The First President

George Washington (1789-1797)

This picture come from the Whitehouse web page  http://www.whitehouse.gov/

George Washington's Life Events

• Born: February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia

• Education: Seven or eight years of formal schooling, ending by age15

• Occupation: Farmer: military commander

• Married: January 6, 1759, to Martha Dandridge Custis

• Children: None: Martha had two from a previous marriag

• Died: December 14, 1799

  George Washington's Life Story

In 1775, the Revolutionary War began. George Washington was the commander of the army. He led the country to victory in the Revolutionary War . After the Revolutionary War, George Washington was elected President in 1789. During his presidency, George Washington and congress  made government departments. They created basic law. In 1791, The Bill of Rights became law. The country grew a lot during Washington's two terms in office. Five new states joined the union, bringing the total to 18 states. George Washington retired in 1797 to Mount Vernon in Virginia. He died on December 14, 1799.

In Washington's Day

• 1789: North Carolina became a state.
• 1790: The national capital moved from New York to Philadelphia--a three-day journey south. Rhode Island became a state. The first census showed a population of about 4 million.
• 1791: The Bill of Rights became law, ensuring basic rights. Vermont became a state.
• 1792: The U.S. Mint was founded to issue a national currency to be whed throughout the Union. Kentucky became a state.
• 1793: Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, an invention that incresaed the demand for slave labor.
• 1796: Tennessee became a state.

This imformation comes from First Facts About The Presidents, Scholastic Inc., New York, 1996.

This page was created by Hyon Bowen a student in Green River Community College's ESL 055 class

Student Activity page

ESL Home page