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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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general. As a inspector general, von Steuben has to watch over all of the soldiers that are with or without Washington. He also has a position, title, and gets paid. Both Washington and Baron were proud of the Continental Army because they did not retreat from the British and Baron's training really paid off. The Americans then gained hope that they will win freedom with well-trained soldiers and the French on their side. During the winter of 1778-1779, Steuben was really busy training the American soldiers to fight the British in the spring. He also wrote a book called, "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States" also known as, military manual, where he discussed methods used to train soldiers. Washington and and other generals approved of the book and became the standard book for the American soldiers for the rest of the Revolutionary War and 20 more years after the war. By November 1780, Baron von Steuben became the commander of the army in Virginia training new soldiers, obtained supplies for General Nathanael Greene who fought Cornwallis' men at the Carolinas. General von Steuben only fought one battle during the war. The battle he fought in was south of the James River leading a handful of militias on April 25, 1781. His militias had a skirmish with the redcoats near Blandford, Virginia. However, his men retreated due to the large numbers of British soldiers. After the retreat, the redcoats burned all of the Continental Army supplies that Steuben left behind. For the rest of the year of 1781, Steuben was gathering troops and supplies in Virginia. By June, General Baron von Steuben was not used to the hot temperature of the southern colonies that he became sick until August where was just in time to fight in the most important battle in the war. After the Americans' victory at Yorktown in 1781, Steuben still trained and disciplined the soldiers throughout the 13 colonies.
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
Europe. Baron von Steuben moved to a large house in NYC and named it after a famous palace he formerly served called The Louvre. He expected Congress to give him a lot of money to award him for serving in the army but was disappointed when they gave him little money. The former general had no choice but to move out of The Louvre and stayed at a hotel in Wall Street. He was upset since America did not appear to appreciate everything he has done during the war. In 1788, Steuben was then at the brink of losing his money but his former comrades, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Walker helped him with his struggles. With the help of the new secretary, Hamilton, and the first US President, George Washington, help Friedrich by sending a request to the Congress to pay Friedrich even more. Congress then agreed and payed Steuben $2,500 annually by May 1790. Friedrich still expected more money but he was still able to live a relaxing life and built a log cabin of 16,000 acres of land which was located near Utica that the state offered him 4 years back. On November 29, 1794, Baron von Steuben died of a sudden stroke on the age of 64. He was then buried on his 16,000 acres of land. Since Baron had no family living in the US, he gave his land and cabin to William North and Benjamin Walker. Due to his important role during the war, his actions were unforgettable that many American cities were named after him honoring one of the most famous generals during the Revolutionary War.
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.
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.
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
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.
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...
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.