Semester In Review: Most Interesting...

For the end of the semester blog, make me a Top 10 List of the most interesting things you learned this year, so far, about US History. They could be from anything we did in class, anything you've read from the blog, any video we saw etc.

Valley Forge: Best of Times//Worst of Times

Washington and his men spent a difficult winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania from the end of 1777 to the early months of 1778.  One of the strange customs of war from the 18th Century is that armies would basically call a cease-fire when the weather turned cold.  As winter would approach, each army would find a place to hibernate until the fighting would resume in spring.  Washington's choice was Valley Forge.

It is well documented how miserable his men were during this time.  There was little food, adequate clothing or proper shelter to protect the men from the winter winds.  Washington, in display of one of his best qualities, refused to live in comfort while his men suffered.  He remained in the camp until winter thawed out.

As difficult as this time was, the men in Washington's camp received the best training of their "careers" up to that point.  Prussian military leader Friedrich Von Steuben came to the aid of Washington and drilled his men until they were an actual fighting force.  For this week's blog, I want you to read this story, watch part one and part two of this video series and in the comments write about your impression of Washington, Von Steuben and the soldiers in light of their struggle at Valley Forge.