Washington: From Major to President

George Washington began his military career at age 21 in 1753, earning his stripes in the French and Indian War fought on American soil by the French and British each using natives to their advantage.

Washington quickly proved himself an able leader, good strategist, and clever diplomat moving up in the ranks and getting noticed.

When the colonists decided to pursue independence from England, people turned to Washington, where he continued to prove himself to ban an able, respects and popular leader of the Continental Army.

The winter of 1777 at Valley Forge witnessed the lowest and most hopeless days for America’s struggle towards independence. The army was starving, the Congress had failed miserably to adequately fund and equip the men, men needed to return to their farms and families and refugees needed everything.

Only Washington stood between defeat and victory. He proved to be a wily strategist once again and through perseverance, a few lucky breaks, grit and talented and courageous men who rose up to follow him – he maneuvered the British Army – the mightiest in the world – into a position where their only means of survival meant surrender. The colonies could now be an independent nation.

Washington resigned his position as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and returned to his beloved wife Martha at Mount Vernon. But his country called again and Washington answered. As our first president, he set the standard pattern of government for our nation. Through his faith in God, habit of virtuous living, innate goodness, willingness to serve others, to work hard and desire to educate himself constantly, he was our first and finest American.

Linda Turner
Vacation Liberty School of Georgetown (VLS)
Image Courtesy of Mount Vernon
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/washingtons-youth