Valley Forge's Role In The American Revolution

I am no longer fighting for myself, but for my nation and for my fallen comrades whose death must not be in vain.

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 Since the summer of 1775, George Washington has withdrawn from Boston and retreated to New York City after the American Revolution.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.

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.

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.

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.

But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire

Valley Forge directly affected the American Revolution because it made the Continental Army stronger and led them to win the Revolutionary War. Valley Forge was where the Continental Army made camp in the winter from 1777-1778. Starvation, disease, malnutrition, and exposure to the weather killed more than 2,500 American soldiers by the end of February, 1778. General George Washington looking for a place to keep safe from the British and also the brutal winter that nearly diminished his troops. General Washington and his troops had last fought in early December of 1777 at the Battle of White Marsh. General Washingtons plan was to find a more secure spot to spend this winter after losing the Battle of White Marsh. The knowledge of where Valley

This reason is letting me re-enlist to make america a country and free from the tyranny of Britain.

But I say they are being slaves anyways so why not fight back. To prove my answer in document #4 it states “The new Englanders by there canting, whining, and insinuating tricks have persuaded the rest of the colonies that the government is going to make absolute slaves of them”. Some people might say that they should not go to war because many colonists may die. But many colonists are getting killed by the cruel British soldiers anyway so why not go to war. To prove my answer in document #2 it shows the helpless colonists dying anyway. So instead of keep dying like them, they can fight back for a change and

“For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.” (Walter Scott). Valley Forge was a fort for the patriots to stay as they fought in the revolutionary war. Britain sent many soldiers and the some of the colonist adapted scarlet fever. Those colonists did not know that their own soldiers would go and fight those British soldiers. In 1775, George Washington took control and made an army of patriots called the Continental Army. A year later the Declaration of Independence was written. This really gave the colonists something to fight for. Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Valley Forge housed many sick soldiers. The conditions were poor and many colonist were miserable, but some still kept their positive attitudes. If I were

The year 1775 was a time of great division across the 13 Colonies. Some colonists wanted to engage in war against the British in the fight for freedom, while others decided that fighting was not worth the cause. Patrick Henry, famously known for his words, “give me liberty or give me death!” believed that fighting the British was the only chance at the 13 Colonies’ freedom. At the Virginia Convention, Henry proposed a resolution in order to prepare the local militia for battle.

Valley Forge is a military camp in which is 15 miles Northwest of Philadelphia. The camp was settled by the Colonial Army in which they were low on supplies which were poor quality. I would not quit or leave Valley Forge. Although, there were many illnesses, I would still end up staying. I would have stayed due to the fact that only about 23% actually died (Document A). Only 23% died out of a huge population of 8,000 - 12,000 at Valley Forge (Document A). They soldiers at Valley Forge had some support. They had help and support from the Congressional Committee (Document B). Not only did we have help from the Congressional Committee, we also had help from other countries that includes France and Spain. Another reason I would stay at

Depression, unhappy feelings and mood, is the general feeling at Valley Forge. Winning the battle against Britain seemed extremely unlikely, if at all possible to the soldiers there at Valley Forge. Valley Forge is located approximately 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and consisted of little more than a few houses and a mill. This is where General George Washington decided to have the Continental army settle in for the winter. He thought of the location as a strategic place to watch the British army housed in Philadelphia.

I can tell you favor playing the blame game. You’ve blamed Tories and England for being the problem. Blaming us for this atrocious war. Let me remind you that the Colonists started this. The minute one of your men put up arms against Crown, the game of war had begun.