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    • George Washington

    viernes, 18 de marzo de 2011

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    File:George Washington by Gilbert Stuart Yale University Art Gallery portrait.jpegThe first president of the United States, George Washington, is often referred to as the Father of Our Country. He was known for his love of the land and farming, and his dislike of war. He was a distinguished general and commander in chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution. He married a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, and they lived at Mount Vernon, Washington's plantation in Virginia on the Potomac River.When the Second Continental Congress was made in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, one of the Virginia delegates, was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops.
    Washington longed to retire to his fields at Mount Vernon. But he soon realized that the Nation under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well, so he became a prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington President.
    Today, Washington's face and image are often used as national symbols of the United States. He appears on contemporary currency, including the one-dollar bill and the quarter coin, and on U.S. postage stamps. Along with appearing on the first postage stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office in 1847, Washington, together with Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Lincoln, is depicted in stone at the Mount Rushmore Memorial. The Washington Monument, one of the most well known American landmarks, was built in his honor.

    Battle of Saratoga

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    The British wanted to take control of the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the other colonies. General Burgoyne with 7,700 troops approached Albany, New York, from Canada. On his way, Burgoyne defeated American forces at Fort Ticonderoga. Another group of troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger, were to join him from Canada. General Howe also was to join him from New York. Together they were to attack the American troops. Unfortunately for Burgoyne, St. Leger's troops ran into Benedict Arnold and his American militia. St. Leger and his troops were forced to retreat


    back to Canada. Even worse, General Howe's forces were fighting with Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and then the Battle of Germantown. This kept him from joining Burgoyne.
    General Burgoyne's forces attacked General Gates' American forces at the Battle of Oriskany, but he was driven back. He attacked again at the Battle of Bennington, and was again driven back.
    The British wanted to take control the Hudson River Valley and the New England colonies. General Burgoyne with his 7700 men were marching toward New York from Canada.On his way, Burgoyne defeated American forces at Fort Ticonderoga. Another group of troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger, were to join him. General Howe also was to join him from New York. Together they were to attack the American troops.
     Unfortunately Leger´s army was forced to retreat to Canada. Even worse, General Howe's forces were fighting with Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and then the Battle of Germantown. This kept him from joining Burgoyne.General Burgoyne's forces attacked General Gates' American forces at the Battle of Oriskany, but he was driven back. He attacked again at the Battle of Bennington, and was again driven back. General Burgoyne attacked for the third time at the Battle of Saratoga. This time Burgoyne and his forces were defeated. General Burgoyne was forced to surrender.
    This was a major victory for the American forces and a key turning point in the war. This give strenght and happinness to the Patriots. These demonstrated Patriots could have a chance to win the war.

    Valley Forge

    miércoles, 16 de marzo de 2011

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    Valley Forge was the crucial point of the Revolutionary War. It was here that the Continental army fought in Valley Forge desperately against the cold and hunger during a harsh winter in December 1777. The Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777, after a tough campaign of battles with the British. The future promised them only more desperation and starvation. Some couldn't take the cold and hunger any longer. To protect from snow storms and low temperatures soldiers began making more than a thousand huts of wood to provide shelter. Disease debilitated them and death came in. Typhus, typhoid, dysentery, and pneumonia killed 2,000 men that had been sent from camp to hospitals established in the surrounding countryside during the winter of 1777-1778. The Marquis de Lafayette wrote: "The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats nor hats, nor shirts, nor shoes. Their feet and their legs froze until they were black, and it was often necessary to amputate them." George Washington was the commander of the army. In December 23, 1777, he reported to the Continental Congress that nearly 1/3 of the 10,000 soldiers had neither coats nor shoes and that his army will disperse or dissolve. Women, relatives of enlisted men, alleviated some of the suffering by providing valuable services such as laundry and nursing that the army desperately needed. Long marches had destroyed the men's shoes. Blankets were scarce. General Washington also was having a tough time getting support from Congress.  In March, General Nathanael Greene was appointed head of the dismal Commissary Department and food and supplies started to come in. By April, Baron von Steuben, a German voluntary began to transform and improve the troops into a fighting force.  This sacrifices and perseverance of the Continental Army is a great example of how adversity during extraordinary times can be imposed with courage. Washington, his men had won a decisive victory; a victory not of weapons but of will. Most important, it was at Valley Forge that a vigorous, strategy  training regime transformed amateur troops into a confident 18th century military organization capable of beating the Red Coats in battle.

    Thomas Jefferson

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    Thomas Jefferson was born in spring of 1743in Virginia. His father Peter Jefferson was a successful planter and surveyor and his mother Jane Randolph a member of one of Virginia's most distinguished families. He married Martha Wayles Skelton, with whom he lived happily for ten years until her death. Their marriage produced six children, but only two survived to adulthood. Jefferson was sometimes called a renaissance man in early America. He could speak five different languages and was able to read two others. He was a lawyer, author, musician, inventor, and scientist. He studied farming and was an expert on growing all kinds of plants.  Jefferson started his studies of Greek, Latin, and French languages when he was only nine years old. He began his studies at William and Mary College when he was sixteen. As a student at the college Williamsburg, he was able to see all the changes that were being debated in their colonies. He was taken to the House of Burgesses the day Patrick Henry said his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death”. It was here that Thomas Jefferson desire for freedom began. He wasn’t an orator who could move people with his words so he used his wisdom and talent with written paper to make his point. While he was a member of the House of Burgesses, he wrote many papers to support freedom and attended committees. In 1775, he replaced Payton Randolph at the meeting of the Continental Congress. Some papers he wrote while he was in the Congress were about the rights of British citizens in the colonies. These papers were published throughout the colonies and even got to England. In 1776, he was asked to write all his thoughts and desires of the colonists concerning freedom. His work was changed a little bit by James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson was not happy with the changes. In July 4, 1776, his work became The Declaration of Independence. He became Virginia’s governor. He was sent to France with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to secure their support in the war against England. After Revolutionary War ended he was appointed Secretary of State by George Washington the first President of the United States. After this he ran himself for president but was defeated by John Adams. So he became the vice-president. They didn’t agreed with their thoughts and hardly spoke each other. In 1801 he ran for president again and this time he won. He changed the way the president was elected and purchased the land west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson began the University of Virginia and the Library of Congress. He lived until July 4, 1826.