George Washington, born February 22, 1732 in Virginia, was a natural leader, instrumental in creating a united nation out of a conglomeration of struggling colonies and territories. The first president of the United States ofAmerica is affectionately honored as "the father of his country".Shortly after his twenty-second birthday, Washington served in the army of King George III ofEngland and was put in command of a troop of soldiers. At this time, King George III ofEngland dominated 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. TheBoston Tea Party (波士顿倾茶事件) of 1773, a colonial rebellion against taxes, helped to spark theAmerican Revolution. Washington led and encouraged his inexperienced armies against theBritish forces for eight years until the colonies won their independence.Laws for the new country were written into theConstitution and theBill of Rights (权利与自由法案). The laws called for a President, and here again George Washington was considered the natural choice. He agreed to serve his country as the first President. George Washington moved from Mount Vernon, his family home south ofAlexandria, Virginia, to New YorkCity, then the capital of the United States. The trip took a week by horse and carriage.All along the way, people waited eagerly to glimpse the Revolutionary War general and their first President.Washington was a reluctant leader.As he inspired his soldiers through two wars, he saw himself serving his country, not leading it. When he accepted two terms as president, he saw himself serving God and his country in peacetime. He turned down a third term as president, wishing only to retire to his beautiful family home, Mount Vernon. Americans celebrated Washington’’s birthday while he was still alive. They were grateful for a strong leader who had proven that democracy was a feasible way to govern the growing country.And, while he was alive, legends grew up about him. The most famous one says that he was so strong, he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. SomeAmericans argue that this is a true story. Parts of the Potomac River, they say, were extremely narrow a few hundred years ago! George Washington had proved that________ was a feasible way to govern the growing country.