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George Washington died in 1799. Afterward, General Henry Lee gave a speech before Congress. He put everything Washington had done into just a few words. Lee said Washington was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
Most people remember Washington as the nation’s first president. But he was also a great general. He led the nation to victory in the American Revolution. It took eight years for America to win independence from Britain. During that time, Americans respected Washington for his boldness and bravery in battle. They also admired how he stood by his soldiers in very tough times.
Washington had strong ideas of right and wrong. He always tried to be honest and true to his word. He also had a great sense of duty to his country. Washington was shy and modest. He never thought he would be the nation’s first president, and he never wanted the job. Yet, when the nation’s leaders told him that his country needed him, he agreed to serve. Luckily for us, as you will see, George Washington was the right person for the job.
