Week 11: Valley Forge and the Winter of 1777-'78

    

The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg, 1976


    In the fall of 1777, George Washington was determined to go back to Philadelphia and defend the city from a takeover by the British. Along the way, however, his army suffered several demoralizing defeats at Brandywine and Germantown. By then, winter was closing in, and Washington decided to take his army to Valley Forge to rest and recuperate for the season. Unfortunately, the army's experience at Valley Forge was anything but rejuvenating: freezing temperatures, disease, low supplies, poor sanitation, and more all led to the desertion and death of about a third of Washington's troops. Things were looking pretty bad for the colonials until late in the winter, when news came of a French alliance, and a Prussian Baron by the name of Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben arrived at camp to whip the army into shape and prepare them for battles to come in the spring.

    Though Washington's army didn't fare so well through the fall and winter of 1777-'78, American General Horatio Gates' army won a decisive victory led by Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Saratoga in New York (which also, consequently, led to Benedict Arnold's fateful decision to betray his country). To learn more about the Battle of Saratoga, watch the video below:



ASSIGNMENTS:

WRITING: Write a letter home as if you were someone living in the colonial period. Here are some suggestions if you're stumped, but feel free to take on any persona that fits the time period:
  • A soldier 
  • A Congressional delegate 
  • A wife/sister writing to a soldier
  • A General writing to Congress
  • A British sympathizer (Tory) writing to a friend in England
  • A rebel writing to another rebel with secret plans
PRESENTATIONS: We will be pleased to hear from Kellen on Benjamin Franklin and the Treaty with France. I can't wait to hear about what you learned!
   
DEVOTIONAL: Morgan

READING: You can start reading Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund. We'll be discussing it on February 17th.


***February 17th is also the deadline for award requirements! If you want more ribbons to show off, you've got 26 days left!***


 CANDY TRIVIA:

What did Baron von Steuben create that is still used by the military today?

Bonus:
Pronounce Baron von Steuben's full name correctly.


For Miah - Watch this video that was played in class to learn about Valley Forge:









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