Dbq Valley Forge

Almost half of the people at Valley Forge are too sick to get out of bed. (Document A) Having been exposed to these diseases, I could spread them to my family if I go home. That is not a good thing, especially considering the fact that my mother is already sick and weak. Some of the illnesses make it so people are vomiting half of the time and some so they can’t even report for work. (Document C) I do not want to cause my family to be vomiting half the time, not to mention that they probably wouldn’t appreciate it

The stench of sweat, vomit, feces, and blood was almost to much to bear. Although times were difficult at Valley Forge, I would have stayed as a soldier because I believed George Washington was a amazing leader, most of the fellow soldiers didn't lose their spirit, and I would be willing to die for freedom. To begin, I would have stayed because George Washington was on our side and he is a natural born leader. In Document B it showed George Washington taking his soldiers side, which means that he was helping them; he wasn't just doing what Congress told him to do. Washington had fought in the French and Indian war, so he was trained by the British, meaning he knew there battle strategies well, as Sun Tzu once said "know thy enemy" and he did.

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.

The harsh winter has fallen upon Valley Forge with all 12,000 soldiers in the Continental army. They are all freezing or dying. They need more healthy men to win the army. Will you re-enlist and serve your country, or sit and watch them die fighting against Britain? Valley Forge was a small fort for the Continental Army 18 miles outside of Philadelphia from the winter of 1777 to 1778. The army is starving, suffering from smallpox, and freezing to death. If you were a soldier at Valley Forge, Would you have quit? To quit means to not reenlist back into the Continental Army. I have decided to re-enlist back to the army for three reasons which are, the army needs more healthy men, There are fires to keep us warm through the winter months, and I want to serve my country to show my loyalty to my country.

Even though I could be sick, it’s better to be sick and live than to be sick and die which is one reason why I would have re-enlisted. Next, George Washington and the Continental Congress. From the engraving created by William Henry Powell, it shows George Washington presenting his army to the Continental Congress. But really, he was showing the Congress how bad the conditions were for the soldiers. One soldier was even bare foot (Doc B). Why would George Washington go through all the trouble to bring the Congress to Valley Forge if he didn’t care for his soldiers? He did care for his soldiers, and if he did this, then why would I leave? He was suffering just like the rest of them. The congress could have helped them to which is another reason why I would’ve re-enlisted. Third, I do not want to be called a summer soldier. Thomas Paine, the author of “Common Sense” said, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this case shrink from the service of their country” (Doc D). Meaning that some soldiers only stayed when thing were going well, and when things were bad, they would leave. I would have  wanted to stay loyal to my country and possibly become famous for defending

Valley Forge was able to change the behaviour and way of the thinking of the soldiers under the command of General George Washington. George Washington commanded several thousand American soldiers who spent 6 months; from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778, at Valley Forge. While stationed there, they were able to keep a close eye on the British which were about 18 miles away. Throughout the winter and summer, the soldiers had to go through excruciating weather conditions, tiring work, and lethal diseases. If you were a soldier at Valley Forge, would you have given up? If I were a soldier at Valley Forge, I would have stayed because of it increasing morale and strength in soldiers, helped reduce desertions and strengthened and solidified a disciplined military force, and the inspiration given to support the war effort.

The winter of 1777-1778 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, George Washington and his men have camped out to survive the winter but things are not going to well for the army. The continental army is freezing from the harsh winter and they are hungry and all of us soldiers are just yearning to go home to our families. During this harsh and long winter would you have signed up for another term to stay in the army even after your term has finished? I would not re-enlist because of the harsh conditions of the winter, illness and death and also from the lack of support and supplies from the rest of the colonies.

Soldiers would want to quit because soldiers would not want to be in that number of deaths. In Document A states that numerous soldiers would also get very sick to the point it would sometimes it could cause deaths. Soldiers would also come for their session and then not return back. In 1777 there was around 12,000 people, and back in 1778 only 8,000 soldiers came back. Most soldiers suddenly started seeing how many soldiers were in Valley Forge then out the next moment. One other reason why soldiers would not return back to Valley Forge because the soldiers probably not want to get sick or die during Valley

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.

“Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war then let it begin here.” - John Parker. In winter 1777, George Washington and his troops went to Valley Forge about 18 miles from Philadelphia, where the British were staying. Valley Forge: would you leave? I will re-enlist despite the three reasons for quitting.

The first reason I am not reenlisting is because people are dying of smallpox and all sorts of diseases. Out of the 8,000 soldiers, 4,000 were sick (Doc A). Half of the men were dying and suffering. I wouldn’t want to stay and die of disease; suffering slowly doesn’t sound fun at all.

Would you have quit at Valley Forge? Residing in Valley Forge are 12,000 of approximately 25,000 men of the Continental Army. Led by the phenomenal general George Washington, many brave lives are volunteers to fight for independence. Although the Washington’s army was very hopeful, it was having difficulties parting from Britain. Lacking a settlement for the winter of 1777, half the army retreated to Valley Forge. As they were undergoing horrific times, Britain quartered pleasantly in Philadelphia just 18 miles Northwest. Conditions are horrible for Valley Forge, lacking necessities and military aid. Although the French provided money and troops soon after, it was not nearly enough for the camp. The odds aren’t even at all and a troop’s will

First off, If I were a soldier at Valley Forge, I would fight because only half of the people became ill. There is still a big chance that you can survive and support your country, you just have to have the right mentality. In Document A, there is a

Most people would say they wouldn’t .But I won’t lie I wouldn’t Stay because the odds of not getting sick are insanely low .The chance to live when you were sick was really low.Out of 8,000 people 4,000 were sick and 2,500 died.

I thought for a long time about the question the soldiers had to answer. I would choose to stay and fight. Back in 1777 people had a 10% chance of dying from a simple cold. There was 50% of the soldiers die from colds (Busch).