Valley Forge

Valley Forge is a location in Pennsylvania, where the Continental Army set camp in the winter of 1777-1778. With winter almost setting Washington set camp in Valley Forge after their last major battle at Edge Hill. The situation was very harsh for the army. They were undernourished and poorly clothed, living in crowded in damp quarters. The army was hit by sickness and diseases. Typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia were among the disease that killed 2500 troops. Women alleviated some of the suffering by providing valuabke services such as laundry and nursing which the army desperately needed. Even though it was a hard winter it made the army strong for the triumph of the colonies.

George Washington

He was born in 1732 in Virginia, with a planter family, learning morals, manners, and his entire knowledge requisite for being a gentleman. He had two main interests: military and plantations.  At 16 he helped survey lands for Lord Fairfax, a neighbor in the Shenandoah Valley, when his brother Lawrence died he needed to take care of Lawrence’s plantations in Mount Vernon so he took the responsibility and became the owner of the plantation. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought for the first time of what it grew into the French and Indian War.  1759 to the outbreak’s of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands in Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He married Martha Curtis a widow with two children, he referred  himself to a busy and happy life he enjoyed fox hunting, playing cards, fishing, and dancing. His influence in being in the British Army and being part of his local government make him helped him to form ideas of what the colonies needed, he didn’t want to fight but he believed that sometimes you have to fight for what you believe. When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington was elected as General of the Continental Army. Soon people started to divide in groups the Patriots that were the ones that think they should get rid of the British and the Loyalist that they thought they should be loyal to the King and believe that he was the only one that could make decisions with the things on the colonists, Washington sided with the Patriots because he believed that he his country would be better by making their own decisions. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of  troops that had no experience

The Battle of Savanah, Georgia

After having won almost all the battles the British were still desperate of watching the colonists fight with all they had. They still didn't understand how after all their losses, they still had hope of becoming an independent nation. So the British took a major decision, they headed South. They expected the loyalist support in the southern staes such as: Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and North Carolina. Their goal was to gain control of the ports in major souhtern cities. On December 1778, the British took Georgia with no trouble. The resistance from the militia and Continental army wasn't useful. A year later, already supported by the French in the Franco-American Alliance, the colonists took Savannah back. Both of the battles are properly called, "The Siege of Savanah."

The French Alliance with the Colonies

At first, the colonies position in the war wasn't very steady. But their luck turned around when the patriots won the batlle at Saratoga. This showed the French, that this was the perfect opportunity for them to weaken an old enemy. During the early years of the war the French secretely supported Continental Troops by shipping the colonists ammunition. After the battle of Saratoga, the friendship of these two took a complete turn. On 1778, Benjamin Franklin and a group of people traveled to Paris, France, to take this to the next level. The Alliance was formed in the middle of the Revolutionary war. France was a potential ally to the Americans due to the rivallry between Britain and France. So when the delegates of The Second Continental Congress met with the delegates of King Louis XVI on February 16, 1778, the alliance was official. The treaty was called, "The Treaty of Alliance."  The first four articles of the alliance established that the war would even out when American and French military join together to make a powerful army such as Britain's. The next 5 articles talked about the terms and policies of past French-British traties. Article 10 was an open invitation for other countries to join the alliance of they wished to. Article 11 talked about land claims, and how the Americans and the French divided the land, and the final article; article 12 included the dates of the treaty, the signatures, and the ratifications. The Treaty was effective until the year 1800, being annulled after King Louis XVI death.

The Second Continental Congress

On May 10, 1775, The Second Continental Congress came together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many of those who attended. There were some new arrivals too such as: Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies participated on the Second Continental Congress, Georgia didn't participate. On the First Continental Congress these men discussed The Coercive Acts imposed by King George III. The second time around The Revolutionary War had started with the battles at Concord and Lexington. Things were getting worse by the minute, so they had to take action. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental agreed to create a Continental Army. This army would be made up of militia men. George Washington was appointed as the commanding General of the Continental Army. On July 6th, the Congress approved the Declaration of Causes which allowed the taking up of arms in all the colonies. As a final attempt of reconciliation the Congress sent an Olive Petition Branch on July 8th to the British Crown. It was no good.

Places were The Second Continental Congress took place:

- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

- Baltimore, Maryland
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- York, Pennsylvania

Thomas Gage

Thomas Gage was born in  1719. He was a British General, and commanded the British forces in North America from 1763 to 1775. Gage was born in an aristocratic family, he was the second son of  first viscount Gage. After graduating fromWestminster School, he joined the army. He first participated in The French Indian War, were he fought next to his soon to be enemy; George Washington. After Montreal fell in 1760, Gage was named military governor of the Province of Massachussetts Bay. He had instructions to implement the Coercive act to punish Bostonians for the Boston Tea Party. Also, his attempt to defeat patriots at Lexington, and Concord failed, this began the American Revolution War. On June 17, 1775, British troops under General Howe defeat at Charlestown Peninsula at The Battle of Bunker Hill. Gage was then replaced with Howe, and was sent back to England on October 11th, 1775. Thomas Gage died at Portland Place on April 2nd, 1787. Upon his death, his eldest son became the richest man in England. His youngest son became an admiral in the Royal Navy, and his three daughter married into good families.

Lexington and Concord

On April 19, 1775, war erupted. Lexington and Concord which are towns on the west Boston, were on the bridge of being attacked. General Gage had a secret plan, it was of attacking Concord and taking the ammunitions and arms the patriots had been stockpiling. The other part of the plan was to go to Lexington and arrest John Hancock, and John Adams two of the patriots leaders. Gage's plan had been kept a secret, but the word spread from town to town, and suddenly everybody knew. Paul Revere was already on the move to let Adams, and Hancock know, so they could escape before the redcoats got there. When the redcoats got to Lexington, a group of militia men  were waiting for them. The militia men didn't attack them, but suddenly a gunshot was fired, and the readcoats started to attack, there were seven casualties on the patriots side. After the battle at Lexington, the British continued they still had one more thing to do which was to destroy evey weapon they could find at Concord. When they got to Concord, another group of militia men waiting for them. This time they fought back. The British were defeated. The resistance shown by the patriots was called " The Shot Heard Around the World". Their fight for freedom had just begun, this was only a small taste of victory for them.