George Washington - Revolutionary

George Washington - Revolutionary

George Washington - Revolutionary
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	6.83

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		military, leadership, supplied, better, successful, supervise, entire, during, attempt, discussion, remain, government, lead, member, belief, convince
	content words:		Indian War, George Washington, Mount Vernon, King George III, Boston Harbor, First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress, Continental Congress, John Adams, American Army

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George Washington - Revolutionary
By Jane Runyon

¹     After serving in the British army during the French and Indian War, George Washington returned to his favorite spot, Mount Vernon. His plan was to remain there and to become a gentleman farmer. He liked this life most of all. He could supervise the crops, manage the slaves, play cards, and be part of the local government. The colonists had set up their own government in Williamsburg, Virginia, called the House of Burgesses. It was their job to make the rules to be followed by the colonists. Of course, King George III had the final say about these rules. George Washington decided to become a member of the House of Burgesses but was defeated in his first attempt to be elected. He tried again in 1758 and won. He took his place in Williamsburg thinking that he would follow the lead of the British government. He didn't know how life would change for all colonists in the next few years.

²     Members of the House of Burgesses began to question the right of the king to tax them. They wrote to the king and Parliament about their questions. They sent representatives to England to talk to the king. The king was not used to being questioned about his decisions, so he just ignored the colonists. The colonists then boycotted English imports. They dumped a cargo of tea into Boston Harbor. When the king could no longer ignore their "whining," he ordered that the House of Burgesses be disbanded in 1774. They were no longer going to be allowed to make decisions for the colonies. You can imagine that this decision did not sit well with the colonists. George Washington was among the unhappy members the king sent back to their homes.

³     George Washington was sent to the First Continental Congress which was set up by colonists because they believed they had the right to make their own decisions. At its conclusion, Washington returned to northern Virginia with a mission. He was to organize the groups of independent soldiers into militias. He also wanted to be elected to the Second Continental Congress. He was successful in both of his goals.

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