Brief Summary: The Death Of George Washington

In 1799 The United States of America lost their very first president, George Washington. Before George Washington’s death, he was able to put together a will to make sure all of his family and possessions would be taken care of. In George Washington’s Will he left all of his estate, real and personal, to his wife Martha Washington for the rest of her natural life, and to be passed on or destroyed at her discursion while living or left in her will. He also stated that the few debts he had throughout his life would be speedily paid off. George Washington did leave one thing out of his will that Martha Washington was not allowed to change. After Martha Washington’s death all the slaves that George and Martha Washington owned would be set free, and could not be sold or passed on to anyone else in Martha Washington’s Will. He made other more direct demands in his will, but all were done to help or protect the safety of the people he cared about.
All of George Washington’s debts were in order to be paid off and Martha Washington was left with all of his estates to do what she pleases with and continue to profit. George Washington wanted the slaves to be free, but he also knew how hard it would be on his wife for them to all of a sudden be gone. Instead, he decided all the slaves would continue to work for Martha Washington even after his death. George Washington made sure to stipulate that after Martha Washington’s natural death the slaves would be set free, and could not be passed on to any other friends or family members for free or for profit. This was the only was George Washington know to make everyone happy, do the right thing and the same