George Washington， born February 22， 1732 in Virginia， was the first president of the United States of America affectionately① honored as “the father of his country”.
Shortly after his twenty-second birthday， Washington served in the army of King George III of England and was put in command② of a troop of soldiers. Later， in the war against the French and Indians， Washington commanded large troops of soldiers and showed courage that inspired all his soldiers.
At this time， King George III of England dominated③ the thirteen colonies along the east coast and much of the surrounding territories.
Colonists began to want their freedom， and live with a set of rules based on democracy， not under the rule of a faraway king.
The Boston Tea Party of 1773， a colonial rebellion against taxes， helped to spark④ the American Revolution. Washington led and encouraged his inexperienced armies against the British forces for eight years until the colonies won their independence.
Laws for the new country were written into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Washington agreed to serve his country as the first President.
George Washington moved to New York City， then the capital of the United States. All along the way， people waited eagerly⑤ to glimpse the Revolutionary War general and their first President.
Americans celebrated Washington’s birthday while he was still alive. They were grateful for a strong leader who had proven that democracy was a feasible⑥ way to govern the growing country. And， legends grew up about him. The most famous one says that he was so strong that he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Some Americans argue that this is a true story. Parts of the Potomac River， they say， were extremely narrow a few hundred years ago！ Another story which has never been proven， but Americans pass down to their children as a lesson.
① affectionatelyadv. 充满深情地，出于柔情地
② commandv. 指挥，统率，控
③ dominatev. 支配，统治，控制
④ sparkv. 发动，点燃
⑤ eagerlyadv. 渴望地，热切地
⑥ feasibleadj. 可行的，可实行的
乔治·华盛顿
1732年2月22日，乔治·华盛顿出生于弗吉尼亚，他是美国第一位总统，被尊称为“国父”。
过完22岁的生日后，华盛顿在英国国王乔治三世的军队中服役，并被任命为指挥一队士兵。后来，在反对法国以及印第安人的战争中，华盛顿统率大队人马，在鼓舞士兵的士气方面他显示出了巨大的勇气。
这段时期，英国国王乔治三世统治着沿东部海岸的十三个殖民地，以及围绕着领土的大部分地区。
殖民地人民开始希冀获得自由和基于民主原则上的规章制度，而不是慑服于一个来自遥远疆域的国王。
1773年，波士顿清茶事件——一场殖民地人民反对税收压制的运动，推动了美国革命的爆发。华盛顿领导他那支没有经验的军队与英国军队进行了8年的抗争，最终殖民地人民赢得了独立。
新建国家的法律被写进了《权利与自由法案》。华盛顿同意出任第一任总统来为整个国家服务。
华盛顿举家搬往纽约，而后又到了美国首都。沿途人们热切地等候，渴望可以一睹这位革命战争中的将军以及第一任总统的风采。
美国人民在华盛顿在世之时就已经开始了为他庆祝生日。他们对这位强大的领导者满怀感激之情，是他证明了民主在这个国家中可以生根发芽。
同时，关于他的传奇开始在民间流传。最著名的说法就是：他是如此强大，以至于可以将一枚银元扔到波塔麦克涤河的对面。一些美国人争辩说这就是一个真实的故事。他们说，波塔麦克涤河在100年以前是一条非常狭窄的河流。还有一个故事从来没有得到证明，但是美国人都将它作为一节课程传给后世的子孙。