جمعه ۲۳ شهریور ۰۳ | ۲۱:۱۴ ۹ بازديد
had changed greatly. Fighting had already broken out between colonists and
redcoats in a few Massachusetts towns. Americans had died. There was no
turning back now. The colonies wanted independence!
Washington had arrived in his blue soldier’s jacket. He was forty-three now. He
had been a farmer for the past fifteen years. As for his early war record, it was
not great. He’d never won a field battle or ever commanded a large army.
Army. He said yes, though he had serious doubts as to his ability. His first
reaction was to turn bright red, and then he ran out of the meeting!
GEORGE WASHINGTON HEADED THE SECOND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS IN PHILADELPHIA. HE SAT FACING THE OTHER
DELEGATES WHO DISCUSSED PLANS FOR WAR. THOMAS
JEFFERSON WAS ASKED TO WRITE DOWN ALL THE REASONS
FOR BREAKING AWAY FROM ENGLAND. BEN FRANKLIN
HELPED HIM, BUT THE WORDS ARE MOSTLY JEFFERSON’S.
AND THEY ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN ALL OF
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS SIGNED ON
JULY 4, 1776, BY THE DELEGATES AT THE CONGRESS. ONE
MAN, JOHN HANCOCK, WROTE HIS SIGNATURE IN HUGE BOLD
LETTERS. TODAY IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR YOUR “JOHN
HANCOCK,” IT MEANS THEY WANT YOUR SIGNATURE.
The Commanding General
The War for Independence lasted from 1775 to 1783. Of course everyone
knows how it ended: The colonists won the war. To us it doesn’t seem as if it
could have happened any other way. But during the war no one could be sure of
the outcome. In fact, it seemed as if the colonists had very little chance against
England.
The Continental Army that Washington led went into the war with no training.
Soldiers were young, poor, and uneducated. Most were between fifteen and
twenty-five years old. Most joined the army because few other choices were
open to them. They wanted the pay.
There were never enough soldiers. The living conditions were terrible. (In
fact, more American soldiers were killed by smallpox and other diseases than
from battle wounds.)
months without pay. And as the war dragged on year after year, George
Washington found it harder and harder to get money for the army’s needs.
Compared to British generals, George Washington knew little about waging
war. (Before taking command of his troops, he bought five books that taught
military tactics.) Indeed, out of nine battles he fought in, he only won three.
trained fighting machine in the world. The British navy owned the seas. British
generals and admirals were brave and war-tested.
So how, against all odds, did the Americans win?
One reason is that they simply stuck it out. The longer the Continental Army
hung in the war, the more likely it became that at some point the British w
dfs3434