George Washington, the first President of the United States, is often refereed to as the Founding Father of Our Country. He was born at "Wakefield," near Popes Creek, Westmoreland County, VA, on February 22, 1732. During his lifetime, Washington became known for his love of the land and farming, and many argue that he was perhaps the one indispensable man among the founders. It is hard to imagine any of the others commanding the respect needed to lead the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain, preside over the Constitutional Convention, and serve the United States as its first president. While still in his teens, Washington became a land surveyor, which gave him a solid grounding in mathematics and the evaluation of topography. This would later serve him well as a military commander. As a lieutenant colonel of the Virginia militia, Washington led a force into the Ohio Valley to contest French domination of that region. He was in command of the British forces at the Battle of Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754, the war that ended with the removal of French power from North America and set the stage for the American Revolution. Washington gained valuable military experience in that conflict. Inheriting Mt. Vernon, a family planation on the Potomac River, in 1761, Washington spent the next 15 years as a planter, also serving in the House of Burgesses the (the colonial legislature in Virginia). He took the patriot side in the disputes with Great Britain in the 1760s and 1770s, and he was elected to the first Continental Congress in 1774. With the coming of open war with Britain in 1775, the congress decided to make Washington commander in chief of the new Continental Army. Washington had as much military experience as anyone in the colonies, and his selection helped gain the allegiance of Virginia, by far the most populous of the 13 colonies. After accepting the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781, Washington retired to Mt. Vernon to revive his plantation and financial position. His political career continued when he was elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and reluctantly served as its presiding officer. Washington's support of the Constitution was critical in its acceptance by the states. He was a virtually unanimous choice for the nation's first president. Washington served two terms and could easily have gained a third had he wished to do so. Instead, he established the precedent of a two-term maximum. In the last years of his life, he was appointed as lieutenant general and commander of the United States Army again on July 3, 1798, and he served until his death on December 14, 1799. 4 Select the correct answer. What is the author's purpose in "George Washington"? A. to convince readers that George Washington played a significant role in the win against Great Britain B. to inform readers about George Washington's legacy as the first president of the United States C. to entertain readers with details about George Washington's personal life as a teenager and adult D. to teach readers about the qualities of good leadership based on examples set by George Washington