George Washington's Accomplishments

It was known at the beginning of the Revolutionary War that America wanted to steer away from England's monarchy rule and move on to a better solution that was designed to protect the people. It was unclear, however, what that solution was. Once America had won its independence, there was little time for celebration. This new country now had to figure out how it was going to govern itself. With King George III gone, there were some very large shoes to fill, and a General George Washington was the man to fill them.
George Washington was born to a planter family in Virginia in 1732. He was raised among eight other siblings and was taught the integrity of a 17th century gentleman. When he was eight, his older brother Lawrence joined the military.

Governor Dinwiddie appointed him as district adjutant of the militia with the rank of major. Even at this young age, the governor recognized George’s integrity and capability needed to handle the job. It was at this time that the French and Indian war was beginning to take shape. In an attempt to prevent military conflict, the governor decided to send Major Washington to deliver a letter to the French commander. George was successful and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on March 15, 1754. He was then sent back to help keep the French out of British territory and was given authority over hundreds of soldiers. There he fought for four years, during this time he proved, again, his capability as a soldier and commander. He was promoted to colonel in 1755 and was given control of the entirety of the Virginia militia. He also helped defeat the French and capture Fort Duquesne which the British would later rename Fort Pitt in 1758. Despite his success, George became weary of his fellow British officers. Their arrogance and ignorance of conditions in colonial warfare turned this Virginia native off from the british militia. At the end of the war, Washington resigned his commision and returned to his home in Mount Vernon,

He was always unafraid to ride on the frontlines and was an inspiration to the soldiers he led. After many battles bravely fought, some won some lost, it was the Battle of Yorktown that ended the war. When an Admiral de Grasse received dispatches of Washington and Rochambeau in mid-July, he immediately sent them north, making the choice to sail for the Chesapeake Bay to assist in operations there. It was then that George Washington made the risky but brilliant decision to reluctantly abandoned his plan to attack New york. He instead marched 6,000 soldiers to Yorktown, Virginia. On September 28, he ordered 5,700 Continentals, 3,200 militia and 7,800 French regulars to begin building trenches. On October ninth, they began firing on British Camps. On the 14th, two outer redoubts of the British defenses were stormed and american canons were within range of all British camps. Cornwallis, a british colonel administrator, tried to escape across the York river. After this failed attempt, he and his 8,000 men marched in serrendor. After the treaty of Paris, signed september 3, 1783, the war was