What Is George Washington Famous For?
George Washington is famous for being the first president of the United States and leading the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution. He also served as the president of the Constitutional Convention and worked to ensure the Constitution was ratified.
Many think of Washington as the father of the United States. He began building such a lofty reputation when Congress commissioned him to lead the Continental Army in June 1775. While Washington found early success by forcing the British to leave Boston, the early years of the war were difficult. The British soon took over New York City and expected the rebellion to end after only a few months. The Continental Army persevered, however, and defeated the British army at Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending the war.
Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789. He holds the distinction of being the only president to receive every vote in the electoral college in his election. Washington’s first term as president focused on restoring the nation’s finances after the war, selecting the site for the country’s capital and negotiating peace treaties with Indians in the southern states. He was reelected in 1792, but partisanship within the government hampered his second term.
