Birthplace of George Washington. George Washington first president of the USA

Washington's worldview and political philosophy were influenced by early 18th-century English oppositional or agrarian literature. Washington admired Cato the Younger, whom he considered the model of all Roman virtues. He tried to correspond to these models in public and personal life, adhering to the classical style of speech and dignified gestures and facial expressions. Self-control, strict control of emotions and disciplined behavior became his outstanding qualities, under which the original spontaneity began to appear less and less. Conservative and judicious in temperament, moderately religious, without deep interest in theological matters, but always ready to accept new ideas and thoughts, he combined virtue with the progressive consciousness of the Enlightenment.

Political career, attempts at reconciliation with the metropolis

The last years of Washington's life were spent in Mount Vernon, surrounded by family and visitors. Even after leaving the post of head of state, Washington often visited the capital under construction, which workers called “Georgia.” Washington devoted a lot of time to agriculture and built a distillery on his estate. On July 13, 1798, during a period of sharp aggravation of relations with France, President John Adams, given Washington's popularity and reputation, symbolically appointed him commander in chief of the American army with the rank of lieutenant general.

Death

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Washington family has been known since the 12th century, when one of George Washington's ancestors captured the Washington estate of Old Hall, located in County Durham of Northeast England.

The coat of arms is a silver shield with two red belts and three red five-pointed stars at the head.

In 1938, the United States Congress convened a commission to create an official flag for the District of Columbia. The commission announced a public competition, the winner of which was graphic designer Charles Dunn, who proposed his version back in 1921. The flag he designed was based on George Washington's family coat of arms. On October 15, 1938, the resolution on the adoption of the flag came into force.

Oak from the grave of George Washington

Speeches and performances

Art films

• TV series "George Washington" George Washington, ),
• series "George Washington: The Formation of a Nation" ( George Washington: The Forging of a Nation, ),
• "Intersection" ( The Crossing, )

Notes

1. Family Bible entry http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/26/hh26f.htm
2. Image of page from family Bible http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/project/faq/bible.html
3. A. V. Superanskaya, Stress in proper names in modern Russian. - M.: Nauka, 1966, p. 59
4. Biography of George Washington on the People website
5. // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
6. http://www.krugosvet.ru/articles/07/1000760/1000760a1.htm Biography of George Washington on the Krugosvet encyclopedia website
7. (English) Homans, Charles (2004-10-06). "Taking a New Look at George Washington". The Papers of George Washington: Washington in the News. Alderman Library, University of Virginia. Retrieved on -09-28 .
8. (English) Ross, John F (October 2005), Unmasking George Washington, Smithsonian Magazine
9. (English)"George Washington's Mount Vernon: Answers". Retrieved on -06-30 .
10. John Lloyd, John Mitchinson The Book of General Ignorance. - Harmony, 2007. - P. 97. - ISBN ISBN 0-307-39491-3
11. 9:59 a.m. ET Washington's False Teeth Not Wooden. MSNBC (January 27, 2005). Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
12. Vernova N., Pashchinskaya I., Rudkovas I. Tsaritsyn and Olgin pavilions. Publishing house State Historical Museum "Peterhof". 2008. ISBN 978-5-91598-009-8

First US President - George Washington- An outstanding American historical, political, statesman and military figure, the first president of the United States of America, one of the so-called Founding Fathers of the United States, hero of the American War of Independence, founder of the American presidency.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in the town of Bridges Creek, Virginia, into the family of a landowner. At first he worked as a land surveyor. In 1752, he voluntarily joined the people's militia and took part in military operations against the French and Indian tribes. In 1758 he completed his military career with the rank of colonel. Washington actively began developing his vast estate and soon became one of the largest planters. In 1758-1774, he was elected several times to the Legislative Assembly of Virginia, where he defended the rights of the colonies with Britain. Participated in the First Continental Congress as a delegate. After the outbreak of hostilities with Great Britain, he was popularly chosen as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, which he successfully commanded until the surrender of British troops in 1781. In 1789, George Washington was unanimously and deservedly chosen first US president.

In 1792, George Washington was re-elected. He was one of the initiators of the construction of the new US capital. On December 14, 1799, George Washington died suddenly. On December 18 he was buried at his estate in Mount Vernon in Virginia.

More about George Washington:

On February 22, 1732, in Wakefield, Virginia, a major US statesman and military leader, George Washington, was born, who, by the will of fate, was destined to become the first American president.

Washington was born into a wealthy Virginia planter family. At the age of 11, Washington lost his father, whose role was now assigned to his older brother Lawrence, who had a strong influence on the formation of the views of young Washington.

George did not go to school, but received a good education at home. Although I learned most of my science in my spare time from books.

In 1749 he became surveyor of Culpepper county. In 1752, his brother died, and Washington inherited the Mount Vernon estate. From 1758 to 1774 - Was elected several times to the state legislature. In 1752 he became a major of the local regiment. During the Seven Years' War he took part in battles against the French and rose to the post of colonel.

In 1759, changes occurred in his personal life. Washington married a young widow, Dandridge Custis.

Washington was an ardent opponent of Great Britain's colonial policy and supported a boycott of British goods. He was never a supporter of violent actions akin to the Boston Tea Party of 1773.

From 1774 to 1775 - Representative of Virginia to the Continental Congress. After Washington realized that all attempts at reconciliation with the mother country were futile, he defiantly put on a military uniform.

In June 1775 he was elected commander-in-chief of the American army. He held this post from 1775 to 1783. It is said about George Washington that he created an army out of nothing, an army that showed courage and bravery. For this he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. After signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Washington resigned.

After some time, he was elected president of the Constitutional Convention, and on April 30, 1789, he became president of the United States. In 1792, Washington was re-elected to a second term.

Washington accelerated constitutional processes, supported the creation of new governing bodies, and reconciled the three branches of government for some time. In his first term, he included two opponents in the government - Republican T. Jefferson and Federalist A. Hamilton.

Under Washington, the country's financial and industrial development stabilized, but since the president supported the Federalists, their opponents did not like this. Therefore, the situation in the country has become extremely aggravated.

Washington decided his relationship with the Indians using military force. When the country's first uprising of farmers in western Pennsylvania broke out in 1794, Washington did not hesitate to suppress the uprising.

Washington was against US intervention in the internal political situation in Europe. In 1793, he adopted a proclamation of neutrality. The threat of war with England was avoided thanks to the Jay Treaty signed by Washington. In 1795, another Pinckney Treaty was signed. According to the document, the United States established clear borders with the Spaniards and, also important, the Americans could now safely sail their ships along the Mississippi River.

On January 19, 1796, Washington made his will in the form of a “Farewell Message.” In the document, Washington called on his people for integrity and harmony, to strengthen friendly relations between states and countries.

Washington lived out his life in Mount Vernon. In 1798, the government turned to the former president with a request to take part in resolving the conflict with France and lead the army.

On December 13, 1799, Washington was running around his estate and fell into wet snow. Two days later the president died. He was buried on December 18 in Mount Vernon.

The capital of the United States, a lake, an island, a mountain and a canyon, and several other settlements, as well as a number of educational institutions, were named in honor of the first president.

In 1888, a monument to the first President of the United States was opened in Washington. The monument reaches a height of 150 m.

He survived by cheating death in the desert. A master spy who excels in the art of deception. War and marriage were at the heart of his career, although his wife was not the love of his life. He lost more battles than he won. He is the first President of the United States.

New discoveries shed light on hitherto unknown aspects of the life and biography of the legendary Founding Father of the United States of America.

His profile is depicted on the most popular banknote in the world - the one-dollar bill, as well as on some coins. George Washington is a war hero, President of the United States and Father of his nation. Almost everyone knows this great name or thinks they do. However, many events in his life, considered facts, are actually fiction.

Why did George Washington receive the status of Founding Father in the United States? The answer is quite simple, given his role in the creation of the United States: he led the Continental Army to fight for independence, thanks to his talents and cunning, the Americans overthrew the British administration, he created the regular US Army, became the first president, with his participation the US Constitution was created, the first ten were adopted amendments - the Bill of Rights, with his active participation, a special District of Columbia was created, a new capital of the United States was founded and built, later named in his honor, he cemented the democratic and legal foundation of the state for centuries.

Washington's contemporaries made him the hero of fictional stories, and after his death he became an icon. Today, archaeologists, anthropologists and historians are finding new facts about the true life of George Washington.

High technology, as well as technology-enabled research, is revealing the truth about the first President of the United States, destroying the established belief in his brilliant talent as a commander - George Washington was just an ordinary tactician, in his legendary honesty - he did not shun lies, in his passion for freedom , - he pursued runaway slaves. In his indifference to fame, he was very ambitious.

Many people think that he belongs to the colonial aristocracy, but he is of very simple origin. George Washington did not grow up on the vast Mount Vernon estate that he later took over. The house in which he spent his childhood was located 60 kilometers to the south, however, exactly where is still not known.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia, the third child of a family of moderately wealthy farmers. He received a modest upbringing, his education was achieved through self-study and independent reading of a large number of books. After his father's death in 1743, his half-brother Lawrence, who died in 1752, took over his upbringing. After the death of the relatives who raised him, having inherited the Mount Vernon estate, Washington enlists in the Virginia militia with the rank of major.

Most people recognize that Washington comes from the upper echelons of Virginia society, but this is not the case. As an ambitious red-haired youth, neither rich nor humble, he struggled with the difficulties that befell him. From Washington's letters one can read that one day fire struck his house on Christmas Eve 1740 and destroyed most of it.

George Washington was only eight years old, and life had already dealt him a heavy blow. His path to success will soon be blocked by an even greater loss - the death of his father, which he was very shocked by. George has no hope of getting an education in England, as was customary among people in his circle, since he could not pay for his studies. But the young Virginian decides to make his own destiny.

U George Washington there was a huge desire for fame, fame and a higher position in society. He had the art of hiding his ambitions and always tried to appear extremely modest.

At age 16, Washington began a career mapping the properties of wealthy citizens. Geodesy perfectly matches his ambitions - it makes it easy to enter the circle of rich and influential people. Also, he has the opportunity to find a piece of land for himself.

Service in the border troops became the catalyst for his future career. But by the beginning of the war between France and the indigenous peoples of America - the Indians, he was still too naive. Blinded by ambition, he does not notice a number of dangers, the risk he took almost cost him his life.

In the autumn of 1753, England and France turned their attention to the unclaimed expanses of the West. The British governor of Virginia, Dean Vidy, is looking for a messenger to warn French troops marching into the Ohio Valley.

At the age of 21, George Washington joined the people's militia - the Virginia militia and, despite his inexperience, wanted to impress the British command. He claims to know the border well, which was largely untrue. However, the governor still gives him an order, the execution of which will take 800 km. paths and a lot of dangers.

In the depths of Ohio, George Washington meets the French commander, conveys a message from the governor and wants to return with an answer, but inexperience and recklessness take possession of him. To reduce time, he splits the squad and leaves most of the equipment behind. He and his guide, Christopher Gist, make their way through the forest armed only with their muskets.

On their way they encounter a settlement with a characteristic name - Murder City, where Indians meet them and offer to take them further. During the journey, the Indian guide tried to kill Washington and Gist, but did not hit them, after which Gist offered to kill the traitor, but Washington stopped him, anticipating a possible surge in hostility between the British and the indigenous population. They end up letting the Indian go, something they will later regret. The Indians, having received reinforcements, begin hunting for travelers. Washington and Gist have to move as quickly as possible, making their way through the forest.

They go to the bank of the Allegany River with a treacherous and strong current and decide to build a raft, the structure of which turns out to be very fragile. As a result, after colliding with pieces of ice, Washington falls into a raging river. Thanks to Gist, he is saved and together they find themselves on a small island in the middle of the river, where they decide to stay overnight.

In adversity comes unexpected salvation. In the morning they discover that due to frost the river has frozen and they can cross it on the ice.

Washington's notes on this assignment are published and distributed throughout the state of Virginia. These notes became the beginning of a long series of glorifications George Washington, they downplay his mistakes and bolster his reputation. Thus, for the first time in his life, fame falls to his lot.

However, in order to rise even further in society, Washington needs more than military prowess. He needs connections. And the ambitious military officer turned out to be a master at turning them on.

Archaeological excavations in the house of the future first president of the United States showed the world an interesting find, pipes on which a Masonic symbol is depicted. At age 20, Washington became a member of the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge. In Masonic philosophy, he is attracted to honesty, moderation and restraint, which are demonstrated by the symbolism of Freemasonry. The Masonic fraternity also opens doors for him to the highest strata of society.

George Washington continues to build his connections in the Virginia militia, where he has another means of advancing his career. War.

The role of George Washington in the American Revolutionary War

Today, George Washington is known as a fearless leader and a brilliant military tactician. Some of this is true, his courage and bravery are legendary.

Peter Henrios, author of A Portrait of George Washington, notes: “Most of us fear death. Washington was unique in that he repeatedly faced death with a calm that seemed unnatural to most people.”

One of the battles of the French and Indian War strengthened George Washington's reputation. On July 9, 1755, 23-year-old soldier Washington fought with the British army against the French and Indian troops. He was accompanying the advancing British Guard when suddenly they were attacked from behind the trees. In close combat, the smoke of gunfire impairs visibility, and bullets and arrows fly in all directions.

It was a massacre. The British commander, General Bradox, is mortally wounded and his soldiers flee in panic. By the end of the day, all the officers were killed or wounded. This did not apply to Washington.

Under enemy fire, J. Washington takes over the command and leads the remaining soldiers away, saving them from certain death. As a result of this event, a legend arose that he was protected by a great spirit and would never die in battle.

In 1755, Washington took part in the assault on Fort Duker. The result of this military campaign was the capture of Washington by the British. However, they were able to exchange him and he was released. For his bravery in the assault, the command awarded Washington the rank of colonel and the appointment of commander of one of the regiments of the Virginia army.

On December 31, 1758, Washington, tired of military battles, returned to Virginia and resigned in order to create family relations.

During this period, Washington begins another battle for the hand and heart of Martha, his future wife. However, here too his relationships are closely connected with his ambitions. Although George Washington's marriage is touted as one of America's great love stories, it was not just love that bound them together. 26-year-old Washington knows that by marrying a rich widow he will have access to her fortune, which means a lot of land, slaves and opportunities. Martha Casteel was one of the wealthiest widows in Virginia. According to Washington, marrying Martha should have propelled him to the forefront of society.

This marriage, concluded on January 6, 1759, and considered by Washington for his fortune, eventually became a marriage of sincere love and affection. Thus, Washington received a reliable life partner and about 7 thousand hectares of land.

However, due to his love of luxury and the unsuccessful promotion of his tobacco to the English market, between the 30s and 40s of the 18th century, Washington found himself in great debt, says Mark Tabbert, director of the Masonic Washington Memorial. Washington inherited the Mount Vernon plantation after his brother's death, and after his marriage to Martha, he becomes one of the richest men in Virginia.

Due to the fact that the tobacco industry is controlled by London merchants, Washington suffers large losses from the tobacco trade. In the end, he reorients the farm to wheat production, while experimenting with fertilizers, crop rotation and new farming technologies, which saves the family from ruin. The lessons he learned while managing the farm would later be useful to him during the most difficult events of the Revolution for American Independence.

Americans consider George Washington a great general because he won the war, but on the battlefield Washington was often inferior to better trained British commanders. Washington was just a run-of-the-mill tactician. “In fact, the British were far superior to Washington in command and control,” notes Edward Lengel, author of General George Washington: A Military Life. Thus he lost many battles, and won victories due to the arrogance of the British, sometimes thanks to his experience, not as a commander, but as a farmer.

Until 1774, Washington was continuously elected to the Virginia Legislature. He sought autonomy for Virginia in the field of taxation from the British metropolis. He actively participated in a public campaign to boycott goods from Great Britain. After Britain tightened demands on the American colonies in the form of the “Unbearable Laws,” which was a consequence of the Boston Tea Party, Washington in September 1774 organized the First Continental Congress, independent of the British authorities, which presented a number of protests to the British.

After the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, George Washington was elected supreme commander of the Continental Army. Under Washington's leadership, the Independent Army, composed of former civilians serving in the militias of states that refused to submit to Great Britain, conducted a number of successful raids and battles. The basis of the new tactics of this army was a loose formation in battle; the British were more conservative and used even linear rows of soldiers, which interfered with the conduct of military operations in the new conditions.

On December 26, 1776, on the verge of complete defeat, Washington crossed the Delaire River and took Trenton in New Jersey, which was a very important victory, but the British still held New York City and assembled an impressive 30,000-strong army.

The British commander, General Cornwallis, moves his superior forces within attack range of Washington's troops. After moving, the general gives his soldiers a rest until the morning, since the humidity and dirt would not allow Washington's army to leave.

Washington was saved that night by his farming experience. Based on the direction of the wind, he determined that frost was approaching and the liquid mud would freeze. This is what happened after midnight. Washington's troops were able to withdraw to Princeton after tricking the British by lighting campfires to create the appearance of men. When the British approached at 8 a.m. in the morning, no one could be found.

Meanwhile, Washington made his way to Princeton and attacked another part of Cornwallis' army there, which did not expect such a development of events. Thus winning another great victory.

Historian Thomas Fleming notes that Washington "not only defeated the British, but also showed his stupidity and this changed the course of the revolution in New Jersey." And this is not the only time Washington deceived the British. John Washington is often presented as a man who is above deception, too honest and principled to get his hands dirty. However, with a large inequality of power and high stakes, he uses an amazing cunning.

Washington also does not object to dirty methods of espionage; it is of great interest to him. He was a great master in the field of espionage and secrecy, often using codes, invisible ink and other techniques of the art of espionage. He was especially good at misinforming the British.

Maurice Town, New Jersey 1777 During the winter, Washington's army is reduced to several thousand men, as many have quit and many have deserted. A major clash with the British would be disastrous for Washington's troops, so he comes up with a cunning plan.

He knows the British believe that he is exaggerating the size of his army and makes it clear to them that he has 40 thousand people at his disposal. The British, in turn, estimate his army at 2 thousand people. Washington hopes his first lie will make him believe his second lie.

Washington is diligently writing new reports on the inventory of military supplies, artillery and ammunition caches. These reports give the impression that he had about 9 thousand people, significantly more than the probable figure. He allows these reports to fall into the hands of a British spy.

The spy reports to the British command the number of soldiers and cannons of Washington's army. The British, having learned about such a number of troops, sat in New York all winter, not daring to attack such a significant phantom force.

Disinformation is not the only way Washington has fooled the British, it also employs clever ways to keep information secret using alphanumeric ciphers, invisible ink. Invisible ink at that time was made from lemon juice, which could be seen when heated, and this method was known throughout the world. Washington began to use a different method of hiding the text. It was a type of ink where you write with one substance and develop what you wrote by applying another substance to it.

Washington easily adopted the practice of espionage and the process of intelligence gathering. Throughout the war, Washington flooded the entire East Coast with spies, but the greatest need for them was in the British stronghold of New York.

After being captured by the British in 1776, the city is blockaded and its borders are guarded. Washington urgently needed eyes and ears in this territory as soon as possible. The situation was such that for a long time he did not even know the names of the senior British commanders. He really needed agents on the ground. To this end, he establishes the spy organization "Culber", after the name of the county that he measured in his youth. This network of spies brings him many messages throughout the war. However, Culber is not the only source of information. Washington also created a network of double agents.

In December 1776, after the fall of New York, morale is low and to restore hope, Washington plans to capture Trenton in New Jersey. All that remains is to conduct reconnaissance. Washington orders the arrest of farmer John Honeymon, accuses him of treason, gives the order for his morning execution and asks the guards to take him to his cell, slipping the key to the cell door into his pocket.

As expected, the farmer escapes and tells the British that Washington's troops are not ready for battle. Washington, in turn, taking advantage of the naivety of the British, crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, took the enemy by surprise and won an easy victory. This is one of the great victories that Washington achieved. This victory saved the Revolution and he did it with the help of lies.

To achieve victory, Washington does not hesitate to deceive the British. Often he lied even behind Congress's back.

At the beginning of the war, when his army was forced to withdraw from captured New York, Washington proposed burning the city to the ground. He prefers to destroy the city rather than give shelter to the British. Congress and the government of New York forbade this, and three days after the withdrawal of troops, the city was engulfed in fires. The British who entered the city were shocked; everyone from soldiers to women set fire to the city. Washington gave this order, “just don’t tell me when and how you will do it.”

As a result of many battles, the Continental Army managed to win a number of victories, and thanks to luck, and thanks to the operational supply of the rebel troops, and thanks to espionage. On November 19, 1781, Great Britain surrendered in this difficult war, not according to its rules.

A number of officers, as a result of the Newburgh conspiracy, propose to make George Washington a dictator or king, but Washington, by personally addressing the officers, was able to convince them that new times require new foundations of society and the state. In November 1783, after signing a peace treaty with the British in Paris, Washington resigned all powers as commander of the Continental Army, which was disbanded.

George Washington is often portrayed as an idealist, a man who fought for freedom and whose moral character was rarely questioned. However, archaeologists have found confirmation that this freedom did not apply to everyone.

Washington was very dependent on slaves; slavery surrounded him all his life. He became a slave owner at age 11 after his father's death. Later, his Mount Vernon estate included more than 300 slaves who worked six days a week from sunrise to sunset.

In 1880, Pennsylvania adopted the Gradual Emancipation Act, requiring slaves held for more than six months to be freed. Washington gets around this law by illegally moving slaves back and forth across state lines, thereby nullifying the six-month limit. Throughout his life, Washington did nothing to abolish slavery, but before his death he makes a final gesture, concerned about his place in history.

He prepares a special document in which he sets out his will to free all his slaves and provide them with education. However, there is one "but". The order will come into effect only after the death of his wife, who, fearing her death at the hands of the slaves, frees them earlier.

The role of George Washington in US politics

After resigning, Washington actively monitors the political life of the new country; he sends recommendations to the states and the central government on the need to strengthen central power as a factor in strengthening the state.

An active political life allowed him to become one of the members of the convention for the creation of the US Constitution in Philadelphia. As a result, the Constitution of the United States of America is adopted and ratified by all thirteen state legislatures.

On April 30, 1789, by a unanimous decision of the state electoral college (the only case in US history), he was elected the first president of the United States, and in 1892 he held this post for the second time. In the process of governing the state, he surrounded himself with the most outstanding figures in science, economics, and politics of the time, which allowed him to formulate the right course of development and set an example for his followers to comply with the norms of the US Constitution. Washington tried to legislate the rights of US citizens in order to counteract despotism in the future. For this purpose, on September 25, 1789, on his initiative, the Bill of Rights, the so-called first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, was adopted.

Washington also initiated the construction of a new city to house federal authorities. A special District of Columbia was created between the states of Maryland and Virginia, which was not subject to state authorities. The location of the new capital was not chosen by chance; this place was located between the North and the South, which had different views on politics.

As if anticipating his death on September 20, 1796. J. Washington publishes a farewell address to the American nation written earlier. Washington asked Americans not to strive for despotism, and called the main principles of a stable and prosperous state the principles of religion and morality as “the great foundations of human happiness,” he also asked future generations to strive to “maintain harmony and peace with other states,” but at the same time have “less political connections" with the active development of trade.

Washington initially determined the dominance of the executive branch of government over the legislative sphere of international relations and foreign policy. He actively advocated US neutrality and non-interference in the affairs of European states. On this occasion, he adopted a special proclamation of US neutrality in 1793.

Subsequently, these theses formed the basis of the “Monroe Doctrine” and the US policy of isolationism, which led to the US Great Depression and the recession of the world economy.

As a tribute to the Father of the Nation, every year on February 22, before the start of the session of the US Congress, Washington's farewell address to the American nation is read before the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Washington was offered to become a dictator, a monarch, and also be elected to a third presidential term. However, he politely refused all this, insisting that power should be in the hands of the people, sending their representatives to Congress and electing a periodically replaced president. Washington emphasized that no person could serve as president more than twice; this was the basis of constitutional tradition.

He endured many difficulties throughout his life, but the greatest test of his strength and resilience comes in his last hours. A snowstorm hits Washington while he is walking through Mount Vernon. He goes to bed with a sore throat and pneumonia. Subsequent treatment with bloodletting only worsens the situation. Instead of helping, bloodletting sends him into a coma. Experts believe that the cause of Washington's death, that same evening at 10:20 p.m., March 4, 1797, was closure of the throat and suffocation.

Delayed construction

The Capitol is the tallest building in downtown Washington (107 m). It was built in classical Greek style with a large dome in the center and two wings. The southern wing is occupied by the US House of Representatives, and the northern wing is occupied by the Senate. Construction proceeded very slowly, and in 1814, during the Anglo-American War, the still unfinished building was set on fire by British troops. Fortunately, rain prevented this magnificent structure from being completely destroyed, and construction resumed the following year. Only in 1826 the Capitol was put into operation. Soon the Congress building needed to be expanded, as the number of senators and politicians grew. The wings of the building were expanded and reinforced with marble, which replaced the original material – sandstone. The dome was demolished and a new, cast-iron one was installed in its place, and the Statue of Liberty appeared on top. Until 1993, the Capitol was rebuilt and modernized more than once: heating was installed and elevators were installed. The building has 540 rooms. The Capitol has its own metro and underground tunnel connecting the main Congress building with office centers.

Statue of Liberty

Without binoculars, the 6-meter bronze Statue of Liberty, which crowns the dome of the Capitol, is quite difficult to see. The sculpture was installed on December 2, 1863. Her right hand rests on the hilt of the sword, her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the US shield with thirteen stripes. The statue's helmet is decorated with stars and an eagle's head, and a fringed cloak is thrown over its shoulder, which, of course, refers to the traditions of the American Indians.

There is an interesting anecdote about the “headdress” of the statue. At first they planned to put a cap on Liberty's head, similar to the one worn by freed slaves in Ancient Greece. However, Secretary of Defense Jefferson Davis, who was the President of the Confederacy at the time, opposed the idea. In his opinion, such a cap does not suit the symbol of freeborn citizens. Therefore, the statue became the way we see it today - with a helmet with eagle feathers.

Architects of the Capitol

The first architect of the Congress building could have been Pierre Charles Lanfant, but he stubbornly refused to present the architectural plan of the Capitol, declaring that it was in his head. The resignation was not long in coming. In 1792, a national competition was announced for the best project. The winner was promised $500 and a plot of land in the city. However, out of 16 submitted works, not a single one was suitable. Therefore, the competition continued. As a result, amateur architect William Thornton won the competition. He presented a building similar to the Pantheon with a dome, to which two symmetrical wings were attached - the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to George Washington, the project combined simplicity and grandeur. But by 1803, Thornton resigned, having managed to erect only the building of the north wing of the Capitol. The government hired British architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The master’s brilliant work was almost destroyed by fire in 1814. The architect began restoring the buildings. And then he had a dispute with the authorities over whether to make the ceilings of the Senate and House of Representatives dome-shaped. Boston architect Charles Bulfinch got involved. Before 1830, he completed the construction of a wooden dome covered with copper sheets and an eastern gallery. In the 1870s, the famous specialist in landscape architecture Frederick Law Olmsted added terraces to the east, north and south of the Capitol. In 1958 - 1962 a 10-meter extension appeared on the eastern side of the building.

Museum in the Capitol

The US Congress building is not only the seat of the Senate and House of Representatives, but also a museum that houses an impressive number of paintings, statues, murals, historical documents, rare photographs and other interesting things. Getting into the Capitol is much easier than getting into the White House. You need to book a tour through the Visitors Center website, and on the appointed day, come to the Congress building lightly, without large bags, food or drinks. You must have your passport with you.

Ghost of the Capitol

Many different legends and horror stories are attributed to the Capitol building. Allegedly, the ghosts of deceased US presidents “walk” through its halls. But the most famous ghost in the government building complex is the spirit of a black cat, which is seen in the White House, on the National Mall, and also in the basement of the Capitol. The Demon Cat, according to legends, first appears in front of a person as a small, harmless kitten, but if you get closer to it, it grows into a huge monster the size of a tiger. It appears, as a rule, before some national disaster or when the president changes.

Where did the ghost come from? According to legend, in 1800 rats infested the Capitol. To solve the problem, dozens of cats were released there. When they had completed their work, they were returned back, but one animal remained.

George Washington is an American statesman and politician, the first president of the United States, founder of the institution of the presidency in the United States, and military leader. On February 22, 1732, he was born in the state of Virginia, Westmoreland county. His father was an English immigrant, a wealthy landowner and planter, who died when George was 11 years old. His death deprived the boy of the chance to study, according to family tradition, in Great Britain, so his education was at home: it was organized by Lord William Fairfax, who lived next door. He sent a 16-year-old teenager to his western lands to work as a land surveyor. In 1752, after his death, George Washington inherited the Mount Vernon estate, with which his entire future life would be connected.

Showing an interest in agriculture, Washington, nevertheless, dreamed of a career as a military man. That same year, as a militiaman, he began to fight the French and Indians, and he learned firsthand what captivity was. With the rank of colonel, he retired in 1758, returned to the estate and became closely involved in its improvement and agriculture. In 1759, J. Washington married and gradually acquired the status of one of the most not only wealthy, but also influential planters in the state.

In 1758, George Washington's public activities began: until 1774 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Virginia, and in 1774 he was elected to the post of deputy of the 1st Philadelphia Continental Congress. As a member of the Legislative Assembly, he opposed violent action, but when the Revolutionary War began in 1775, Colonel George Washington of the Virginia militia, abandoning the idea of ​​​​a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Great Britain, led the Continental Army as commander in chief - a position he filled chosen unanimously.

Military operations revealed in him his remarkable talent as a commander and administrator, and demonstrated his bravery and courage as a person. The largest victories of his troops, in which Washington reorganized, were the battles of Boston (spring 1776), Princeton (winter 1777), the battles of Saratoga (autumn 1777) and Yorktown (autumn 1781). In 1783, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, in which the independence of the United States was recognized by Great Britain, and after this event, George Washington returned to Mount Vernon, resigning as commander-in-chief.

In 1787, a new stage in Washington's biography began: he became the head of the US Congress commission that developed the state Constitution. 1789 was the peak of his political career, the year of his election (unanimous) to the presidency of the United States of America, the first in the history of the country. In 1792, he remained in the presidential chair due to his election to a second term. While in this post, Washington consistently implemented the principles of the young Constitution, formed a system of government, power structures, took measures to stimulate the strengthening of the state, the development of the economic sector, and contributed to the active construction of the capital. The foreign policy pursued by George Washington was based on the neutrality of the United States and the country's non-interference in the affairs of European states.

Washington did not run for a third term and moved to his Mount Vernon estate in 1798. There, on December 14, 1799, the life of the first American president awarded the title “Father of the Fatherland” ended.