Valley Forge Dbq Analysis

As the American Revolution was in full swing, soldiers were being recruited and fighting for their freedom from the British. However, the fight for freedom took more than just fighting skills. The men fighting had to endure the harsh conditions and the little help and supplies they received. The American army went to Valley Forge in hopes of spying on the British army. However, the winter at Valley Forge was harsh with the cold seeping into their poorly built shelters and the little amount of supplies they had was not enough to keep everyone alive and healthy. Much of the time, soldiers were dying not from the honor of fighting, but by choosing to remain fighting after their enlistment and dying from illnesses. The soldiers at Valley Forge

The limited supplies they had was only enough to sustain them for a little bit before they ran out. Their clothes were not adequate thus they often caught chills, fevers, and other illnesses. The death rate at Valley Forge was also extremely high. Of the 8,000 people enlisted in February, 3,989, half of the people enlisted, perished during encampment (Doc A). The soldiers who died due to being too sick to actually fight, died not because they were killed off, but because they were forced to endure the brutal and atrocious winter of Valley Forge. Another key factor as to why the soldiers in the Continental army should have left after their term was up because the help they should have received was not being given to them. The Committee of Congress came to Valley Forge to discuss with George Washington on what the soldiers need. However, once there, in the engraving by William Henry Powell, the Committee of Congress seems to be contemplating on helping the soldiers thus causing the soldiers to look angry. The soldiers in the picture were barefoot and had little clothing on than the Committee of Congress (Doc B). The soldiers at Valley Forge were starving, had little clothes, and they had very little help which is why they should have ended fighting in the war completely after their term was