Does anyone know why George Washington is so important? For starters, his face is on every American dollar bill! George Washington is one of the most significant American historical figures, not only for his role in the founding and governing of the young nation, but for his leadership style, his political ideas, and his revolutionary vision for the United States of America . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 and died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. Born into a wealthy family in colonial Virginia, Washington began as a soldier fighting in the French and Indian War and became an Army lieutenant at age 22. During the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, Washington fought for independence as commander in chief of the army. He led the army to victory and the United States gained its independence. He was then sworn into the presidential office (an entirely new position) on April 30, 1789 after winning 100% of the electoral votes. Retiring after two terms as president, Washington returned to his Mount Vernon estate where he died on December 14, 1799 of a throat infection. “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” – President George Washington Memorial Service, December 26, 1799 According to history, “George Washington is often called the father of the United States, for the role he played in the founding of the country. He served in the American Revolutionary War as commander in chief of the Continental Army, and under his military and political leadership, the United States gained official independence from Great Britain in 1783. In the years following the war, Washington helped lay the basis for the United States government as it is known today. He also won the presidency by unanimous vote in 1789 and continued to serve two terms as the first president of the United States. The general ideas he is known for include preserving the freedom of the newly liberated nation and improving the general infrastructure of government. Washington supported a national bank, a system for repaying the national debt, and an effective tax system. In this way he hoped to keep the newly liberated country united and promote a new sense of nationalism. He also warned against sectionalism and partisanship. Unfortunately, the latter goal was not realized, as after Washington left office, the United States formed political parties and remains deeply politically divided today.” According to George Washington – President of the United States, General – Biography, “By the late 1760s, Washington had experienced firsthand the effects of increased taxes imposed on American colonists by the English, and came to believe that it was in best interests of the colonists to declare independence from England. Washington served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774 in Philadelphia. When the Second Continental Congress convened a year later, the American Revolution had already begun in earnest, and Washington was named commander in chief of the Continental Army. Washington proved to be a better general than a military strategist. His strength lay not in his genius on the battlefield, but in his ability to hold the struggling colonial army together. His troops were poorly trained and lacked food, ammunition, and other supplies (soldiers sometimes even went without shoes in the winter).However, Washington was able to give them direction and motivation to move forward. Over the course of the grueling eight-year war, colonial forces won few battles but consistently resisted the British. In October 1781, with the help of the French (who allied themselves with the colonists over their English rivals), the Continental forces managed to capture the British troops of General Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) at Yorktown, Virginia. This action effectively ended the Revolutionary War, and Washington was declared a national hero. his duty, he relinquished 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 lead the committee to draft the new constitution. His extraordinary leadership convinced delegates that he was by far the most qualified man to become the nation's first president. Washington initially refused. He wanted, finally, to return to a peaceful life in his homeland and leave the government of the new nation to others. But public opinion was so strong that he finally gave in. The first presidential election was held on January 7, 1789, and Washington won easily. John Adams (1735-1826), who received the second-most votes, became the nation's first vice president. The 57-year-old Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789 in New York City. Since Washington, D.C., America's future capital had not yet been built, he lived in New York and Philadelphia. The United States was a small nation when Washington took office, consisting of 11 states and about 4 million people, and there was no precedent for how the new president should conduct domestic or foreign affairs. Aware that his actions would likely determine how future presidents should govern, Washington worked hard to set an example of fairness, prudence, and integrity. In foreign matters, he supported cordial relations with other countries, but also favored a position of neutrality in foreign conflicts. Nationally, he appointed the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, John Jay (1745-1829), signed a bill establishing the first national bank, and established his own presidential cabinet. His two most important cabinet appointees were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), two men who strongly disagreed about the role of the federal government. Hamilton favored a strong central government, while Jefferson favored stronger states' rights. Washington believed that divergent opinions were critical to the health of the new government, but was distressed by what he saw as emerging partisanship. believing he had done his duty, he relinquished 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 lead the committee to draft the new constitution. His extraordinary leadership convinced delegates that he was by far the most qualified man to become the nation's first president. Washington initially refused. He wanted, finally, to return to a peaceful life in his homeland and leave the government of the new nation to others. But public opinion was so strong that he finally gave in. The first presidential election was held on January 7, 1789, and Washington won easily. John Adams (1735-1826), who received the second-most votes, became the nation's first vice president. The 57-year-old Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789 in New York City. Please note: this is just one/