Valley Forge Argumentative Essay Being a soldier at Valley Forge is so overwhelming like a family on Christmas eve. From the winter of 1777 to 1778 Valley Forge was in very harsh weather conditions. During this time we took command with George Washington and after a while war started. Some interesting facts are that in 1773, 310 street lights were installed. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and in 1782 the writing of the Constitution was in progress. I have decided not to re-enlist for these three reasons which are, sickness, conditions and clothing, and congress/ leadership. The first reason I will not re-enlist is because the sickness in 1777 to 1778 is a very easy disease to spread. The quote “ Sent here to starve and freeze” (Waldo 151) is harsh, especially for the people that are fighting for their country. As well as for the quote “ However, the most frequent time of re-enlistment was nine months… Others just simply deserted” (Roden 141) shows that they knew how hard the living was and that they needed to leave. In Document A it talks about the average people at Valley Forge in the beginning and the average after the sickness spread. So by looking at the chart I would have a 25% chance of living, and a 75% chance of dying.These reasons are causing me to not re-enlist because I would rather not die of a sickness but of old age. This whole paragraph is talking about how you can catch a sickness and may not survive. I will not re-enlist
Valley Forge is a place where Washington trained the colonists to fight with the British soldiers, even though it is cold, disease spreads, lack of food, bad equipments, and people dying, but for our better future we have to stay and train to become a better and confident soldier. According to The American Crisis by Thomas Paine, he told us that Although things are bad in Valley Forge we still have to fight for our country and break away from the horrible king that charges us a lot of money. According to the text Thomas Paine wrote that “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” This shows that King George is treating them badly and they have
Another reason I must re-enlist is the fact that my government deserves my loyalty. The Committee of Congress has stayed with us through much of the winter after arriving at Valley Forge a few weeks ago and has given us hope (Document B). That hope has sparked within us a new flood of encouragement and will power. When George Washington was talking to the 5 members of Congress, he expressed the fact that we brave soldiers need help in our battle with Britain (Document B). Even though it’s cold, and we have threadbare clothing that are merely rags, and the Congress members are all dressed in their finest, our spirit is still strong (Document B). Even Dr. Waldo stated that while tending to our sick soldiers, he was surprised by the magnitude of cheerful willingness to proceed with fighting for our cause (Document C). Dr. Waldo expected us to be down on our luck for having to withstand the poor food, fatigue, cold weather, crowded huts, and smoky air quality which was due to poor ventilation, but most soldiers were able to persevere through all of that hardship (Document C). The Committee of Congress makes me feel like someone is listening to our needs. The general supports us and the government cares about us, so I must support my government.
One of the reasons I wouldn't quit Valley Forge is because 50% of the people were sick but only 15% died. In document A it says “3989 (about 4000) out of 8000 were sick or unable to report for duty.” By February 1st, about 50% of soldiers were sick. But sickness is common around this time. For example, in our classroom about half of our students were sick. (Doc A) “1800 out of 12000 died”. 1800 out of 12000 soldiers may sound like a lot but it is actually only 15%. That's only 15% of all the soldiers dying. That's pretty good for being the “UnderDogs” in a war. This still gives you an 85% chance of living. So I would stay.
Victory does not come cheap. The soldiers who joined Washington in Valley Forge in December of 1777 learned that very quickly. While we camp here for the winter, we endure very harsh conditions. Many soldiers leave once their terms come to an end, and some even desert before then. Though some decide to stick it out and reenlist. The question is: which group will I join once my term is up? My response is that I will stay and fight for my country. There are three main reasons that I have come to this conclusion; The army is in need of people, I do not want to spread sickness to my family, and we are fighting for our freedom.
“Every thought is a battle, every breath is a war and I don’t think we are winning anymore”. The depressing thoughts in which were made up of dying and not surviving were going through the minds of all the soldiers at Valley Forge as well as mine. The need of food, clothes, and weapons were needed. The wanting to win and return home to our families were mutual between all of us as well. Since the summer of 1775, George Washington has withdrawn from Boston and retreated to New York City after the American Revolution. Recently, he had been unable to stop the British when Howe marched his army into the capital of Philadelphia. Washington had a very hard time trying to keep us in his army. Some of them had signed on for one year or two, but others left or simply deserted us. The question is simple, whether or not you would stay and fight for your country or leave with honor and your dignity. My choice was obvious, staying to fight for my country. There are many reasons surrounding my choice, including the fact that the supplies were provided for us in order to live and fight through the terrible seasons, the encouragement we needed, and the conditions we faced.
There was a lot of sick people, but there was not a lot of people dying from the sickness. Firstly, in document A it stated there was “3,989 people sick out of the 8,000” who were there. So what that is saying there was about 50% of soldiers sick and in the Winter it is common to be sick especially in those conditions. Secondly there were only “1,800 out of the 12,000 men died in Valley Forge”(doc A). What this is saying is that there is only a 15% chance of dying and a 85% chance of living which that is pretty good odds. Also in the background essay it says “today we know that most of the army survived the winter. So, I would take those odds and stay at Valley Forge.
Valley Forge, which was a difficult place to live, is where Washington and his Continental Army lived. During the harsh Revolutionary of December 1777-June 1778, many soldiers left, and many stayed loyal. If I had been a soldier in Washington’s army, would I have quit? No I wouldn’t have quit because only 15% of people died, there are people who show willingness, and because of the inspirational words of Thomas Paine.
The reason I will not re-enlist is so many are sick. The main sickness is smallpox, a deadly disease that many soldiers have. If you have it you will get blisters that are filled with pus and they cover your whole body.
In 1777 Continental troops head toward Philadelphia to fight and take land from the British troops, but are stopped by a Tragic snow storm. Men stop and set up camp to get past the storm but sadly Men start dying from illness and weather. Some troops wanted to leave and other wanted to stay and fight. Here's is my three reasons why you should stay at valley forge. First and foremost about 12,000 men settled at valley forge and from December 1777 to February 1778 about 4,000 men died. These are tragic deaths but if you do the math you only have a ten percent of dyeing, and 90 percent of living. Also about only 50 percent of people get sick, so if you put both together you have a high chance of living. The second reason why to stay at valley
My nine month term has ended for serving in the war and I have the option to re-enlist or not to re-enlist. Furthermore, after putting some thought into it, I have decided to re-enlist because more people will suffer if I leave. “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but ‘to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth (Paine 153).” I’m fighting for my country's freedom, if I leave George Washington it’s less likely we’ll win, and Britain will have forever control over us and they will tax and makes us slaves if we do not cooperate they could even put us in jail . “Congress came to help because of the bad conditions (Powell 149).” Many of us have no shoes and tatter’d clothes if I leave more people will have these conditions even with congress help. “ The summer
Image being at Valley forge, you walk through the snow and leave trails of blood while others are getting sick behind you would you want to re-enlist? In December 1777 in Valley Forge the US battled against the british and they suffered alot of pain.
George Washington once said, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” George Washington had to prepare his soldiers at the winter camp at Valley Forge. The winter of 1777 was great for Washington, because he could keep an eye on the General Howe’s British soldiers. Washington had a major problem. Some men were signing up for one to two year enlistment, but the most common was nine months.The living conditions were a horrid situation. Many had no shoes and little clothing, which is not a good combination for a frigid Pennsylvania winter. The winter was not pleasant, and most soldiers had diseases, like smallpox, and dysentery. Men are dying, running away, or deserting their post. My term is almost up. I am concerned about my family, and my aging mother. I could desert and leave for home, or stay and fight. The question has come down to this; If you were a soldier at Valley Forge, would you have quit. In this situation, to quit is to not re-enlist. I have decided to re-enlist because our great leaders, the doctors and sickness treatment, and respect.
The snow topples over your dry,scrawny skin. Your stomach is being buried alive from thin air. You need fuel and motivation, but you're not getting any. Your eyes slowly become more frail as the smoke scorches through them. Your teeth feel as if they are stuck in a pattern of repeatedly shivering. You try to be a loyal patriot, but are you going to choose yourself or your country? In the winter of 1777 and 1778, George Washington commanded several thousand patriot soldiers who spent the winter at Valley Forge, 18 miles outside of Philadelphia. It was not an easy time.If you had been a soldier in General Washington's army, would you have quit? I would not re-enlist for three reasons: I do not want to die, the living conditions were awful, and
Many soldiers dead, and many dying, the Continental Army was weak and sorely losing. It was 1777; the troops were camped at Valley Forge. The British army was only 18 miles away. The question for many of us is, will I quit? By quit, we mean to not re-enlist.
Soldiers in the Continental Army had a one in two chance of living. Fifty eight percent of them contracted an illness. At least 1,800 of them died at Valley Forge. Does that sound warm and inviting? In 1777, General Howe invaded Philadelphia, forcing Washington and his army to leave. A soldier in the Continental Army should not stay because of sickness/death, living conditions in camp, and a resentment towards Congress.