In 1753 the French Military began to seize the territory that is today Ohio, driving out residents and constructing forts. The problem with this Ohio Country is obviously the British claimed it as their territory and were upset the French were driving out their subjects. At this point the British lieutenant governor of Virginia dispatched a young major in the military to serve as an envoy to go meet with the French in Ohio and direct them to leave the territory. That young major was none other than George Washington
When Washington and six other men reached the Ohio Valley, they found that the French had left the region. He and his men proceeded to meet with an Iroquois Indian tribal leader named Tanacharison. Washington secured the Iroquois’s support against the French, and gained Tanacharison and a few of his warriors to serve as guides through the Ohio wilderness.
Tanacharison soon discovered that the French had moved to a new location in what is now eastern Pennsylvania. He urged Washington to send men and help him attack the French’s new location. Washington immediately set out with 40 men to meet up with Tanacharison and attack the French encampment. Washington and his 40 men and Tanacharison and his eight or nine warriors quickly surrounded and attacked the French encampment and the French surrendered. But Tanacharison killed and scalped the wounded French commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville and proceeded to eat his brains. Only one of the wounded French soldiers ended up not being scalped.
Therefore, this episode where George Washington ordered the first shots led to both the French and British sending vast numbers of troops into the Ohio and Pennsylvania region which led to both parties declaring war. This would become known as the French and Indian War. Washington would be promoted to colonel and commander-in-chief of the British Virginia Regiment. Later the next year the war became a global conflict when it spread to five continents from the American colonies all the way to European powers fighting for territory as far away as India and the Philippines.
Soon the the most well-known portion of George Washington’s story would continue. Washington would eventually become brigadier general. 1758 he retired from the British Virginia Regiment, but learned valuable leadership and battle skills that would serve him well in later years. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses that same year, beginning his political career.
In 1775 the Revolutionary War began. After becoming very frustrated with how the British were mandating new policies and taxes on the colonies, as well as how he was treated in the military, George Washington supported the revolutionaries and the Second Continental Congress nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Army.
His military career would be best known for his crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776. You’ve all seen the most famous painting of Revolutionary times, and possibly American history in general, but may not have realized it also depicts an at the time18-year-old future president in the boat with George Washington crossing the Delaware. Who was that future president who also crossed the Delaware? Well that’s for a later article…..
The Revolutionary War would end in 1783, and the British recognized the United States as independent later that year. Washington would go on to be unanimously elected President in 1789 (the only unanimously elected president we’ve ever had) and served two terms. As was mentioned in the teasers, Washington was the only President to never live in the White House, as it wasn’t yet built. Also, not working in the White House was President Washington’s Vice President, John Adams. Adams will be the subject of next week’s article, as he would be the one to become our nation’s second President.