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George Washington

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
A famous portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States, painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1803.

Who was George Washington?

George Washington was a Founding Father of the United States. He was also the first president of the United States. Many people call him the Father of His Country because he helped bring about American independence.

Growing up in Virginia

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He grew up in the Colony of Virginia. As a boy, he loved learning about numbers and land. He became very good at drawing maps.

Later, he lived at Mount Vernon, where he grew tobacco and wheat. He married Martha Dandridge Custis, a kind and smart woman who was good at running a big home.

Leading a new country

George Washington led the army during the American Revolutionary War. This was a hard time when the colonies wanted to be their own country. In the end, the United States became free and independent.

Later, he helped write the Constitution of the United States at the Constitutional Convention. He was chosen as the first president of the United States. When his second term ended, he chose to step down. This set a good example for future leaders.

Remembered today

Many places are named after George Washington. The national capital and the State of Washington both share his name. The Washington Monument is a tall stone tower built to honor him.

His face is carved into Mount Rushmore, and he appears on the one-dollar bill. People still remember him as an important leader in American history.

Quiz time!

3 questions about George Washington

Question 1 of 3

What job did George Washington have for the United States?

Pictures

A painted portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States, made by artist Gilbert Stuart in 1803.
The Washington family home on the Rappahannock River, as shown in an illustration from a book about George Washington's life.
A historical map showing the areas where fighting took place during the French and Indian War.
A painting of George Washington dressed as a soldier, shown in oil paint.
An early portrait of George Washington painted around 1772, showing him in the uniform of a colonel from the Virginia Regiment.
A painting of Martha Dandridge Custis, painted around 1757 by the artist John Wollaston. She later became Martha Washington, the wife of George Washington.
A 1776 oil painting of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale, held at the Brooklyn Museum.
A map of the Battle of Long Island, fought in August 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.
Washington Crossing the Delaware, a painting by Emanuel Leutze from 1851, showing George Washington leading American soldiers across the icy Delaware River during the Revolutionary War.
George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette at Valley Forge, painted by John Dunsmore, showing the two leaders during the winter of 1777–1778.
A historical map showing the positions of troops and fortifications during the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
John Trumbull's painting shows George Washington resigning as commander of the Continental Army before the Congress in Annapolis in 1783. The act helped establish civilian rule in the new United States.
Howard Chandler Christy's painting Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, showing George Washington presiding over the Philadelphia Convention in 1787.
A painted portrait of George Washington Gibbs-Channing-Avery, shown standing, from an older artwork in the public domain.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson
Lansdowne Portrait, c. 1796
Washington on His Deathbed, an 1851 portrait by Junius Brutus Stearns
An 1851 portrait by Junius Brutus Stearns depicting an idealized version of plantation work
Runaway advertisement for Ona Judge, enslaved servant in Washington's presidential household
Washington as a Freemason
The Washington Monument

Keep exploring

United States
Virginia
President of the United States
Wheat
Constitution of the United States
Constitutional Convention (United States)

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on George Washington, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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