1. Georges Washington (1732-1799)
Georges Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia.
At that time, Virginia, like twelve other easterncolonies, was a British Colony: it depended onGreat-Britain politically and economically.
Georges Washington became Commander-in-Chief of theContinental Army, and led the War of Independenceagainst Great-Britain(1775-1783) with the help of the French Lafayette and Rochambeau.
After his victory, the 13 colonies became "TheUnited States of America", and they adopted theirConstitution in 1788.
Georges Washington was elected first President of theUnited States in 1789.
For the American people he is "The Father of our Country", "firstin war, first in peace, and first in the heart of his *countrymen".
*Lexique
countrymen: compatriotes.
2. Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977)
Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889.
His parents were poor music-hall artists, and he beganacting at the age of 9.
He was not just an actor, he controlled everyaspect of the film-making process: producing,casting, directing, writing, scoring* and editing the movies heacted in.
He arrived in New-York in 1910 and decided it wasthere he wanted to live.
But he never became anAmerican citizen, because of his politicalideals: he had sympathy for the pacifistsand communists and this was very suspect duringthe *Cold War.
He had to leave the U.S.A. in 1952, and settled in Switzerland.
He returned only once to the U.S.A., to receive an oscarfor his contribution to the film-making industry (1972).
He was ennobled* by the Queen of England in 1975and thus became "Sir Charlie Chaplin".
He died in Switzerland in 1977.
*Lexique
scoring: composition de la musique du film.
ennobled: anobli.
Cold War: La Guerre Froide (1977-1989).
3. Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta, in the South of theU.S.A.
At that time, especially in the South, there was a lot of
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