Personnages illustres américains |
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Georges Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia.
At that time, Virginia, like twelve other eastern colonies, was a British Colony: it depended on Great-Britain politically and economically.
Georges Washington became Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and led the War of Independence against Great-Britain(1775-1783) with the help of the French Lafayette and Rochambeau.
After his victory, the 13 colonies became "The United States of America", and they adopted their Constitution in 1788.
Georges Washington was elected first President of the United States in 1789.
For the American people he is "The Father of our Country", "first in war, first in peace, and first in the heart of his *countrymen".
*Lexique
countrymen: compatriotes.
Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889.
His parents were poor music-hall artists, and he began acting at the age of 9.
He was not just an actor, he controlled every aspect of the film-making process: producing, casting, directing, writing, scoring* and editing the movies he acted in.
He arrived in New-York in 1910 and decided it was there he wanted to live.
But he never became an American citizen, because of his political ideals: he had sympathy for the pacifists and communists and this was very suspect during the *Cold War