Valley Forge Thesis

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“Helplessness induces hopelessness, and history attests that loss of hope and not loss of lives is what decides the issue of war.” One of the most important wars in American history was the revolutionary war. The whole war was started with a single gunshot at the battle of Bunker Hill. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, it signified the country's freedom. However, a war had to be fought to gain independence from Great Britain. Americans were forced to choose sides. The colonists could either be a loyalist, or a patriot. Some women in the colonies developed “scarlet fever”. They thought the British soldiers were attractive. General Washington decided to make camp at a place called Valley Forge. That was a big mistake. More soldiers …show more content…

According to the text, there was very bad ventilation in the small huts the soldiers stayed in. According to one of the doctors staying at the camp, “...my Skin and eyes are almost spoil’d with continual smoke.” ( Waldo 151) Food was very scarce at Valley Forge. Their food supply was very low to start with. “A general cry thro’ the Camp this Evening among the Soldiers, No Meat! No Meat!” ( Waldo 151) In addition to food, there were scarce amounts of clothes provided for the soldiers at Valley Forge. In a carving by William Henry Powell, there are soldiers in hardly any clothes at all! (Powell 149) Also, most soldiers are barefoot are bare legged. (Powell 149) This carving portrays that there was not much clothes to keep the soldiers warm in the winter. Supplies were low at Valley Forge. Some of their much-needed supplies were clothes and food. Washington was also running out of men due to the conditions of the camp. “Poor food- hard lodging” (Waldo 151) This quote shows that not only is there poor food, there is also hard lodging. “Each hut slept twelve men. There were no beds, just straw on the mud floor.” (Roden 141) There were not enough materials to make more tents or huts with, therefore, I would not reenlist at Valley Forge. Other than bad conditions, another reason I would not reenlist at Valley Forge is because of the faulty

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