George Washington was born in Virginia in 1732. He was a farmer and a soldier. When the colonies fought for freedom, they chose him to lead their army.
Key idea
Washington led the Continental Army in the Revolution. In 1789 he became our first President. He is called the Father of His Country.
Why it works
The war was long and hard. One winter, at Valley Forge, the soldiers were cold and hungry, but Washington kept the army together. In 1781 his army won a big victory at Yorktown, and the war soon ended. Then the people chose him as the first President. After two terms, eight years, he stepped down and went home, so that a new leader could be chosen.
Common mistake
Some children think Washington was a king, or was President during the war. He led the army in the war. He became President years later, after the Constitution was written. He was never a king: he chose to give up power.
For the grown-up: Washington enslaved people at his home, Mount Vernon; in his will he ordered that the people he enslaved be freed after his wife's death. The capital, Washington, D.C., is named for him.