World War I Statue by Kendall

Lafayette and George Washington

As you can see from the Lafayette and George Washington statue, George Washington and Lafayette are shaking hands. The war was finally over. But how did George Washington and Lafayette ever become friends? And who were they? And how does WWI relate to this? This statue was dedicated by the French to the Americans to thank them for volunteering in World War I. If you look at the back of this statue you will see Americans’ names. Those are the American soldiers who died volunteering for France during World War I. On other statues, you might have noticed that they’re about the French volunteering for the Americans. If France helped the Americans in the American Revolution, would America help France in other wars? In this book you will learn about how two people made the relationship of two countries.

George Washington

Washington, who you probably know as the first president of the USA, moved to the new land after his rough life in Britain to see if he could get a new start. In Britain, George Washington’s mother died when George was 33. After that he moved in with his brother, Lawrence, who worked in a mine and later died of tuberculosis. Then Washington moved to the new land with his wife Martha and his two children, John Park Custis and Pasty.

A mine is a place where someone looks for gold or other minerals

The French and Indian War

Once George Washington came to America, he joined the Colonial Army as a volunteer during the French and Indian war. George Washington started out as an average soldier but shortly became a colonel. The French and Indian war was all about the French and native Americans fighting over land against the British colonists. This war lasted for seven years. After the first five years of the war, the colonists needed help, so they asked the British to make a blockade on the east coast with their boats so that the French supply ships could not get through. Soon the British colonists won the war, but the story was not over.

A blockade is where someone blocks off something with an object.

Fun Fact: When George Washington fought in the French and Indian War, his horse was shot out from under him.  After that he got another horse which was also shot out from under him  The bullet went through his jacket but he remained unharmed.

Taxes

The British, who helped the colonists win the war, taxed the colonists because of all the money they spent. But the colonists did not think this was fair. The British gained a lot out of winning the war since the colonies were still part of England. Britain had more land under their control and the opportunity to become wealthy in the new world. The question all the colonists were asking, was what should we do about these taxes. But George Washington knew what he thought the colonies should do. He believed the colonists should split up from England, even if it meant going to war.

Before George Washington fought against the British, George Washington fought with the British in the French and Indian War

Lafayette

Why did Lafayette, the French soldier come to the new land and meet George Washington? George Washington and Lafayette were 25 years apart in age. When George Washington was fighting in the French and Indian War, Lafayette was still living with his mom.

Lafayette’s father died fighting against the British when Lafayette was only 2.

Lafayette was born in Western France with much wealth in his family. His family had worked in the military for generations. Lafayette became a military general at age thirteen and became a major general at nineteen. Lafayette’s parents were Marie Louise Jolie and Michel du Motier. But still, why did Lafayette decide to come to America?

When Benjamin Franklin visited France, he met a French military general named Nathaniel Greene. Benjamin asked Nathaniel if he would be willing to come over and help the colonial army in the American Revolution. After making a few arrangements with the French king, Nathaniel came and helped the colonists.

The French king did not want Lafayette to come to the New World, but he did out of revenge for his father.

During the Battle of Yorktown, Nathaniel realized they could not win the war and withdrew. His replacement was Lafayette, the hero of two countries.

Lafayette was buried under dirt from the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Becoming Friends

When George Washington and Lafayette first met, they weren’t automatically friends. When Lafayette and George Washington really became friends was at the Battle of Brandywine. In this battle, Lafayette got shot in the leg, but kept fighting. This showed Washington that Lafayette was tough and determined. This one act earned Washington’s trust. Sometimes the smallest actions can do so much. But this was only the start of their relationship.

A Special Relationship

After the Battle of Monmouth, Lafayette went back to France carrying a note to the French king. The note, written by Washington and some other Patriots, said that Lafayette was a very skilled fighter and asked for troops and supplies to support the war. Since France and Britain were rivals, the French king said yes. He felt that if the colonists won the war, Britain would be weakened. When George Washington heard that Lafayette was returning to America, he had tears in his eyes, Their relationship was more than a friendship, it was a father / son relationship.

Lafayette named his son George Washington

When Lafayette came back to America, he was with many French troops and supplies. Lafayette and Washington led side by side.

Lafayette and George Washington remained friends after the American Revolution.  They even visited each other. Lafayette sent the bastille key to George Washington

Allies

George Washington and Lafayette fought many battles together. The relationship of two people, made the relationship of two countries. If France did not help the Americans in the American Revolution, they most likely would not have won the war. Then there would be no America. After the American Revolution, since France helped America, the United States helped the French in World War I and World War II. As you can see for the WWI statue, France and America are still allies today. Sometimes you make the best friends in the hardest times.