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Table of Contents
The Valley Forge was a military camp in Pennsylvania, Northwest of Philadelphia. The Valley creek was the place where the American Continental army, led by General George Washington, spent their winter during the American Revolutionary War of 1777-1778.
See the fact file below for more information on the Valley Forge or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Valley Forge worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
WASHINGTON’S ENCAMPMENT
- By the fall of 1777, General George Washington, with the 12,000 Continental Army, defended Philadelphia from the forces of General William Howe.
- On December 19th of the same year, Washington chose the Valley Forge as the winter camp after being defeated by the British at Germantown.
- During the winter encampment, the American army showed great perseverance in withstanding the cold weather and scarce resources. Washington directed his army to build huts for shelter. The forested area supplied them with lumber for materials. After a few months, supplies and provisions were scarce. The availability and quality of food was way below the routine meal of the soldiers.
- In February 1778, General Washington sent Brigadier General Anthony Wayne to New Jersey to gather supplies for the men. The supply provided by the Congress later that year was not enough to keep the men going.
- On the 23rd, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a former one-time member of the Prussian General Staff, arrived in the camp. He was recruited by Benjamin Franklin for the American troops. Drills were conducted under the aid of Major General Nathanael Greene and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to improve the army’s training program and sanitation of the camp.
- A month later, Brigadier General Wayne returned with a number of cattle and horses from New Jersey.
LIFE AT VALLEY FORGE
- The army faced several diseases like typhoid, dysentery, and influenza. About two-thirds of the soldiers (about 2,000 men) were killed and were only contained through rigid sanitation and surgeons in camp.
- Aside from a lack of food, proper clothing led the army to disarray and unfit to serve. Many were even shoeless and naked as described by General Washington in his letter to Henry Laurens in 1777.
- On May 6, 1778, with warmer weather, the army celebrated the alliance with France together with the thirteen colonies.
- This led to the departure of the British troops from Philadelphia. The celebration included a grand parade, the firing of cannons and muskets as well as cheers all over the camp.
- On June 19, General Washington left the Valley Forge to New Jersey via Delaware.
- The Battle of Yorktown was a proclaimed victory for the American army as they intercepted the British days after.
- It is said that the horrendous winter at the Valley Forge made the Continental Army stronger. Perseverance, decisiveness, and unity was developed due to their winter experience. The struggles and trials they faced developed the bond they ultimately needed to win the war.
- 100 years after General Washington’s departure from the Valley Forge, Henry Brown, the orator, delivered a speech to commemorate the hardships of the Continental army during their winter encampment of 1777-1778.
Valley Forge Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Valley Forge across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Valley Forge worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Valley Forge which was a military camp in Pennsylvania, Northwest of Philadelphia. The Valley creek was the place where the American Continental army, led by General George Washington, spent their winter during the American Revolutionary War of 1777-1778.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Valley Forge Facts
- The Commander
- The Winter Encampment
- Pile the Lumber
- Battle Mapping
- Henry Brown’s Speech
- Encampment Scarcity
- Winter at Valley Forge
- Forging at Forge
- Valley Forge Bulletin
- My Winter Memory
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Link will appear as Valley Forge Facts And Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 16, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.