Why Was George Washington So Important

1352 Words6 Pages

Does anyone know why George Washington is so important? For starters his face is on every U.S. dollar bill! George Washington is one of the most significant American historical figures, not only for his role in founding and governing the young nation, but for his leadership style, political ideas, and Revolutionary vision for the United States of America. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 and died December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. Born into a wealthy family in Colonial Virginia, Washington started out as a soldier fighting in the French and Indian War and became a lieutenant in the army by the time he was 22. During the American Revolutionary War from 1775-1783, Washington fought for independence as the Commander-in-Chief of …show more content…

However, Washington was able to give them the direction and motivation to keep going.Over the course of the grueling eight-year war, the colonial forces won few battles but consistently held their own against the British. In October 1781, with the aid of the French (who allied themselves with the colonists over their rivals the British), the Continental forces were able to capture British troops under General Charles Cornwallis(1738-1805) in Yorktown, Virginia. This action effectively ended the Revolutionary War and Washington was declared a national hero. According to BBC-History-Historic Figures: George Washington,In 1783, with a peace treaty signed between Great Britain and the U.S., Washington, believing he had done his duty, gave up his command of the army and returned to Mount Vernon, intent on resuming his life as a gentleman farmer and family man. However, in 1787, he was asked to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and head the committee to draft the new constitution. His impressive leadership there convinced the delegates that he was by far the most qualified man to become the nation 's first president.At first Washington balked. He wanted to, at last, return to a quiet life at home and leave governing the new nation to