Sarah Albee - George Washington: The First President

In 1776, colonists in America
declared independence from Britain.
The two sides fought a war called
the American Revolution.

George Washington was the general
who led the American army.
He was brave, honest, and fair.
The war lasted eight years.
The Americans finally won.

America was a new country!
But who would lead it?
Everyone knew the answer:
George Washington, of course.
Should he be a king?
Should he be a president?

But George shocked everyone.
He did not want to be a king.
He did not want to be a president.
I retire, he said.

In England, King George was shocked.

In France, King Louis was shocked.

Everyone was shocked.
No one gave up power by choice!
But George Washington did.
Who was this man who said no thanks?

George was born in Virginia in 1732.
When George was eleven,
his father died.
George was close to
his half- brother, Lawrence.

When George was nineteen,
Lawrence died.
George inherited a big farm.
It was called Mount Vernon.
America was still part of Britain.

The French and British both wanted
more land in North America.
Young George was sent west
to claim more land for Great Britain.
With no roads, George traveled
by horse, by raft, and on foot.
But when he finally arrived,
French soldiers were already there.
They refused to leave.
George returned to Virginia.
He wrote about his trip.

The French king was not happy.
He wanted that land for France.
The French and British went to war.
Some native people sided with France,
so British colonists called it
the French and Indian War.

Young George was made a major.
He and his men fought bravely
on the side of Great Britain.
After many years, Great Britain won.
But the war had been expensive.

When he was twenty- six,
George met Martha Custis.
She was barely five feet tall.
He was nearly six foot three.

Martha was a rich widow.
George was brave and handsome.
She had two small children.
He loved children.
They got married.

The British wanted the colonists to help
pay for the French and Indian war.
The British raised taxes.
They passed unfair laws.
(At least the Americans thought so.)

Finally, the colonists had enough.
Thats why the revolution began.
Thats when Washington took command.

British soldiers were well trained.
They wore fine red coats.
American soldiers were untrained.
They wore shabby uniforms.

With some help from the French,
the Americans won many battles.
The British surrendered.
General George Washington was
the most famous man in America.

George helped create a plan
for a new government.
It was called the Constitution.
People begged George not to retire.
At last, he agreed to be President.

George had to figure out
how to lead a new country.
I walk on untrodden ground,
he said.
Martha became the first First Lady.

George chose smart people
to help him.
Together they formed a government.
The new Congress made wise laws.
New coins were minted.
A new country was created.

Everyone begged George
to run for president a second time.