Valley Forge Dbq

Words: 464

Pages: 2

Open Document

Though no military battle was fought here during the Revolutionary War, approximately 2,000 troops died over the 1777-1778 winter months that the American army spent in Valley Forge under Washington’s leadership.
George Washington and his men spent the winter of 1777-1778 encamped at Valley Forge. The weather was bitter cold and the snow was deep, leading to one of the most miserable experiences that any army in history ever had to endure. Washington’s men were ragged, and since few had shoes, they needed to wrap their feet in old rags for protection against the elements. Bloody tracks were left where they walked, since there were no horses available to provide transportation. Troops with enough clothes to work outdoors cut down trees to …show more content…
Since the farmers refused American paper dollars in exchange for the food, and since Washington had no gold or silver to trade, the soldiers were left without the farmers’ bounty. Regardless, there was no way to transport the food and produce safely. To add to the soldiers’ plight, the Continental Congress, meeting in York, Pennsylvania during that winter, was in debt and unable to alleviate Washington’s dire plight.
Determine to keep his little army together, Washington stayed with his men in Valley Forge and shared their hardships. Many soldiers left when their enlistment terms expired and others who were half-starved and –frozen simply walked through the woods to go home. The remaining courageous and determined soldiers became the core of a new American army that would go on to win war.
Toward the end of the winter, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a professional German officer who had served under Frederick the Great, joined Washington in Valley Forge to teach the troops drilling and maneuvering principles. These new basic military training techniques taught American troops how to handle guns properly, execute commands, and conduct themselves as experienced soldiers. Von Steuben’s training helped the troops win their next battle, in Monmouth, in June following their Valley Forge

Valley Forge DBQ

I would have quit Valley Forge because of the poor living conditions. The American soldiers lived in smoky huts and slept on the floor with mud all around. The cold harsh weather made it very hard to live in Valley Forge for the next 3 or 4 months (Doc. C). The soldiers wore old tattered clothes and had nothing to eat. There had old ripped clothes and with the cold weather, they would freeze. In Doc C, Dr. Waldo stated that he heard many soldiers say “why are we sent here to starve and die? ”There…

Words 425 - Pages 2

Valley Forge Dbq

Proposed Solutions When considering possible solutions to the poor supply acquisition process that plagued General Washington’s troops at Valley Forge, it is necessary to look at the shortcomings of the supply process during that time. Grizzard (n.d.) stated the following: “Inadequate administrative procedures, a scarcity of money and the failure of credit, a weak transportation system, and a lack of manufacturing all combined with the natural obstacles of geography and weather to create frequent…

Words 675 - Pages 3

Valley Forge Dbq

Would you stay or would you leave? The illness caused 3,989 deaths at Valley Forge. Around 15,500 people deserted because of the illness during the Battle. There was an estimate of 12,000 soliders hiunger and around 8,000 people died. I chose to Re-enlist because I dont want to let our country down and once I joined I gotta stay and finish my task. I re-enlist because people are dying in the world and they need our help, also why would I want to quit Soliders dont guit once they got into it…

Words 336 - Pages 2

Valley Forge Dbq

shoes.” Marquis de Lafayette. Valley Forge was a winter camp for soldiers during the Revolutionary War. It was a winter encampment in Pennsylvania for the Continental Army led by General Washington. The encampment for soldiers lasted about six months from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. If I were a soldier at Valley Forge I would quit because the living conditions were terrible, and many people got sick and died. First, I would quit if I were a soldier at Valley Forge because the living conditions…

Words 482 - Pages 2

Valley Forge Dbq

period at Valley Forge, commonly known as just “Valley Forge”, was a period of “rest” during the Revolutionary War. Both the British and the U.S army were waiting out the winter -- except, while the British were staying in the comfort of Pennsylvania’s capital at that time, Philadelphia, Washington’s militia was suffering unimaginable hardships: freezing cold, inadequate lodgings… many soldiers were falling deathly ill. If you were a soldier, would you have stayed with the army at Valley Forge… or would…

Words 529 - Pages 3

Valley Forge DBQ

If I was a soldier at Valley Forge I would have left for a couple reasons. These colonial soldiers were staying at a winter camp just about 18 miles from Philadelphia, in very cold and harsh weather. There are many reasons to why a soldier should have left Valley Forge. First of all, many of the soldiers were dying or becoming very ill. According to the “Estimates of Illness and Deaths” (Doc. A), 49% of the soldiers were ill, and approximately 2500 people died. As it states in “Diary of a Connecticut…

Words 219 - Pages 1

Valley Forge DBQ

Even if Valley Forge was a harsh winter full of some sickness and hunger, it brought our country freedom. The people who stayed at Valley Forge were the people who made what we have today, freedom. For example, “The Committee of Congress at Valley Forge“ (Doc B) projects that we are ready to fight, even through the harsh winter we were trained and ready. It also looks as if Peace was able to be granted even with the actions taken placed in the previous time being of the war. Also, the “Estimate of…

Words 254 - Pages 2

Valley Forge Dbq Analysis

If I were a soldier in Valley Forge, I would have left. According to the Estimates of Death and Illness (Document A), over 49% of American soldiers died of disease. In December of 1777, the American army had 12,000 soldiers, but by February of 1778, only 8,000 were left. From December to June, anywhere between 1,800 and 2,500 soldiers had died due to illness. To add to this, the engraving “Committee of Congress,” by Powell, (Document B) gives clues to how poorly the colonists were being treated.…

Words 219 - Pages 1

Valley Forge Dbq Analysis

In December 1777 through June 1778 the patriots of the continental army went to Valley Forge Pennsylvania about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It is Washington's winter camp. It was a very difficult place to live. The conditions were terrible. If you had been a soldier in washington's winter camp would you have quit. No I would not quit valley forge because conditions were bad but brave soldiers stuck with it, there are a lot of people sick but not a lot dying, and finally I don't want…

Words 487 - Pages 2

Valley Forge Dbq Analysis

December of 1777-June 1778, in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was Washington’s winter camp, which was a difficult place to live in. Would you have stayed? I would have stayed in Valley Forge to be in Washington’s army because Washington was getting help, there were a lot of people sick, but not dying, and the conditions are poor but there is spirit of alacrity. People in Valley Forge were either sick or dying, but more were getting sick than they were dying. So, 3,989 out of 8,000 which is 50% of…

Words 220 - Pages 1