|
George Washington led the revolution that
gained the American colonies on the East
Coast of America independence from the
rule of Britain, becoming the first
President of America 1789 - 1797.
Washington was raised on his family
estate at Popes Creek along the Potomac
River where he studied to become a
surveyor. Although he finished his
education and became successful as a
surveyor, he found that line of work
uneventful.
After the French moved into the Ohio
valley where they formed an alliance with
the local Indians, a war broke out
against the British that became known as
the French & Indian War 1754 - 1763.
Washington used that time of conflict to
start a new, more adventurous career, by
joining the battle against the
French.
By 1755, at the age of 23, Washington
had risen to the rank of Colonel with the
appointment of Commander in Chief of the
Virginia militia.
Washington left the army in 1758 after
the Virginia frontier had been secured so
he could begin a life in politics.
Although Spain entered the war
alongside France in 1761, the combined
British and Colonial forces had defeated
France and Spain by 1763. The treaty of
Paris that followed, saw France cede all
their territories in North America to
Britain, Spain also gave up Florida in an
agreement that saw Britain return to them
control of Cuba. This meant Britain held
the whole of North America east of the
Mississippi.
|
Washington had become an
influential politician by that time
and became involved in debates
about Britain restricting the
colonists from expanding to new
lands in the west, also, taking
much of the wealth out of the
country.
These topics festered over the
years that followed with the
British Government becoming ever
more unpopular throughout the
colonies.
By the 1770s, colonial activists
had began amassing weapons as they
plotted how to gain independence.
George Washington, with his
military and political background,
was seen as the ideal person to
lead the revolt.
|
|
In April 1775, British troops based at
Boston, attempted to seize munitions
stored by the colonial militias at
Concord Massachusetts. That event soon
escalated into the battle that set of the
long awaited War of Independence.
Washington took control of the troops
surrounding British held Boston July 3rd.
By the end of 1775, most of the east
coast of America was being controlled by
Washington’s forces.
In early 1776, Britain sent 75,000
troops to America to quell the uprising.
The colonists then gathered in
Philadelphia in June of that year as they
declared independence from Britain on
July 4th.
As the well armed British troops soon
took back most of the lands lost to
Washington’s forces, they looked
like they were easily going to defeat the
uprising. After France began supporting
the colonists in 1777, the conflict soon
turned into a war of attrition.
By April 1782, the British Government
voted to end the war, the American
colonies had gained their
independence.
After George Washington became the
first President of America April 30th
1789, he began planning how to build
America into the mightiest country on
earth. In 1792, Washington was re elected
as President and continued in office
until 1797.
His retirement to Mount Vernon lasted
only two years as he died of a throat
infection December 14th 1799.
The 555-foot-tall Washington Monument
was built to honor the first President of
the United States of America, George
Washington. This obelisk is the tallest
building in the District of Columbia and
by law, no other building in D.C. is
allowed to be taller.
|
Although work on this monument
began July 4, 1848, completion had
to be delayed in 1584 when the
monument was only 152 feet tall due
to insufficient donations.
After work began again in 1876,
a slightly different colour of
marble was used for the upper
two-thirds of the monument.
|
|
The exterior of the Washington
Monument was completed December 6th 1884.
After the interior was completed, the
monument was opened to the public October
9th 1888.
Inside the Washington Monument are an
elevator and an 897-step stairway. There
is an observation deck at 500 feet.
|
