Summary of the American Revolution and the Birth of the American Soldier
In June 1776, the first version of the United States Army prepared to defend New York against the largest British Naval task force ever assembled. The Continental Congress had approved funding for a regular volunteer American army, with George Washington as its commander-in-chief.
Washington’s troops were a ragtag bunch of ex-militiamen, but he became the blueprint for every American officer to follow. As the British task force prepared to assault New York, the Second Continental Congress met and ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The Continental Army faced overwhelming odds, with the British having 10 mighty ships of the line, 20 frigates, and 170 troop transport boats carrying 32,000 fighting men. Despite being poorly trained and outnumbered, Washington’s men fought bravely, but they were no match for the British.
Washington realized that he didn’t have to win the war, but simply avoid losing. He promoted a new breed of aggressive commanders, such as Daniel Morgan, who recruited expert marksmen and used guerrilla warfare tactics to attack the British.
The Continental Army suffered a series of defeats, including the Battle of New York, but they eventually won a crucial victory at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. This victory encouraged the French to join the war on the colonial side.
Washington’s army was rebuilt with the help of Prussian Lieutenant General Baron Friedrich von Steuben, who introduced new drilling techniques and hand-to-hand combat training. The Continental Army became more professional and cohesive, and they eventually defeated the British at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781.
The American Revolution not only birthed a nation but also the American soldier. George Washington became the first president of the United States and defined many aspects of American society. The story of the American soldier is one of fighting for a common cause bigger than themselves.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Continental Army | The army of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, formed by the Continental Congress in 1775. | “Washington’s Continental Army faced overwhelming odds against the British task force.” |
| Guerrilla Warfare | A type of warfare that involves using tactics such as ambushes, sabotage, and raids to attack a larger and more conventional enemy. | “Daniel Morgan used guerrilla warfare tactics to attack the British, recruiting expert marksmen to fight alongside him.” |
| Militiamen | Citizens who are trained to fight in times of war or emergency, but are not part of a regular army. | “Washington’s troops were a ragtag bunch of ex-militiamen, but he became the blueprint for every American officer to follow.” |
| Naval Task Force | A group of ships and personnel that are organized to carry out a specific mission or operation. | “The British Naval task force ever assembled prepared to defend New York against the Continental Army.” |
| Regular Volunteer Army | An army that is composed of soldiers who have enlisted voluntarily, rather than being conscripted or forced to serve. | “The Continental Congress had approved funding for a regular volunteer American army, with George Washington as its commander-in-chief.” |
| Fractured Command | A command structure in which there are multiple leaders or chains of command, which can lead to confusion and inefficiency. | “The Continental Army initially had a fractured command, but Washington’s leadership helped to unify the troops.” |
| Discipline and Drill | The training and practice of soldiers to follow orders and perform tasks in a precise and efficient manner. | “Baron Friedrich von Steuben introduced new drilling techniques and hand-to-hand combat training to the Continental Army, improving their discipline and cohesion.” |
| Siege Warfare | A type of warfare in which an army attempts to capture a fortified position or city by surrounding it and cutting off its supplies. | “The Continental Army used siege warfare tactics to defeat the British at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781.” |
| Conventional Warfare | A type of warfare that involves direct, face-to-face combat between two armies, using traditional tactics and strategies. | “The Continental Army initially engaged in conventional warfare against the British, but later adopted more unconventional tactics such as guerrilla warfare.” |
| Cohesion | The state of being united and working together effectively, often used to describe the bonds between soldiers in a military unit. | “The Continental Army became more professional and cohesive under Washington’s leadership, which helped them to ultimately defeat the British.” |
Vocabulary Quiz: American Revolution
Test your knowledge of vocabulary from the American Revolution with these 5 questions:
Answer Key:
- b) A disorganized and mismatched group
- b) A type of warfare that uses surprise attacks and sabotage
- b) United and working together effectively
- b) Officially approved or confirmed
- b) Citizen-soldiers who are not part of the regular army
Modal Verbs of Necessity and Obligation
| Modal verbs such as “had to” and “didn’t have to” are used to express necessity and obligation. In the context of the American Revolution, George Washington realized that he “didn’t have to” win the war, but simply “had to” avoid losing. This highlights the importance of understanding the differences between various modal verbs, including “must”, “have to”, and “didn’t have to”. The correct usage of these verbs can convey different shades of meaning, such as obligation, necessity, and lack of necessity. |
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