CK_4_TH_HG_P087_242.QXD 10/6/05 9:02 AM Page 186

I. The American Revolution

Baron von Steuben, a Prussian officer, trained Washington’s soldiers at Teaching Idea Valley Forge, instilling military discipline that had been lacking in the At Valley Forge, the troops were divided Continental army. into squads of 12 men, and each squad Spain and the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, also pro- was to build its own log cabin. The cab- vided aid to the United States. Spain, like France, was a long-time rival of Great ins were to be 6.5 feet high, 14 feet Britain. Although Spain did not recognize the United States, it sold the nation wide, and 16 feet long. The rear wall supplies and allowed New Orleans to be used as a base for privateers, privately was to have a fireplace made of wood owned U.S. ships that preyed on British shipping. Galvez recognized the strategic and clay. importance of the Louisiana Territory to Spain and wanted to make sure that Do this activity in the gym or in the Spain continued to control the territory. school yard where there is unimpeded space. Have a few volunteers measure Valley Forge the length of their feet and then walk off The winter of 1777–1778 was the low point of the war for the Americans. the dimensions of a log cabin—much After a loss to the British army under General William Howe at the battle of the way a real log cabin would have Brandywine, near Philadelphia, Washington and the Continental army went into been measured on the frontier. Place winter quarters at nearby Valley Forge. The British routed the Americans and students around the perimeter so that marched on Philadelphia, the new nation’s capital. Capturing the city, Howe and the outline of the four walls is visible. his soldiers enjoyed warm beds and plenty of food that winter, while not far away Have students estimate how much in Valley Forge, the Continental army built themselves log cabins and prepared for space the fireplace might take up and a winter with, as Lafayette put it, “neither coats, nor hats, not shirts, nor shoes.” place students at those dimensions, or if About 2,500 of the 11,000 soldiers died from illness and the cold that win- the activity is being conducted in the ter. Some soldiers whose term of enlistment was up returned home. Still others school yard, use chalk to draw in the just left the camp. However, under Washington’s leadership and with training outline of the fireplace. Have students overseen by General von Steuben, the soldiers came out of their winter camp the mark off the lines for 12 pallets (or beds) following spring a professional army. for the 12 members of the squad. Discuss with students how the sol- Benedict Arnold, Traitor diers might have felt in such cramped Benedict Arnold had a brilliant career until his ego got in the way. He had quarters for the winter. served with distinction during the assault on Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 and the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and earned the rank of general. He was given the com- mand of Philadelphia in 1778, and in 1780, the fort at West Point. The latter was an important link in the defense of the western frontier. However, Arnold believed that he was the victim of unfair criticism. He schemed with Major John Andre, a British agent, to hand over West Point to the Cross-curricular British army. The plot was uncovered, and Andre was hanged, but Arnold escaped. Teaching Idea He fought with the British and at the end of the war sailed for London. Ever since, Have students review their journal among Americans, the name “Benedict Arnold” has been a synonym for “traitor.” entries about the American Revolution John Paul Jones and Nathan Hale, Heroes and use this information to write an There were far more heroes than traitors enrolled in the Patriots’ cause. John essay answering either of the original Paul Jones joined the Continental navy in 1775. His most famous exploit questions: involved command of the Bon Homme Richard (French for “Poor Richard,” the • What caused the colonists to break name of Benjamin Franklin’s almanac), an old merchant ship that the French had away and become an independent given to the United States and which was refitted as a small warship. nation? • What significant ideas and values While patrolling off the coast of Great Britain in 1779, the Bon Homme were at the heart of the American Richard came upon the HMS Serapis, a British warship. A fierce battle ensued, Revolution? with Jones maneuvering the Bon Homme Richard close to the Serapis. When asked to surrender, Jones refused and called out, “I have not yet begun to fight!” He and his crew grabbed the Serapis and fought its defenders for four hours. Finally, the

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