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British involvement in the American Revolution
British involvement in the American Revolution
Great Britain and the American conflict
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Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was born on September 13, 1730 in Magdeburg, Prussia. His full name was Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben. Once he heard about the American Revolution, he became interested and thought that using his tactics would benefit the Patriots. Steuben met Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane in Paris. Franklin then thought having Steuben on the Patriots' side would be a huge help for the army.
Friedrich arrived in Valley Forge in 1778 as a volunteered soldier where he met George Washington and was ordered to train the army. Steuben picked 100 men and trained them to become a disciplined soldier. He trained the soldiers at least 12 hours a day (6 AM- 6 PM). The Continental Army then started to understand and practice what Steuben was trying to teach them. By Spring of 1778, the entire army felt more confident and survived the harsh winter of Valley Forge. Due to the leadership of Steuben, the soldiers were well-trained and ready for battle. By May 1778, France joined America's side against Britain for revenge of their loss in the French and Indian War. The also promised that they would fight Britain for America to become a free country. To thank Baron von Steuben, Washington made him inspector general and the rank of major
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If the Treaty of Paris negotiation failed, George Washington and Friedrich von Steuben wanted them to be prepared if there was another battle. Once the the Treaty of Paris succeeded, America did not need a huge army so Friedrich assisted Washington in dividing the size of the army. At a restaurant in NYC, all of the generals of the Continental Army including Baron von Steuben said their farewells to George Washington and retired from the army by March 1784. After his retirement, Friedrich then decided to live the rest of his years living in America than returning to
The Road to Valley Forge The book that I chose to review was The Road to Valley Forge, How Washington Built the Army that Won the Revolutionary War, written by John Buchanan. This is a book that covers the beginning of the revolutionary war in America from the time that George Washington was selected as commander-in-chief of the army, until his army entered winter quarters at Valley Forge. It encompasses the weather conditions that Washington and his army had to endure, as well as the scrutiny that Washington always seemed to be under. The scrutiny came from people in Congress who believed that the war was going to be quick and wanted a large, decisive battle fought. George Washington took control of the revolutionary army on 2 July 1775.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers to the United States, was not a patriot but a mere loyalist to England before the dissolution between England and the colonies occurred. Sheila L. Skemp's The Making of a Patriot explores how Benjamin Franklin tried to stay loyal to the crown while taking interest in the colonies perception and their own representation in Parliament. While Ms. Skemp alludes to Franklin's loyalty, her main illustration is how the attack by Alexander Wedderburn during the Privy Council led to Franklin's disillusionment with the British crown and the greater interest in making the Thirteen Colonies their own nation. Her analysis of Franklin's history in Parliament and what occurred on the night that the council convened proves the change behind Franklin's beliefs and what lead to his involvement in the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin was the colonial agent representing Massachusetts in Parliament in Britain.
Washington's selection to be the leader of the Continental Army was the wisest choice that the newly formed Continental Congress could have made. Washington's selection as Commander of the Continental Army did more to win the Revolutionary war than any other decision made during the conflict. His personal character epitomizes perfectly the five traits required in a successful general: wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage, and strictness. (Sun Tzu p. 65) These five crucial traits will become apparent and Washington's strategy to win the War of Independence is elaborated on further
Washington's military experience started when he was selected by Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to travel to the Ohio Valley to tell the French to leave. He was only twenty-two years old, inexperienced, and naive. When Washington got there, the French claimed that they owned the land and refused to give it up. Washington reported this to Governor Dinwiddie, and was ordered to go back and construct a fort so they could defend their territory if their was a war against the French. While constructing a fort, named Fort Necessity, Washington and his men shot a small group of French men, because they would not leave the area. It turned out that they had shot French spies. A few days later, the French attacked the unfinished fort which resulted in Washington losing a third of his army. He surrendered and was allowed to return back to Virginia. This foolish mistake made by Washington started the French and Indian War. This was one of the few mistakes George Washington made during his military career.
Valley Forge, perhaps one of the toughest battles the Continental army had ever faced, brought many trials and tribulations to the army. Trials that would question the leadership role of George
Richard Rodriguez uses many rhetorical strategies in his essay, “Aria: Memoirs of a Bilingual Childhood” to convey the differences between his native Spanish and the English spoken around him. Diction, pathos and anecdote elucidate the differences between native English speakers and his parents, effectively giving the reader a clear impression of how Rodriguez experiences life as a bilingual child.
By joining the Sons of Liberty, Arnold hoped to resist the British tyranny that the country was starting to feel. He did not like all the taxes and policies that King George III was beginning to push. Soon, Arnold felt the need to enlist in the army. He was one of Washington’s best Major-Generals. The fact that the troops were so poorly equipped and trained made Arnold quite frustrated, so he spent his own money trying to properly equip and train them. When he won the battle of Ticonderoga in 1775, Washington was quick to appoint him as commander of a large force of men to take on the battle of Quebec. The men marched three hundred fifty miles through “rain, snow, and ice, reduced to eating candles, dogs, and shoe leather” (Creighton).
At the start of the war, the Continental Army lacked training and organization. While the scattered guerilla tactics seemed to waste time and resources, they helped Americans stay alive. In addition, the colonists had the advantage of perseverance; they had to fight for their freedom as a nation. Another facet that helped survival was the leadership of George Washington. His knowledge and expertise was critical in making sure his soldiers stayed alive; having the home field advantage boosted his effectiveness as well. All of these assets culminated into a powerful force against the British
...he surrender. Even if he would have arrived much sooner, a British defeat was inevitable. He left the colonies in 1782. The colonies had become the newest nation, and named itself the United States of America. The hero of the war, George Washington went on to become the first president of the United States. Many wanted him to become the king, but he refused because he didn’t want all the power just like their tyrant cousins.
United States, was born in Caldwell, New Jersey on March 18, 1837. He was the
Washington immediently received a promotion to a full colonelcy. On July 3, 1754, the French drove him and 350 men into Fort Necessity. The French then took controlled of it with 700, men and forced Washington to surrender. They sent the unarmed colonials back to Virginia with honours of war. He had to then sign paper saying that he would not build a fort on the Ohio Valley for one year. In that same year he resigned his commission.
Washington immediately began to put together an army. He ordered Major General Charles Lee to bring his troops from New York to help, and General James Ewing brought his troops as well. On December 11, Washington crossed the Delaware River to get his army together and prepare for the upcoming fight. On December 13, General Lee was captured by the British, but thankfully General Sullivan successfully crossed the river with his troops. By December 20, Washington had enlisted around six thousand men (Murphy). Washington received reports that General Howe sent most of his force back to New York and had left the Hessians in different areas of New Jerse...
In the years 1777 to 1778, while General George Washington was settled in Valley Forge with his forces, the Continental Army was falling apart. It became difficult for Washington to keep leading when his soldiers kept retreating. My position is a soldier in the army who will be allowed to leave in one month, but I will not leave. The soldiers at Valley Forge in 1777 and 1778 should have stayed. The Continental Army needed everyone they could keep, the death toll was low, and George Washington was a fantastic leader.
Fredrich Von Steuben was born in Magedeburg Prussia, on Nov. 15, 1730, the son of a Prussian army officer. At the age of fourteen he served as a volunteer in the army, at the siege of Prague. By seventeen, he was an officer. In 1762 he served Frederick the Great. Von Steuben became Grand Marshal at Hohensollern-Hechingen, where he received the title of Baron from their Prince. The Prince developed substantial financial problems, and the Baron had find new employment. He left Prussia due to sexual persecution, and was unable to resume his military career in the armies of France, Austria, or England (American Military Leaders). He arrived in Paris nearly penniless, but had the good fortune of being interviewed as a foreign aid by Benjamin Franklin, from whom he gained letters of introduction to Congress and Washington (American Military Leaders). They made a well-chosen decision to recruit him into the United States army to help train soldiers to fight against Britain. Success of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War was due to the training they received at Valley Forge from Baron Von Steuben.
The British wanted to take control of the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the other colonies. So General Burgoyne with 7,700 troops approached Albany, New York, from Canada. On his way, Burgoyne defeated American forces at Fort Ticonderoga. More troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger and General Howe were to join him to attack the American troops. Unfortunately for Burgoyne, St. Leger's troops were forced to retreat back to into Canada by Benedict Arnold and his American militia. General Howe's forces were fighting with Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and then the Battle of Germantown, which kept him from joining Burgoyne. General Burgoyne's forces attacked General Gates’ American forces at the Battle of Oriskany and at the Battle of Bennington but were driven back both times. General Burgoyne attacked American for his third time at the Battle of Saratoga. This time Burgoyne and his forces were defeated and General Burgoyne was forced to surrender. The Battle of Saratoga in July and October 1777 was an American victory that was to result in France entering the conflict on behalf of the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.