George Washingtons Birthday
February 22
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 of America is affectionately 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 command of a troop of soldiers. The French were settling on British soil and turning the local Indians against the British colonists. 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 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. The Boston Tea Partyof 1773, a colonial rebellion against taxes, helped to spark 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. 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 of Alexandria, Virginia, to New York City, 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 Washingtons 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. 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:
When George Washington was young, his father gave him a hatchetHe tried to cut down a cherry tree with it. His father noticed the cuts on the tree, and asked his son how they got there. I cannot tell a lie, George said, I did it with my hatchet. Perhaps George Washington had no hatchet, and perhaps there were no cherry trees where he grew up. However, George Washington today represents honesty, and cherry pies have become a favorite food associated with his birthday.
Various communities observe the holiday by staging pageants and reenactments of important milestones in Washingtons life. Also, the holiday has taken on another side, much more commercial in nature. Many shopping malls and stores run Presidents Day sales to attract shoppers who have the day off from work or school.
下一篇: 雅思口语天天练:生病时常用的表达
In my friends’ eyes I am a lucky dog. Beijing Foreign Studies完形填空答案
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:borrow lend
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:as when while
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:happen take place
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:across cross through
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:besides except but
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:finally at last in the end
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:bring take fetch
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:another other
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:at on in
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:not … until until
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:too much too many
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:hear hear of hear from
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:whether if
第二节读写任务 (共1小题,满分25分)阅读下面短文,然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。It seemed no及答案
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:sometime some time
you come to cities in China, you would have to take off your鸡蛋
中考英语专题复习资料:阅读理解专项练习(五)
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:because because of
Turn off the tap please. The water .A.was wastedB.wastesC.is及答案
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:alone lonely
IV写作(共两节,满分40分)基础写作(满分15分)请根据以下的情景说明,使用5个规范的英语句子描述全部所给的信息内容。及答案
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:also either too as well
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:spend pay cost take
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:among between
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:have sb. do
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:ago before
Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t 阅读理解答案
中考英语重要短语的用法及区别:look see watch
Theon his face told me that he was angry.[ ]A. impression B.及答案