Free Essay On My Hero – George Washington
Type of paper: Essay
Topic: United States, Washington, Politics, George Washington, President, America, Armed Forces, Army
Pages: 3
Words: 825
Published: 2020/12/20
It is unlikely that any of both amateurs and experts in history would dispute the fact that the first US president, George Washington became a central figure in the struggle for American independence and democracy. He was a skilled and tough at the same time military leader during the heroic and bloody events of 1775-1783 years, and at the end of the war, he became a political leader on the territory of the legendary thirteen colonies, which were destined to become the first in the history of civilization federal state. In the contemporary United States, George Washington still is one of the iconic historical figures.
Future first president of the United States was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington - a modest owner of a small tobacco plantation - died when his son was barely eleven years. George was raised by his older brother and received a rather moderate, superficial schooling. In 1752, George Washington inherited the estate in Mount Vernon, located on the Potomac River. Already at the age of seventeen, future first president of the United States became a surveyor. The lack of knowledge George Washington eagerly filled with self-education. In addition, his neighbor on the farm - Lord Fairfax - noble and wealthy landowner was as a wise mentor for this young man, laying the foundations of smart manager and planter.
Around this time, Washington entered military service as a major of local militia. Military action against the French troops during the Seven Years' War tempered future idol of the American nation. During the hostilities, George Washington showed courage, initiative, organizational skills and was promoted to the rank of colonel. At that time, the philosophical foundations of Washington were laid in many respects. Unequal position of local and British officers gave rise to the rejection of the colonists and colonial policy by the future first president of the US.
In 1759, demobilized from the army, George Washington immediately married a wealthy widow and mother of two children, Martha Dandridge Custis. A retired colonel and, by that time a Member of Parliament, received an impressive Virginia estate and 150 slaves. Henceforth, Washington was a full-fledged member of the elite society of local planters. Future first president of the United States actively took up farming, combined several plantations, replace tobacco, which was growing there on wheat and soon became one of the most successful American farmers. Along with this, George Washington continually red opposition English literature, concluding that the colonial administration is the exploitation in the pure form. In 1774, secured planter Washington became one of the first who spoke at Virginia parliament for the armed resistance to the British authorities.
George Washington had an unconditional authority among the local population. In 1775, after the first fights he became commander in chief of the combined US armed forces. Immediately thereafter, the rebels occupy Boston, and already on 4 July 1776 was signed the legendary Declaration of Independence, which spread over the territory of thirteen states. Soon, thanks largely to the efforts of Washington, Americans entered a coalition with the French army, which greatly strengthened their positions at all fronts, including political. The key point of the War of Independence became a triumph of combined Franco-American troops over the British General Cornwallis army. When in 1783, after the Armistice, the army started to panic that the commander in chief wanted to establish his own regime of dictatorship, George Washington solemnly handed over the command in the hands of Congress, thus showing his loyalty to the principles of democracy and the rule of political power over the military.
National recognition of George Washington led to the fact that he was elected president of the Constitutional Convention, which has been developing the main legislative act of the new country. Finally, on April 30, 1789, Washington became the first president of the United States of America. Three years later, he was unanimously re-elected for a second term. During his rule, the first US president tried to implement the principles of the US Constitution while advocating a strong and efficient central authority. In foreign policy, George Washington supported retention of neutrality.
The last years of Washington’s life took place in Mount Vernon with family and visitors. Even after stepping down as a head of the state, Washington frequently visited the newly built capital, which the workers called "Georgia". On July 13, 1798, during the sharp deterioration of relations with France, President John Adams, considering the popularity and reputation of Washington, symbolically named him commander of the US Army with the rank of lieutenant general; and he served as a senior officer of the US Army until his death.
Personally, for me George Washington is the real hero. Estimating his life, I made the accurate conclusion for myself - this is my idol. From the very beginning of his life, George proved that everything in the world is possible: the boy with improper education can become one of the most successful and respected politicians in the history of humanity. George Washington played a prominent role in gaining independence by the United States of America and made a major contribution to the development of the young state on the hard path of development. Moreover, as the commander in chief of US forces, he led a long struggle with Britain, which ended with a victory of colonies. In addition, Washington contributed significantly to the beginning of turning the USA into a modern federal state. He took an active part in the development and adoption of the Constitution, with his signature as the delegate from Virginia. As president, Washington secured the achievement of the War of Independence, put the Constitution into practice, laid the fundamental principles of the American state and the institution of the presidency and, in my opinion, determined further democratic, social and international development of his Motherland.
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