George Washington Research Paper

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

The result of the life of George Washington was formulated by his compatriots in the following words, "The first – on the war, the first - in peacetime, the first - in the hearts of his countrymen". George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in the family, the fourth generation which lived in Virginia. His ascension to the colonial elite was not preordained since childhood and youth were spent in humble circumstances. The first president received a surface schooling and lost his father Augustine, the owner of the tobacco plantations and land surveyor, in the age of eleven. His half-brother Lawrence raised him, after whose death he inherited the estate Mount Vernon (Virginia), near Alexandria

When in the middle of the XIX century, the fifth owner of the estate was John Augustine Washington III, it was quite obvious that it was necessary to do something to put Mount Vernon not in decline. Realizing what historical value to the country is Mount Vernon, Washington's great grandnephew tried to sell the estate to the United States government first, and then to the authorities of Virginia, but not the other attempts failed. John realized that the only way was to hand over the fate of Mount Vernon in the hands of Ann Pamela Cunningham, he made it known that he was ready to sell the mansion for 200 thousand

Ann Pamela Cunningham became the founder of the movement for the preservation of historical monuments and the founder of the women's organization Mount Vernon Ladies Association (MVLA) (Bruggeman 270). Moreover, the Association received the official status in 1856. Cunningham and other members of Association have started to raise money to buy the estate itself. In 1858, John Augustine Washington III signed a contract under which the Association agreed to buy the estate for the above 200 thousand dollars (Bruggeman 270). Thus, since 1860 Mount Vernon Ladies Association (MVLA) is the owner of the estate of George Washington's Mount Vernon.

"No estate in our country can be compared to Mount Vernon because of the successful and pleasantness location", used to say George Washington (Washington 110). From a high hill on which stands the house of the president, offers views of the marvelous park, going down to the shore of the Potomac on the Virginia side of it, and its picturesque opposite bank is already owned by Maryland. Therefore, President's statement, which may seem too categorical at first glance, it is absolutely understandable and