Washington Who’s in George’s Cabinet ? I’m the one-dollar man George’s Christmas Cruise Why on the Delaware George Never Smiled IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Washington_FC.indd 1 3/15/17 11:28 AM 2 The First President George Washington died in 1799. Gen- eral Henry Lee gave a speech before Con- gress that put everything Washington had done into just a few words. He said Wash- ington was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”* Most people remember Washington as the nation’s first president. He was also an outstanding general. He led the nation to victory in the American Revolution, an eight-year fight for independence from u THIS MEMORIAL from many differ- 1888. Today, festi- to Washington ent parts of the city vals, concerts, and Britain. Americans respected him for his stands in the that is also named fireworks displays leadership and bravery in combat. They nation’s capital. after the man. take place near the also respected Washington’s loyalty to his About 555 feet tall, The Washington monument. the huge marble Monument opened soldiers during very tough times. tower can be seen to the public in Washington had a strong personal code r YOU PROBABLY of right and wrong. He always tried to won’t find a paint- be honest and true to his word. He also ing of Washington had a great sense of duty to his country. with a big smile on his face. Shy and modest, he never expected to be That’s because the nation’s first president, and he never Washington wore a sought the office. Yet when the nation’s set of false teeth. They were made leaders convinced him that his country of ivory, metal, a needed him, he agreed to serve. Luckily cow’s tooth, and Washington tried for us, as you will see, George Washing- one of his own to hide them by teeth. The teeth keeping his mouth ton was the right person for the job. fit poorly, and closed. *From The American Historical Record, vol. 1, by Benson John Lossing. Chase & Town, 1872. r WASHINGTON appears on the dollar bill. By law, no living person can appear on U.S. currency. Also, the person’s place in history must be well known. r WASHINGTON WAS r FRENCH SCULPTOR born on February Jean-Antoine 11, 1732. That date Houdon made is according to the this mask of Julian calendar, Washington in which was still in 1785. It shows use in the first half what Washington of the 18th cen- moved all dates on February 22. really looked like, tury. In 1752, the forward by 11 Today, however, and it may be the present Gregorian days. As a result, we celebrate it on best image we calendar was Washington’s birth- the third Monday in have of him. introduced, which day was celebrated February. Washington_2-3.indd 2 3/15/17 11:36 AM 3 GILBERT STUART painted this famous portrait of George Washington in 1796. Washington_2-3.indd 3 3/15/17 11:36 AM 4 younger sister and three younger brothers. The Early Years Augustine had been married previously, so George Washington was born in West- George also had two older half brothers. moreland County, Virginia, in 1732. He When George was six, the family moved was the oldest of five children of Augus- to Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Vir- tine and Mary Ball Washington. He had a ginia. On the family farm, George learned d MARY BALL r GEORGE’S FORMAL Washington, education began at George’s mother, around age seven. lived to be about It ended when he 80. She lived long was in his early enough to see her teens. His studies son elected presi- included arithme- dent of the United tic, geography, States. astronomy, and surveying. Unlike some colonies, Virginia had no public schools. Rich Virginians father had sent George’s formal either sent their George’s two studies ended. children to school older half broth- in England or had ers to school in r HAVE YOU HEARD the kids taught at England. But after that George home. George’s his father’s death, Washington cut down a cherry tree, r WHEN GEORGE then admitted to was young, chil- his father that he dren practiced had done it? It’s their handwriting probably not true. by copying such Most likely, Mason things as the Rules Locke Weems made of Civility. These up the story for rules were meant his book The Life to teach children and Memorable how to behave. Actions of George George wrote all Washington. He 110 rules in his wrote the book in copybook. 1800, soon after Washington’s death. r AT MOUNT What would Vernon, George be some Rules learned many new of Civility that skills. He went to people should parties held by learn today? the Fairfax family. That’s where he learned how to dance, dress well, and practice good manners. He also became an excel- u LAWRENCE WASH- The connection lent horseback ington married with the Fairfax rider. He polished Anne Fairfax. She family helped his hunting and * came from one George (above) find riding skills while of the richest and his first job – as a fox hunting with most powerful surveyor, measur- some of the richest *From George Washington’s Rules of Civility by families in Virginia. ing land. families in Virginia. Moncure D. Conway. United States Book Company, 1890. Washington_4-5.indd 4 3/15/17 11:38 AM 5 to ride horseback and to fish and boat closer to his older half brother Law- on the nearby Rappahannock River. He rence. He went often to visit Lawrence often went across the river to explore the on his farm, called Mount Vernon. When docks and wharves of Fredericksburg. George was 16, he went to live with Law- When George was 11, his father died. rence. At Mount Vernon, a new and dif- After his father’s death, George grew ferent kind of life opened up for George. d GEORGE WILLIAM Fairfax was a wealthy relative of Lawrence’s wife. He invited George Washington to join a group traveling to the Virginia frontier. They were going to survey (measure) land that belonged to the Fairfax family. Washington already knew a little about surveying. He had studied a few books and tried out the tools his father had u THE 1748 TRIP left him. into the wilderness was exciting for 16-year-old George. The men rode on horseback for days. They talked with the Native Americans they met and slept in blankets out in the open. However, not every part of the trip was fun. In his diary, Washington recorded a night he spent under a “thread Bear blan- ket with double its Weight of Vermin such as Lice, Fleas & c.”* *From Journal of My Journey Over the Mountains by George Washington, edited by Joseph Meredith Toner. Joel Munsell’s Sons, 1892. u WHEN GEORGE didn’t improve. was 19, Lawrence So he returned to (above) became ill Virginia, where with tuberculosis. he died in the George traveled summer of 1752. with him to the His death was West Indies, where a terrible blow he hoped to find for George, who a cure. However, loved his brother Lawrence’s health dearly. Washington_4-5.indd 5 3/15/17 11:38 AM 6 r THE BRITISH FELT that some areas Military the French claimed belonged to Britain. In 1753, King George II of Career Great Britain asked Virginia’s British By the time Washington governor to send turned 21, Britain and someone into Ohio France were ready to go territory. He wanted to find out what the to war for control of North French were up to. America. Both countries u IF FRANCE KEPT into the Ohio Valley, Washington had its land in the what would stop experience explor- had settlers there. The Brit- Ohio Valley, the them from going ing the backcountry, ish colonies along the Atlan- British colonies all the way to the so the governor tic coast of North America could not expand Mississippi? The picked him for west. If British stage was set the job. were growing much faster settlers moved for war. than the French ones far- ther inland. Many British u BY 1754, THE British were at war colonists wanted to move with the French west across the Appalachian and their Native American allies, Mountains and into the fighting for control Ohio Valley. The French of the Ohio Valley. were determined to keep The French and Indian War lasted them out. They claimed land until 1763. One of all along the Ohio River. the early battles They wanted to protect their u WHEN WASHING- volunteer soldiers. sides clashed as was a huge loss ton came back They were sup- Washington’s men for the British. It territory. When France and from the Ohio ter- posed to build a began building happened when Britain finally went to war ritory, he told the small British fort what they called General Edward Virginia governor on the Ohio River. Fort Necessity. Braddock (above) over land in North America, that the French On the way there, The fighting led a large group of George Washington’s mili- were not leaving Washington went badly for British soldiers into tary career began. the Ohio Valley. learned that the Washington’s the Ohio Valley to Washington was French were troops. They were seize Fort Duquesne. ordered to return already building surrounded and Washington went the following year Fort Duquesne had to surrender along as the with a group of nearby.