Military service & courage
George Washington
1732–1799
Massachusetts connection
Cambridge headquarters, 1775–1776
Washington came from Virginia. In Cambridge he took command of the Continental Army and directed the siege of Boston. His headquarters later became Longfellow’s home. While Washington fought for independence, he also enslaved people. Both facts matter when we investigate what freedom meant in his time.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Your turn, historian
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- What challenge did this person or group face? What does the evidence show?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“George Washington mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: National Park Service ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?