George Washington

In the early 1750s, France and Britain were at peace. However, the French military had begun occupying much of the Ohio Valley, protecting the King's land interests and fur trappers and French settlers.

Early Military

On October 31, 1753, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie sent Washington to Fort LeBoeuf to warn the French to remove themselves from land claimed by Britain.

The French refused. Washington's small force attacked a French post at Fort Duquesne killing the commander, Coulon de Jumonville, and nine others and taking the rest prisoners. The French and Indian War had begun.

French countered , Washington and his men were pushed back and after a full day of fighting Washington surrendered. He was later awarded the honorary rank of colonel and joined British General Edward Braddock's army in Virginia in 1755.

In August, 1755, Washington was made commander of all Virginia troops at age 23. He was sent to the frontier to patrol and protect nearly 400 miles of border with some 700 ill-disciplined colonial troops and a Virginia colonial legislature unwilling to support him.

Before this point Washington was fighting for the British army, but with the introduction of the British Proclamation Act of 1763 and the Stamp Act of 1765

1767, he did oppose the ideas of the Crown but did not want to violate them.

In 1769, Washington introduced a resolution to the House of Burgesses calling for Virginia to boycott British goods until the Acts were repealed.

Revolution

Washington was beginning to prepare for war and was  appointed Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the colonial forces against Great Britain.

While Washington did lose several battles, he never gave up and continue to press on and encourage his men throughout the war.

On Christmas night, 1776, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River Washington's decision was based on strategic motivation, understanding that the Continental Army desperately needed a victory after months of intense fighting with several significant defeats and no major victories.

After an hour of fighting at the Battle of Trenton, Washington won the battle

Washington was the first President of the United States

The only president in American history to be elected by unanimous approval by the Electoral College.

Only was President for two terms and did not run for a third term to set an example that this country is not run like a Monarchy.

Washington Post Revolution

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon was born in Corsica and received an early military education but without noble birth, his military career was truncated.

Early Military

During the French Revolution, France did not want Napoleon in France itself and sent him off to fight battles elsewhere. After returning from winning the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797).

Once returning he was sent to Egypt in summer of 1798 starting the Second Coalition (1798-1802)

1799, took power in France and installed himself as First Consol

1804, Napoleon became the Emperor of France.

From 1803-1815He took control of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Egypt.

Napoleonic Wars

He won more battles than he lost, but in 1812 He lost around half a million men in his Grande Armee, due to the cold winters of Russia and his supply lines were stretched too far.

Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo in Belgium.

In a critical blunder, Napoleon waited until midday to give the command to attack in order to let the waterlogged ground dry after the previous night’s rainstorm. The delay gave Blucher’s remaining troops, numbered more than 30,000, time to march to Waterloo and join the battle later that day.

Health issues caused him not to be as focused on the battlefield.

Waterloo