歷屆美國總統(tǒng)介紹:第1任總統(tǒng) 喬治華盛頓

George Washington was the first President of the USA and is consistently voted as one its top five leaders. He was born in 1732 in Virginia. His family were well off and owned a plantation. Growing up, he learned the morals, manners, and knowledge necessary for an 18th-century Virginia gentleman. He was greatly interested in two things while he grew up: military arts and western expansion.

喬治·華盛頓是美國的第一屆總統(tǒng)，并被一致認為是美國的五大領袖之一。他于1732年出生于弗吉尼亞州。他家境富裕，家里有一個種植園。隨著年齡的增長，他學會了成為一個18世紀弗吉尼亞紳士所要求的道德、禮儀以及學識。成長過程中，他對兩件事特別感興趣：軍事藝術和西方殖民擴張。

In 1754, at the age of 22, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Army. He fought in the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The following year he escaped injury in battle although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him. His military experience taught him valuable lessons in leadership he would use later in his political life.

1754年，22歲的華盛頓在部隊成為了一名美國陸軍中校。他參加了法國和印度之戰(zhàn)的第一次小規(guī)模戰(zhàn)斗。第二年，盡管4顆子彈穿過他的上衣、2匹坐下的戰(zhàn)馬被子彈打中，而他卻沒受傷。從軍經歷給了他寶貴的領導經驗，這些在他在日后的政治生涯中派上了用場。

From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands. He married Martha Dandridge Custis and devoted himself to farming life. However, he felt exploited by British merchants and British regulations. In 1775, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years. He forced the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781.

從1759年到美國獨立戰(zhàn)爭爆發(fā)，華盛頓一直在經營自己的農場。他與瑪莎·丹德里奇·柯蒂斯結婚，并全身心投入到農耕生活中。然而，他感覺受到了英國商人及英國管制的剝削。1775年，他帶領著一支訓練不良的隊伍開始了一場長達6年的艱苦戰(zhàn)斗。1781年，他迫使英國人在約克鎮(zhèn)投降。

Washington entered politics and became a prime mover in the steps leading to creating the Constitution in 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected him as the USA's first President. Washington avoided further wars and promoted the importance of federal power. He died in 1799 and was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

1787年，華盛頓進入政壇，并成為創(chuàng)建美國憲法的主要發(fā)起人。新憲法獲批后，總統(tǒng)選舉團一致推選華盛頓為美國的第一任總統(tǒng)。此后，華盛頓在避免進一步戰(zhàn)爭的同時，也加強了聯(lián)邦政府的權力。華盛頓于1799年，逝世，他被譽為“戰(zhàn)爭第一人、和平第一人、國民心中的第一人。”