George Washington Essays (1130 words) - George Washington

George Washington George Washington is unanimously referred to as the "father of America". The first president of the United States of America, Washington set the manner for what was to become the most powerful seat of government in the country. The purpose of this paper is to provide biographical information on Washington and to explain why he is known as the "father of America". Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 22, 1732, George Washington was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington. His five younger brothers and sisters were Elizabeth, Samuel, John, Augustine, Charles, and Mildred (who died in infancy). Washington's two half brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, were fourteen and twelve years older than he, but the three boys liked and respected one another.1 When Washington was three the family moved to a larger plantation further up the Potomac River. It was called Epsewasson, or Little Hunting Creek, from the name of the stream it faced. Young Washington grew to love the estate with a passion that lasted all his life. Some years later Augustine bought a farm on the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, and moved the family there. The plantation, Ferry Farm, was the place where Washington chopped the cherry tree down.2 When Washington was eleven, his father died. The plantation at Epsewasson was granted to Lawrence. Lawrence added to the estate and renamed it Mount Vernon, in honor of Admiral Vernon, under whom he had served in the West Indies. George went to live with Augustine at Wakefield because Henry William's school, one of the best in the colony, was located nearby.3 Little is know of George Washington's schooling. He was probably tutored at home for a while, and may have attended school in Fredericksburg before going to Henry William's school. At fifteen he was ready to do practical surveying. He was good in mathematics; he was a neat penman and an accurate mapmaker. In 1748, Washington went to live with his half brother, Lawrence, at Mount Vernon. Lawrence, who became something of a substitute father for Washington, had married into the Fairfax family, prominent and powerful Virginians who helped launch Washington's career. An early ambition to become a naval officer had been discouraged by Washington's mother; instead he turned to surveying.4 Lord Fairfax, a cousin of Lawrence's wife and master of more than five million Virginia acres, was fond of Washington and hired him to help survey his holdings beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. The work was difficult, but Washington did well. In about a year, the surveying was completed, and, partly through Fairfax's influence, Washington was appointed surveyor of Culpeper County, his first public office. He took the oath of office on July 20, 1749.5 By 1753, the growing rivalry between the British and the French over the control of the Ohio Valley, soon to erupt into the French and Indian War, created new opportunities for Washington. He was a grown man at twenty, who already owned his first plot of Virginia land, bought with money borrowed from Lawrence. In 1753, Governor Dinwiddie made him a major of militia and sent him, with a message, to the French commander of Fort Le Boeuf. The note protested the building of a chain of French forts between Lake Ontario and the Ohio River. Near Great Meadows, Washington surrounded and attacked a party of thirty-three Frenchmen. Ten Frenchmen were killed, and twenty-two were captured. This action has been credited with starting the Seven Year's War. The French sent out nine hundred men to retaliate this slaughter. Washington, upon hearing of the arriving French threat, built a crude fort, aptly named Fort Necessity. The French badly beat Washington and he signed a document that he thought stated he attacked the party at Great Meadows. However, the document was written in French, which Washington could neither read nor speak, and the document that Washington signed stated he assassinated the party. The confession of the attack set off the world war.6 In 1755, Washington volunteered to join General Braddock and a large army to attack Fort Duquesne. Despite Washington's warnings, Braddock's troops marched in typical European fashion-long rows of men, drums beating and banners flying. For the French and Indians hiding in the woods and behind rocks, it was little more than target practice. Out of 1,400 officers and men, three fourths were killed or wounded; even Braddock himself was killed.7 That same year, Governor Dinwiddie made Washington colonel and commander of all Virginia militia forces. This was a high and well-deserved honor for the 23-year-old officer. The

Hedgehog Facts

Hedgehog Facts Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae) are a group of insectivores that are native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs are small mammals with rotund bodies and distinct spines made of keratin. They come by their unusual name as a result of their foraging behavior: They root through hedges to find worms, insects, and other food while making pig-like grunting sounds. Fast Facts: Hedgehog Scientific Name: ErinaceusCommon Name(s): Hedgehog, urchin,  hedgepig,  furze-pigBasic Animal Group:  MammalSize: Head and body: 5 to 12 inches; tail: 1 to 2 inchesWeight: 14–39 ouncesLifespan: 2–7 years depending on speciesDiet:  OmnivoreHabitat:  Parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, New Zealand (as an exotic species)Conservation  Status:  Least Concern Description Hedgehogs have a round body and dense spines on their back. Their belly, legs, face, and ears are free of spines. The spines are cream-colored and have brown and black bands on them. Hedgehog spines resemble those of a porcupine but they are not easily lost and are only shed and replaced when young hedgehogs reach adulthood or when a hedgehog is unwell or stressed. Hedgehogs have a white or tan face and short limbs with long curved claws. They have poor vision despite their large eyes but they have a keen sense of hearing and smell, and they use their sharper senses of smell and hearing to help them locate prey. Oksana Schmidt/Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Hedgehogs are found in many locations across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are not present in Australia, North America, Central America or South America, though have been introduced to New Zealand as an exotic species. Hedgehogs occupy a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, scrublands, hedges, suburban gardens, and agricultural areas. Diet Although they belong to the group of mammals formerly known as the insectivores, hedgehogs eat a varied diet that includes more than just insects. Hedgehogs feed on a variety of invertebrates such as insects, snails, and slugs as well as some small vertebrates including reptiles, frogs and birds eggs. They also feed on plant materials such as grass, roots, and berries. Behavior When threatened, hedgehogs crouch and hiss but they are better known for their defensive tactics than their might. If provoked, hedgehogs usually roll up by contracting the muscles that run along their back and in doing so raise their spines and curl their body and enclosing themselves in a protective ball of spines. Hedgehogs can also run quickly for short periods of time. Hedgehogs are for the most part nocturnal mammals. They are occasionally active during the day but more often shelter themselves in shrubs, tall vegetation or rock crevices during daylight hours. Hedgehogs construct burrows or use those dug by other mammals such as rabbits and foxes. They make nests underground in burrow chambers that they line with plant material. Some species of hedgehogs hibernate for several months during the winter. During hibernation, the body temperature and heart rate of the hedgehogs decline. Reproduction and Offspring Hedgehogs are generally solitary animals that spend time with one another only during mating season and when rearing young. Young hedgehogs mature in four to seven weeks after birth. Each year, hedgehogs can raise as many as three litters of young with as many as 11 babies. Hedgehogs are born blind and gestation lasts up to 42 days. Young hedgehogs are born with spines that are shed and replaced with larger stronger spines when they mature. Subspecies Hedgehogs are divided into five subgroups that include Eurasian hedgehogs (Erinaceus), African hedgehogs (Atelerix and Paraechinus), desert hedgehogs (Hemiechinus), and steppe hedgehogs (Mesechinus). There are a total of 17 species of hedgehogs. Hedgehog species include: Four-toed hedgehog, Atelerix albiventrisNorth African hedgehog, Atelerix algirusSouthern African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalisSomali hedgehog, Atelerix sclateriAmur hedgehog, Erinaceus amurensisSouthern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus concolorEuropean hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeusNorthern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicusLong-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritusIndian long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus collarisDaurian hedgehog, Mesechinus dauuricusHughs hedgehog, Mesechinus hughiDesert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicusBrandts hedgehog, Paraechinus hypomelasIndian hedgehog, Paraechinus micropusBare-bellied hedgehog, Paraechinus nudiventris Conservation Status Hedgehogs are listed as of Least Concern, as there are large populations of hedgehogs around the world. Many species of hedgehogs, however, are on the decline as a result of habitat loss, pesticide use, and poaching for use in traditional medicines. Conservation attempts are underway around the world; as a BBC article says: â€Å"A world without hedgehogs would be an uglier place. Hedgehogs and People Hedgehogs are well-loved animals and are featured in traditional childrens stories and fairy tales. Featured in tales by Beatrix Potter, the hedgehog retains its popularity in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game. Sources Coles, Jeremy. â€Å"Earth - Living in Harmony with Hedgehogs.†Ã‚  BBC, 19 Aug. 2015, www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150818-living-with-hedgehogs.â€Å"Hedgehog.†Ã‚  National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/h/hedgehog/.â€Å"Hedgehog.†Ã‚  San Diego Zoo Global Animals and Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hedgehog.