some soldiers found a small detachment of French troops east of Uniontown, Pennsylvania led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. Washington built a camp rooted in Great Meadows, Pennsylvania which he called Fort Necessity and, with several militia units and their Mingo allies, he ambushed France on May 28 at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. There is a discrepancy, but some main accounts agree that the battle lasts only about 15 minutes; Jumonville was killed and most of his party imprisoned or killed. After the battle, Tanacharison gave Washington the nickname of Destroyer City.
France responded by attacking Fort Necessity in July 1754 in a ten-hour battle that culminated in Washington's only surrender. The French allowed him to return to Virginia with his troops, but he signed the French surrender document because of the false translation that said he had "killed" Jumonville - and this was the reason to blame him for starting the war. Historian Joseph Ellis concludes that this episode shows Washington's courage and initiative, as well as his experience and impatience. Upon his return to Virginia, Washington refused to accept the demotion of the captaincy, and withdrew from his commission.
The Washington Expedition to the State of Ohio has international consequences; The French accused him of killing Jumonville according to the submission documents, and they further claim that Jumonville is only on a diplomatic mission. Both France and Great Britain were ready to fight to take control of the territory and both sent troops to North America in 1755; war was officially declared in 1756.
In the Battle of Monongahela, France and their Indian allies ambushed the reduced armies of Braddock, and the general was seriously wounded. After suffering a devastating victim, the British panicked and retreated. Washington mobilized his troops into an organized retreat, showing courage and stamina despite suffering from fever and headaches. He has two horses shot from underneath, and his hat and mantle are pierced by several bullets, while two thirds of the British are killed or wounded. Washington's behavior in combat redeemed his reputation among many who criticized his command in the Battle of Fort Necessity. However, he was excluded by commander Colonel Thomas Dunbar in planning the next force movement, possibly as a result of his recommendation to form an offensive flying column.
Commander of the Virginia Regiment (1755)
On August 14, 1755, Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie awarded Washington with a commission as "Colonel of the Regiment and Commander of Virginia as Head of all the troops now raised in the defense of His Majesty Colonies" and gave him the task of defending the Virginia border. The Virginia Regiment was the first full-time American military unit in the colonies, as opposed to the part-time militia and regular British units. He is commanded to "act defensively or attack" as he thinks best. He gladly accepted the commission, but the red coat of police officers rankings kept evading him - along with the accompanying salary. Dinwiddie urged the British military to incorporate the Virginia Regiment into its sequence, but to no avail.
Washington is the commander of a thousand soldiers, and he is known as a disciplinarian who emphasizes training. He led his men in a brutal campaign against the Indians in the west; his regiment fought 20 battles in 10 months and lost a third of his men. As a result of his efforts, Virginia's border population suffered fewer than other colonies; Ellis concludes that "it is the only unqualified success" in the war.
Expedition and Forbes retirement (1758)
In 1758, Colonel Washington participated in the Forbes Expedition under the command of John Forbs to capture French Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania. Washington wants to gain recognition and improve his military position, because he is younger than most of his colleagues, and for this purpose he corresponds with Forbes and Colonel Thomas Gage for a chance. However, he was disappointed when he was only commissioned to oversee the construction of a road that would connect Forts Fredrick and Cumberland in preparation for advancement at Fort Duquesne.
Washington was only involved in one battle during the expedition, which did little to help his reputation. His unit responded to enemy enemy groups, but they found themselves involved in friendly fire incidents when reinforcements arrived, each contingent thinking that the other was a French enemy and resulted in little casualties. England did a strategic winning score by seizing the Valley of Ohio when France finally left the fort, but Washington retired from the Virginia Regiment commission in December 1758 and did not return to military life until the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775.
Lessons learned
Washington never earned a commission in the British army he craved, but in these years he acquired military skills, politics and leadership that proved invaluable during the Revolution, aided by observations, readings, and conversations with professional officers. Some historians consider his views on the advantages of a strong national government and an executive body that is keen to frustrate in dealing with government officials during this conflict (although others point to the later American Revolutionary War service). He developed a very negative view of an undisciplined militia compared to regular troops, although his experience was limited to the command of 1,000 people in remote border conditions, away from the urban situation he faced during the Revolution.
Maps George Washington
Marriage and civil life (1759-1774)
On January 6, 1759, Washington married rich widow Martha Dandridge Custis, aged 28 years. George and Martha make the appropriate marriage; he is smart, friendly, and experienced in managing plantation estates. The couple raised their children from previous marriages, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke (Patsy) Custis, and they later raised the grandchildren Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis. They have no children together; his fight with smallpox in 1751 probably made him barren. They moved to Mount Vernon near Alexandria, where he took life as a successful tobacco grower and grain and quickly emerged as a political figure.
Washington's marriage to Martha greatly enhanced his property and social standing and made him one of Virginia's wealthiest people. He acquired one-third of the 18,000 acre Custis estate (73 km km), worth about $ 100,000, and he manages the rest on behalf of Martha's sons whom he loves very much. He also obtained 84 slaves through marriage, brought to Mount Vernon from Custis Estate.
Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie had promised land reward in 1754 to soldiers and volunteer volunteers volunteering during the French and Indian War. Washington won over the Governor of Lord Botetourt, and he fulfilled Dinwiddie's promise in 1769-70; Washington received an area of ​​23,200 acres (94Ã, km 2 ) where the Kanawha River flowed to the Ohio River in West Virginia. He also bought additional land, double the size of Mount Vernon to 6.500 acre (26 km <2>) and increased his slave population to more than 100 in 1775.
A respected military hero and a large landowner, he holds a local post and was elected to the Virginia provincial parliament, representing Frederick County in the House of Burgesses for seven years beginning in 1758. In that year's election he showered voters with 170 gallons. blow rice, beer, wine, hard cider, and brandy - though he is absent because he serves on Forbes Expedition. He won the election with about 40 percent of the vote, defeating three other candidates with the help of several local elites. He rarely spoke early in his legislative career, but he became a leading critic of British tax and mercantilist policies in the 1760s.
Washington is living an aristocratic lifestyle, and his favorite activities include fox hunting, dancing and parties, theater, racing, and cockfighting. He is also known to play cards, backgammon, and billiards. Like most Virginia planters, he imports luxury goods and other goods from the UK and pays them by exporting his crops. However, in 1764, luxury goods and the bad tobacco market this made it paid off. He slowly withdrew from debt in the mid-1760s by diversifying his business interests, paying more attention to his finances, and reducing the luxury of imports. He transformed Mount Vernon's primary crop of tobacco into wheat, which can be processed and then sold in various forms in the colony, and he further operated to include flour milling, fishing, horse farming, pig production, spinning, and weaving. In the 1790s, he founded a distillery for whiskey production that produced more than 1,000 gallons per month.
Washington stepdaughter Patsy Custis died in his arms on June 19, 1773 after suffering epileptic seizures for five years. The next day, he wrote to Burwell Bassett: "It's easier to understand, than describe, the distress of this Family, especially from the unhappy Parents of our honorable Patcy Custis, when I tell you that yesterday moved Sweet, Innocent Girl back into the happier and more peaceful than he has ever seen, the way he has lived up until now.He canceled all business and not far from Martha for one night over the next three months.Patsy's death enabled him to pay off his British lender, however, because half of his inheritance was passed to him.
Washington became a political figure and soon emerged as a leader in the social elite in Virginia. From 1768 to 1775, he invited about 2,000 guests to his Mount Vernon estate, most of whom he considered "rank people". His advice about people with no high social status is "to treat them civilly" but "keep them at the right distance, because they will grow based on familiarity, in proportion when you are immersed in authority." He became more politically active in 1769, presenting legislation in the Assembly of Virginia to impose an embargo on goods from Britain.
src: www.biography.com
American Revolution
Washington played a leading military and political role in the American Revolution. His first hand involvement began in 1767 when he took a political stand against the actions of the British Parliament such as the Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the colonies, enacted without a colonial representation. He took the lead role in the widespread colonial protest against the Townshend Acts imposed in 1767. In May 1769, he introduced a proposal compiled by his friend George Mason, calling on Virginia to boycott British goods until the Acts of Apostles were revoked. Parliament revoked Townshend Acts in 1770.
Washington considers the passage of the Intolerant Act of 1774 as "Invasion of Our Rights and Privileges", telling his friend Bryan Fairfax, "I think the British Parliament has no right to lay their hands in my pocket without my consent than I have to put my hand into your hands for the sake of money. "He also said that Americans should not be subject to tyrannical action" until custom and its use will make us a benign and despised slave, like a black man we lead with arbitrary powers. " In July 1774, he led a committee that adopted Fairfax Resolves who called for the Continental Congress, among others. In August, he attended the First Virginia Convention where he was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. Revolutionary War (1775-1783) Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
The colonies officially fought with the British after the initial armed conflict in the Battle of Lexington and Concord near Boston in April 1775. On June 14, the Congress created the Continental Army, and Samuel Adams and John Adams of Massachusetts nominated Washington to become the supreme commander; he was unanimously elected to that position the next day. He refused salary in acceptance speech but received reimbursement for a fee, where he kept his account for the next eight years.
Washington appears in the Second Continental Congress in military uniform, marking his preparations for war. Congress appointed him as commander of 13 generals, and he found competent officials such as General Nathanael Greene, Colonel Henry Knox, and Colonel Alexander Hamilton. Washington was impressed by Benedict Arnold's enthusiasm and gave him the responsibility to invade Canada. He also involves General Daniel Morgan, whom he has served in the French and Indian Wars.
Washington immediately carried out reforms in the military and implemented strict discipline, including parades, flogging, and fines. He trains his officer staff during the early months of command, and instructs them to familiarize themselves with their recruits so they can understand what military duties work best for them. He gave them the importance of being prepared and respected by civilians, and he urged them to read military manuals. He took off the officer he thought was cowardly or incompetent, and he told Congress that it was "the most important job". He urged those recruited to remain in the military if their registration would end soon, but this failed.
Washington had only 3,500 people for the 1776 campaign. By mid-January, its forces were half-strength at 9,600; colonial militias fighting in the French and Indian Wars were called in to fill the void. Fortunately for Washington and the continental Continental Army, General William Howe, the British commander in Boston, refused to attack.
Boston and New York
In September 1775, Washington, impatient with all inactivity, called for the war council, and proposed an attack on the besieged British Army in Boston. Most of his generals were taken aback at a proposal that believed that Howe's British Army, backed by the British Navy, was firmly entrenched and it would only result in a high casualty. To cut off his generals, Washington ordered Colonel Knox to Fort Ticonderoga to get artillery for the Continental Army. Having fifty-two cannons and fourteen mortars, the Washington generals approved the bombing of British troops from Dorchester Heights, facing Boston. Howe refused to attack Washington at Dorchester Heights, believing he would suffer a high casualty, as in Bunker Hill. In March 1776, the British Army and the Navy evacuated Boston. Knowing England was not defeated, Washington moved the Army to New York City, correctly predicting England will return in full force.
Beginning in June 1776, the English General William Howe, based in Staten Island, has amassed the great power of British and Hessian forces in preparation for an all-out siege in New York City, considered key to securing the continent. Before Howe's assault attempted to negotiate a peace treaty with Washington and sent him a submission which he addressed to George Washington, Esq. Washington rejected the letter, demanding that he be recognized and called as General and a warlike man, not as a rebel. He is also concerned that, as a rebel, his men may be hanged if arrested, and considers it his duty to force that his newly-established men and the United States be recognized and dealt with in the proper protocol. After several attempts, the negotiations failed.
In the weeks leading up to the British marine and land forces, military power increased. In August 1776, Howe launched a major naval and land campaign designed to seize New York. Many generals in Washington prefer to retreat from the city and engage in defensive strategies, but he believes it is better to engage in major combat. The Continental Army under Washington engaged the enemy for the first time as a US soldier at the Battle of Long Island, the greatest battle of the entire war. The Americans are very numerous, many people are gone, and Washington is defeated. He and his generals were determined to retreat, and Washington instructed General William Heath to provide every underground river boat and lifeboat in the area. General William Alexander ( Lord Stirling ) arrested the British Army, which allowed Washington and the Continental Army to retreat. In a short time, the Washington army crossed the East River safely under the shadow of darkness to Manhattan Island and did so without loss of life or material, even though Lord Stirling was captured by the British.
Washington had considered leaving the island and Fort Washington, but he heeded General Greene and Putnam's recommendation to try to defend the fortress. Unable to withstand Washington, with strong objections from Lee, leaving the fort and retreating further north to White Plains. However, with Howe in pursuit he can not secure that position and is forced to retreat across the Hudson to Fort Lee to avoid a siege. With America backing off, Howe was able to attack; he landed his troops on the island on November 16 and encircled and captured Fort Washington, which resulted in the high casualties of the Continental. As the Washington commander was responsible for the decision to delay the retreat, but he also blamed Congressional desires and bad advice Nathaniel Greene. "
Crossing Delaware
Resigning from his defeat in New York, Washington resumed its flight across New Jersey, with Howe's troops chasing most of the way. The future of the Continental Army is doubtful because of poor supplies, lack of adequate clothing and boots along with expired and deserted registrations along the way. He was disappointed to learn that many New Jersey residents were Loyalists, or just very skeptical about the prospect of Independence.
Then he prepares to move to the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. The Over believes that General Howe assumes that Washington and his men will never be able to cross Delaware, deciding not to advance in Philadelphia and instead bargain for the time and take a winter residence in Trenton, New Jersey on the east coast of Delaware. Learning about the complacency of Howe and his Hessian mercenaries, and driven by desperate conditions and overdue registrations, Washington gathered with his generals on Christmas Eve at Samuel Merrick's home and drafted a plan to cross a cold Delaware at night and startled England/The Hessian Garrison camped there. As the sun sets, the storms begin to rise and light rain begins to fall. Before the mass crossing, Washington had crossed the river and spied the area on the coast of New Jersey where his troops would land. Meanwhile, he had his men search along Delaware for sixty miles for a sturdy boat and barge suitable for carrying troops and supplies across the river, confiscating every river that could be used for crossing, and for destroying everything that could later be used by the British. Many Durham boats were found and used at intersections. Washington ordered some additional ships that were found hidden in tributaries for future use. However, around midnight, his plan was on the verge of failure with a serious delay from the artillery team assembled at the point of departure. On the night of 25-26 December 1776, he led his troops across Delaware, with eighteen pieces of artillery, while struggling with the fast currents and ice that blocked their path. Washington divides its troops into three groups, with two failing to cross the river.
Trenton and Princeton
American troops crossed the next morning in stormy weather and heavy snow and snow still fell, and the spy reported the location of Hessian posts and positions about a mile from Trenton in New Jersey. Washington divides his troops into three groups and rides on horseback with words of encouragement to his subordinates: "Soldiers are guarded by your officers. By God, keep your officers." Still on top of his mount, Washington paused and was given food and drink at a nearby house while his senior officers gathered around for a war council. Moving, three divisions were split at the Birmingham intersection, with General Nathanael Greene's division taking the Ferry Road division and General John Sullivan forward on River Road. In a coordinated effort Washington advanced in Trenton in a surprise attack at around 8 am, still dark due to thick clouds. He led the attack itself, assisted by Major General Henry Knox and artillery, and arrested about 850 prisoners.
Washington followed up his victory at Trenton with others over a regular British customer at Princeton on January 3, with only forty Americans killed or wounded while British troops suffered 273 dead or were captured. The American generals, Hugh Mercer and John Cadwalader, were present and pushed back by the British, with Mercer falling and severely injured. Washington, who rode his white horse, arrived at the scene and deployed Mercer and Cadwalader troops to counter-attack, with Washington in front forward to about thirty yards from the British frontline. Other British troops withdrew after making brief positions, some evacuating Princeton and others taking refuge in Nassau Hall. Hessian Commander Colonel Johann Rall was seriously injured during a brief battle. Alexander Hamilton was present at the battle; he took three cannons and began shooting at the building where the British were held. The Washington army accused the building, and the British extinguished the white flag and surrendered; 194 soldiers walked out of the building and placed their hands. Other Britons retreated to New York City and beyond, which they held until the Treaty of Paris (1783).
The continental Army spent its winter headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey after their victory at Princeton, rather than retreat back to Pennsylvania; this allowed him to disrupt the UK supply line and drive it from the New Jersey section. Washington admitted a few years later that Britain could easily defeat the heavily guarded camp if they strike back before its troops are dug.
The victory of Washington marked a turning point in the revolution and shattered the British strategy that showed tremendous strength, then offered cheap conditions. America will not negotiate for anything less independent. This victory alone is not enough to ensure the highest Patriot victory, however, as many soldiers are not re-registered or abandoned during the harsh winters. Washington and Congress reorganized the army in return for increased living and the punishment for desertion, which increased the number of troops effectively for the next battle.
Brandywine, Germantown, and Saratoga
In February 1777 while camping in Morristown, New Jersey, Washington became convinced that only the inoculation of smallpox by variation would prevent the destruction of the Army, which by some accounts drastically reduced the deaths from the disease. In the late summer of 1777, British General John Burgoyne led a large invasion force south of Quebec, with the aim of separating the New England rebellion. But General Howe in New York took his army south to Philadelphia instead of going to the Hudson River to join Burgoyne near Albany - a major strategic blunder. Meanwhile, Washington rushed to Philadelphia to involve Howe, while closely following the action in New York, where the patriots were led by General Philip Schuyler and his successor Horatio Gates. The battle going on in Philadelphia is too complicated for people who are relatively inexperienced in Washington and they are defeated.
At the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, Howe defeated Washington and marched to the American capital in Philadelphia without a fight on 26 September. The Washington army failed to attack the British garrison in Germantown in early October. Meanwhile, in the north, Burgoyne is out of reach of help from Howe, trapped and forced to surrender after the Battle of Saratoga. This is a major military and diplomatic turning point - France responds to Burgoyne's defeat by entering into war, allying with America and expanding the Revolutionary War into big affairs around the world.
Washington's loss in Philadelphia prompted some members of Congress to consider releasing it from command. This movement called Conway Cabal, failed after Washington supporters rallied behind it. Biographer Alden recounts, "it is inevitable that the defeat of Washington's troops and the victory of troops in New York over should be compared." A passionate admiration for Washington did fade, with John Adams giving Washington a little credit.
Valley Forge
The 11,000-man Washington army went to winter settlements in the Forge Valley north of Philadelphia in December 1777. Over the next six months, deaths in the camp numbered in the thousands, the majority of which came from illness, exacerbated by the lack of proper food and clothing, the bad one. , and very cold. The estimated death toll of historians ranges from 2,000 to over 3,000. The English are comfortably fenced in Philadelphia and pay their supplies in sterling. In contrast, Washington is finding it difficult to get supplies from some farmers in the area who are unwilling to accept the rapidly depreciating American paper currency, while the forest in the valley soon runs out. As conditions deteriorated, Washington was faced with the task of defending the spirit and weakening desertion, which had become common in February.
Washington has repeatedly petitioned the Continental Congress for much-needed but unsuccessful provisions. Finally, on January 24, 1778, five members of Congress came to the Forge Valley to check the conditions of the Continental Army. Washington expressed the urgency of the situation, exclaiming, "Something must be done." Important changes must be made. " At this time, he also argues that Congress must control the army supply system, pay for its supplies, and immediately speed them up when they become necessary. In response to Washington's urgent appeal, Congress gave its full support to finance the army's supply lines, which also resulted in the reorganization of the panic department that controls the collection of supplies for the army. By the end of February, there was considerable supplies flowing throughout the camp.
Washington recruited regular and commissioned Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben to train them, whose drilling endlessly instantly transformed the Washington army into a disciplined and effective combat force. Washington's army has experienced winter when many are worried about being destroyed. Washington's anniversary is openly celebrated for the first time in the winter. The following spring, the revitalized army emerged from the Forge Valley well, largely thanks to a full-scale training program overseen by General von Steuben, a veteran of the Prussian general staff, who was promoted to Major General for his efforts. and became Washington's chief of staff for the rest of the war.
Monmouth and Sullivan Expeditions
The British evacuated Philadelphia to New York in June 1778. Washington summoned the war council with General Lee, Greene, Wayne, and Lafayette. He decided to do a partial attack on the England retreat at the Battle of Monmouth. England was ordered by Sir Henry Clinton, Howe's successor. On June 28, Lee and Lafayette moved with 4,000 people, without direct knowledge of Washington and launched their first attack. After the words of sharp criticism, Washington relieved Lee and continued to struggle for effective results in one of the greatest battles of war. When the night came, the fighting stopped and the British continued their retreat and headed for New York, where Washington immediately moved troops outside the city. Monmouth is the last major battle facing Washington in the north. After this battle, he realized that it was best to protect his troops rather than try and keep England away from occupying the cities, because they rarely had anything to offer that helped the effectiveness of the British army.
In the summer of 1779, Washington and Congress decided to attack the Iroquois fighters from "the Six States" in a campaign to force British Indian allies out of New York, which they had used as a base to attack American settlements around New England. In June 1779, Indian soldiers joined the Tory rangers led by Colonel William Butler and killed more than 200 frontiersmen, using the barbarity that is usually shunned, and putting waste into the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. A British officer who witnessed Tory's brutality said that the red suit upon returning to Britain would "stroke any bastard from them." In August 1779, General John Sullivan led a military operation that destroyed at least 40 Iroquois villages, burning all available crops. Few people were killed when the Indians fled to British protection in Canada. Sullivan later reported that "the immediate objects of this expedition are complete, namely: the total destruction of Indian settlements and the destruction of their crops, designed to support inhuman barbarians."
Hudson River and Southern battle
Washington is currently relocating its headquarters from Middlebrook in New Jersey to New Windsor in Hudson, with an army of 10,000, to thwart any British progress on the river. On October 8, 1777, Washington sent a letter to New Jersey Governor William Livingston. "Sir: I received a certain intelligence yesterday, that the enemy has ascended to the Hudson River..." with the intention of taking the Kings Ferry, the southernmost point on the Hudson border above New York. Both Washington and Clinton see the area as a vital strategic interest. On October 5, Clinton, had disrupted the American position, but the patriots led by General Wayne counterattacked, regaining their positions. Clinton could eventually stop the Kings Ferry, but it was a strategic disadvantage and he could not continue the trip to the river because of Washington's already deep-seated forces. The battle indicates that the continental infantry has become very tough with immense moral urges.
Washington went to quarters in Morristown during the winter of 1779-1780, which represented the worst misery for soldiers during the war. Temperatures dropped to 16 below zero, New York Harbor froze, and snow and ice covered the ground for weeks, with more troops short of stock for a while like in the Valley Forge. At the end of 1779, Clinton moved his army south to Charleston for an attack on a patriot led by Benjamin Lincoln. After his success there, Clinton again won to New York. Congress replaces Lincoln with Gates, though Washington recommends Greene. Gates failed in South Carolina and was later replaced by Greene. The English at that time seemed to have the South almost in their grip. Despite this news, Washington was encouraged when he studied in mid-1780 that Lafayette had returned from France with additional assets and naval forces.
Plot and West Point betrayal
Washington has worked hard to develop a successful espionage system to detect British locations and plans. In 1778, he ordered Major Benjamin Tallmadge to form the Culper Ring to gather information about Britain in New York. Washington was usually conscious of betrayal, but he ignored evidence of disloyalty by Benedict Arnold, his trusted Continental Army officer who had distinguished himself in many battles and gained Washington's respect and admiration.
Arnold was recently wounded in combat and unable to ride horses and lead troops in battle, so Washington lifted him to the position of military governor of Philadelphia on June 18, 1778. Arnold met with Philadelphia merchant Joseph Stransbury in early May 1779, under the temptation of his wife who faithful Peggy Shippen faithful. Stransbury was told that Arnold wanted to defect to England, and he delivered Arnold's message to the English spymaster John Andrà ©  © in New York on May 10. Historians have noted several possible reasons for Arnold's betrayal: his anger at the loss of promotion for junior officers and the repeated defeat of Congress; his advantage in war, where he faces military courts; and its grocery debts. There is no indication that Arnold's decision to betray his people was requested by Britain.
During the summer of 1780, Arnold started his treasonous conspiracy with the help of his wife by supplying Andrà ©  © with sensitive information aimed at compromising with Washington and capturing West Point, the main defensive position located above New York on the Hudson River. In August, after repeated requests from Arnold, Washington appointed him as West Point commander. On September 21, Arnold met AndrÃÆ' © at the edge of Hudson and gave him a plan to take over the garrison - and AndrÃÆ'  © hide it in the trunk. Two days later, AndrÃÆ'  © was arrested by militia forces along Hudson who discovered Arnold's plan. Colonel Alexander Hamilton sent reinforcements to secure West Point. While expecting Washington to arrive at the home of his private secretary Richard Varick, Arnold flies on horseback and walks to the waiting voyage at Hudson and runs away. Upon receiving the news, angry Washington immediately alerted all commanders under Arnold's direction to key positions around the fort as a precaution against any involvement on their part; However, he does not suspect Arnold's wife at this time. Washington took over West Point's personal command and worked earnestly into the night to rearrange command orders and strengthen defense positions. British General Clinton had lost the element of surprise, surrendered hope, and never attempted to capture the castle.
Arriving in New York, Arnold was paid £ 6.315 by Clinton, became senior British commander, and fought the Patriots in Virginia and Connecticut. AndrÃÆ'Â © was tried by military court for spying and sentenced to death. Washington offered to return it to England in exchange for Arnold, but Clinton refused. AndrÃÆ'Ã… © then asked Washington to be executed by a firing squad. Washington tends to grant his wishes, but he changes his mind under pressure to make an example of an enemy spymaster. AndrÃÆ' Â © was hanged in Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780.
Victory at Yorktown
The Washington army went to the winter residence of New Windsor in 1780 and suffered again due to a shortage of supplies. Washington wins over Congress as well as state officials to come help them with provisions. He sympathized with their suffering, saying that he hoped that the army would not "continue to struggle under the same difficulties they have until now, which I can not help commenting seems to reach the limit of human patience".
In July 1780, 5,000 French soldiers led by de Rochambeau arrived in Newport, Rhode Island to assist in the war. French naval forces then landed, led by Admiral FranÃÆ'§ois Joseph Paul de Grasse. Washington then encouraged Rochambeau to move his fleet to the south, and launched a joint sea-level attack against Arnold's forces.
In December 1780, British General Sir Henry Clinton sent Benedict Arnold, now a Brigadier General in the British Army, with about 1,700 troops to Virginia to capture Portsmouth and spread terror throughout the state. Washington responded by sending southern Lafayette with small troops to fight Arnold's efforts but the effort was generally ineffective. This was Arnold's first encounter with Washington since he left the Continental Army. Washington initially hoped to bring allied troops to New York withdraw British troops from Virginia, and end the war there, but Rochambeau suggested de Grasse that Cornwallis in Virginia was a better target. Admiral de Grasse followed this advice and arrived off the coast of Virginia. Washington immediately saw the profits made, made a feinting movement with his powers toward Clinton in New York, and then headed south to Virginia.
The Washington Army, which also recently funded $ 20,000 in French gold, gave Britain a final blow in 1781, after a French naval victory allowed US and French troops to trap British troops in Virginia, preventing Clinton's reinforcement from the North. Submission at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, marks the end of a major battle in North America. Washington was delighted to see the once resolute British army surrendered, but showed no outward sign. Cornwallis failed to appear at the official handover ceremony, claimed the disease, and sent General Charles O'Hara as his deputy; Washington then asked General Benjamin Lincoln to accept surrender in his place.
Demobilization and resignation
The substantial battle has ended but the war has not, and the official peace treaty is a few months away. Britain still has 26,000 troops occupying New York City, Charleston, and Savannah, and has a strong fleet. The French army and navy left, so the Americans themselves were in 1782-83. Money feeds anxiety; the treasury was empty, and the unpaid soldiers grew restless almost to the point of rebellion. At one point, they forced Congressional delays from Philadelphia to Princeton. Washington dispelled riots among officers by suppressing the Newburgh Conspiracy in March 1783, and Congress secured a five-year bonus pledge.
With an article of preliminary peace treaties ratified in April 1783, a newly formed Congressional committee under Hamilton is considering the needs and plans for peacetime soldiers. On May 2, 1783, the Commander handed the Committee of Peace Sentiment to the Committee, essentially providing the official position of the Continental Army. The original proposal was defeated at the Congress in two votes (May 1783, October 1783), with the cut version also rejected in April 1784.
With the Paris Treaty signed on September 3, 1783, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of the United States. Washington dismissed its troops and gave an eloquent farewell speech to its soldiers on November 2. On November 25, the British evacuated New York City, and Washington and the governors took over. Only a few credible members of Congress, including Thomas Jefferson, knew about Washington's decision to resign from his commission as Commander-in-Chief. At Fraunces Tavern on December 4, after leading the Continental Army for eight and a half years, Washington formally appealed to his separation officials, and he resigned from his post on December 23, 1783, to the Continental Congress in the Old House Senate Chamber of the House of Maryland in Annapolis, Maryland.
"I consider it a very important task to cover the last service of my official life, praising the interest of our beloved country to protect the Almighty God, and those who have their supervisors, to preserve their sacredness." Historian Gordon S. Wood concludes that "The greatest act of his life, which gives him his greatest fame, is his resignation as the highest commander of American troops." King George III calls Washington "the greatest character of the age" because of this.
Washington then filed an official report on the expenses he personally raised to his troops during the eight-year conflict of approximately $ 450,000. It is said to have been detailed about small and vague items about a large one, and included the costs incurred from Martha's visit to his headquarters, as well as compensation for the service - nothing had been withdrawn during the war. Washington made his exploratory trip to the western border in 1784 and examining the ownership of the land that had been obtained several decades earlier for his ministry in the French and Indian Wars. There he encountered squatters, including David Reed and Covenanters; they vacated, but only after the loss of a court ruling heard in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1786. He also facilitated the formation of Potomac Company, a public-private partnership that links the Potomac River with the Ohio River. He was elected president of the company, where he extensively embraced. It serves as a model for large scale channel development but technical and financial challenges make it unprofitable.
Constitution and presidential convention
After much reluctance, Washington was persuaded to attend the Constitution Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 as a delegate from Virginia, where he was unanimously elected president. He holds much criticism of the Confederate Article of the thirteen colonies, for the weak central government he founded, referring to the article as nothing more than a "sand string" to support a new state. Washington's view for the needs of a strong federal government grew out of the recent war, as well as the inability of the Continental Congress to rally countries to provide for military needs, as was clearly demonstrated for him during the winter in the Valley. Forge. The general population, however, does not share Washington's view of a strong federal government binding the shared states, comparing the prospects to the previously ruled British Parliament and taxing the colonies.
Washington remained silent during the debate, instead of showing his sentiments, for or against, by smiling or frowning. Although he gives his voice when called, his prestige facilitates the collegiality and productivity of the delegates. After several months of being a task, Washington told Alexander Hamilton, "I am almost desperate to see a favorable problem for our convention process and therefore repent after having agents in business." Following the Convention, its support convinces many to vote for ratification. He was unsuccessful in lobbying for anti-federalist Patrick Henry, saying that "his adoption under the current situation of the Union is in my opinion very desirable;" he states that the only alternative is anarchy. However, he does not consider it appropriate to vote in favor of adoption for Virginia, as he is expected to become the nominated president below him. The new constitution was then ratified by all thirteen states. Delegates to the convention drafted the presidency with Washington in mind, allowing him to determine the office after being elected. Washington thought that the achievement was monumental once they were finally done.
The state voters, under the new Constitution, elected the President on 4 February 1789, while official vote counts were made when Congress met in New York and reached the quorum. During this delay, Washington is concerned that most Republican voters do not vote for it.
Presidency (1789-1797)
Although the Constitution stipulates that the Inauguration took place on March 4, the First Congress meeting in New York was delayed and very slow, due to travel and other issues. It was not until April 6 that the Congress reached the quorum. Washington was elected President, unanimously winning the votes of each state, while John Adams received the next highest vote and was elected vice-president. Electoral vote counts, Washington notices of his election, and his departure from Mount Vernon, did not peak until April 23, and his inauguration was set for April 30.
At age fifty-seven, Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789, taking the first oath of office at the Federal Hall office in New York City. He arrived at a coach led by militia and marching bands, followed by long lines of statesmen and foreign dignitaries in his first parade in the country. As she stepped onto the balcony, she was greeted by a throng crowd of about 10,000 people. When Washington was sworn in by Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, he was given thirty gun salutes. Returning to the Senate Chambers, Washington reads a simple 1,200 word speech calling for "the Almighty" to bless "the crucial revolution". Washington refused salary in his speech, but Congress later gave him a salary of $ 25,000 per year. Washington received that amount to finance presidential expenses. Washington realized that everything he did was a precedent, and he attended greatly the splendor and office ceremonies, ensuring that the titles and clips fit the republic and never imitated the European royal court. For that, he prefers the title "Mr. President" to a more grand name proposed by the Senate.
Washington had originally planned to resign during his first term, but because of his extraordinary support and admiration, he felt obliged to remain in office. He proved a capable administrator and established many precedents in the function of the presidency, including a message to Congress and a government cabinet form. He set a standard of tolerance for opposition voices, although there were fears that the democratic system would lead to political violence, and he did
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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