George Washington

George Washington was an American general and commander in chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution and subsequently first president of the United States. The Continental Congress named Washington the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, after which he led the British out of Boston in 1776. Washington was then driven out of New York City, Long Island and into New Jersey. On Christmas Day, 1776, Washington led a surprise attack on Trenton New Jersey, swinging the war back in the favor of the revolutionaries. Even though the moral increase of the victories, the harsh winter led to a large reduction in the size of Washington's army to number low as a thousand. American victory was despite the brilliancy of the victories not sure at this stage. Washington set about a reorganization of the army in response with both a carrot and sticks method (a carrot of promise of monetary reward for three-year land for joining for the duration of the war, a stick of increasing punishment from 39 to 100 lashes in order to discourage abandonment). This was helpful and numbers quickly increased again to ten thousand under Washington's direct command. Washington continued to battle successfully against the British, losing some battles but remaining an useful leader throughout, until he helped stopped the British attempts to control the Revolution by joining American and French forces in Yorktown Virginia and successfully negotiating a surrender. After resigning as Commander in Chief, Washington controlled over the American Constitutional Congress in 1787. Washington’s presence, more than his participation, was enough to encourage the Congress forward,