This week of history, we are including the man, the myth, the legend: George Washington. The General of the Revolutionary War and later the president of the United States is famous for many things and infamous for many others. Some things George Washington is known for are, being the first President of the United States, a founding father of the United States, and being a statesman. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Pope Creek, Virginia, and died on December 14, 1799. By the age of 11, he began to inherit slaves, and by the end of his life owned over 577 slaves. In 1751, George Washington contracted smallpox when visiting Barbados. George Washington is hailed as a hero for his achievements and accomplishments. You can visit his memorial in Washington D.C. and his portraits in the white house, you could also go to the locations where he started his life, like his house in Virginia or George Washington’s Bathtub. George Washington has many names, these aliases show his fame and greatness. Although everything back then was highly exaggerated, he was still great and seen as a legend. All of this is said about George Washington but how has he impacted history and its future? Enter Justus Griffin, a Junior (11) at Okeechobee High School. Griffin is a huge fanatic on history and knows quite a bit about George Washington.
“I think he affected history by changing the standards and expectations for the future, by showing what we are capable of now,” Justus said.
Impressions 