Valley Forge: Transforming the
American Revolution
Amanda Esplin
Junior Division
Individual Website
Process Paper
Our history class was assigned to do a history Project. We took about a week looking at different
topics to research. I chose to research Valley Forge because I was inspired by the Painting in my home of
Washington’s prayer. I wanted to know why the Cottontail Army kept fighting the American Revolution.
I also wanted to know why the army was so poor.
I started gathering facts about Valley Forge and getting the background information in the few weeks
we were given in class to research. We used the internet and went to our school library a few times.
After this I was on my own searching through the shelves of books about the American Revolution at my
city library. I found moats of my primary documents on the internet when I searched on the weekends.
For my Project I had originally planned to do a exhibit with a diorama of valley forge. As our teacher
told us about the different project categories, I decided an exhibit would cost more than my family could
afford. The website categories had a higher word limit too that worked to my advantage. I think having
the opportunity to use multimedia also helped me prove my point.
My Project Valley Forge: Transforming the American Revolution relates to this year’s National History
Day theme because the winter at Valley Forge was the turning point in the Revolution. Because the
Continental Army was able to survive Valley Forge the Continental Army was able to win the American
Revolution. Winning the American Revolution led to the writes our country has and our Independence.
Because the Continental Army was faithful and because they didn’t give up they were able to survive
Valley Forge.
Bibliography
Images
Washingtions prayer sketch. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_at_Prayer_Valley_Forge_1928_Issue2c.jpg>.
Wrinkle flag. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
Black and white flag. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
Row of flags. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
Mosaic flag. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
Flag with tan background. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
American flag with eagal. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&txt=american+flag&w=1&x=0&y=0>.
The Decloration of Independance. Digital image. National Archives. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_zoom_2.html>.
Early American flag. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page>.
Washingtions prayer rock carving. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Federal_Hall_George_Washington_in_Prayer.JPG>.
Washingtions prayer stamp. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_at_Prayer_Valley_Forge_1928_Issue2c.jpg>.
Winter forest. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1407338>.
Cabins with fence. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/photo/715241>.
Cannon. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/photo/715242>.
Wahingtions headquarters. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1345244>.
Pen and Ink. Digital image. The Stock Extange. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1078835>.
Cabin at valley forge close up of the outside. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Valley_Forge>.
The March to Valley Forge. Digital image. Wiki Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=march+to+valley+forge&title=Special%3
ASearch>
Secondary sources
.Valley Forge National Park. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.nps.gov/vafo/historyculture/index.htm>.
The British plan to capture Philadelphia. In response Washington marches his army to
Valley Forge. I learned that the soldiers enter Valley Forge on December 19th1777
Martain, James Kirby. World Book. N.d. Print.
Nearly one fourth of Washingtonians 10,000 soldiers had died by spring. Lafayette had
joined Washingtonians staff on no pay.
Avery, Ron. Ushistory.org, 2010. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/hisrory/vstory.html>.
I learn from this source that Valley forge transforms the morale of the Continental Army.
The soldiers where better trained when they left Valley Forge.
The Military History of the US. North Baltimore: n.p., 1992. Print.
I learned from this source that the Continental army couldn't get supply's because of
failure of the supply system.
N.p., 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/benfranklen/13_world_spies.html>.
From this source I learned that spies, codes and invisible ink where available during the
American Revolution.
"Tolerably Comfortable Valley Forge Cabin Experiment." Valley Forge National Park, 4 Aug.
2004. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.nps.gov/vafo/historyculture/upload/tolerablycomfertabl.pdf>.
From this source I learned that the forts could hold up to eight soldiers. The forts had dirt
floors and a small fire place. The forts had bunk beds with straw mattresses.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars16011800/p/valleyforge.html>.
Von Steuben trains one-hundred men at Valley Forge. These men are sent to train the
others in the army.
Hamilton, Neil A. Presidents Bibliography. Third ed. New York: Factson File, 2010. Print.
The solders at valley forge where so pour because they went from one battle to the next.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.poast/museum.is.edu/outofthemails/valleyforge.html>.
From this source I learned that there is a river at Valley Forge. I learned about the
wooden bridge at Valley Forge.
National Park Service, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/vf5.html>.
From this source I learned that the Continental Army left Valley Forge on June 19th1778
six months after their arrival.
Broyless, Rita M. "Valley Forge, Encampment of (1777-1778)." Essyclapedia of American
History. New York: Factson File, 2003. Print.
The Continental army was discouraged after losing battle after battle to the British. I also
learned that many soldiers had no foot ware and many of them had to barrow clothes
from each other.
Ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ushistory.org/paine/>.
From this source I learned about the works of Thomas Paine. I learned this quote "These
are the times that try men's souls"
Valley Vorge National Park, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. <http://nps/historyculture/upload/timeline>.
I learned that on February 6th 1778 the French sighed the treaty to be an alliance to the
Continental army. On June 28th 1778 the Continental army wins the battle of Monmouth,
New Jersey.
N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ushistory.org/march/phila/valleyforge.html>.
From this source I learned that the Continental army didn't leave Valley Forge because
food and supply's started coming into the camp by march. I also learned that in April
Baron Von Steuben came to train the troops.
Primary sources
Barton, William. Letter. 22 Nov. 1777. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
<http://americanrevolution.org/vlyfrgeltrs.html>.
From this source I learned that the solders had been expecting to go home sooner. I also
learned that the morel of the solders was transformed at Valley Forge.
Ewing, George. "Journal of George Ewing." Journal of George Ewing (n.d.): 21-30. Web. 10
Nov. 2012. <http://www.sandcastles.net/journal12.htm>.
From this source l learned that the forts at Valley Forge where built in lines four deep.
The forts where also eighteen by sixteen feet long.
Pain, Thomes. "In the following Pages I Offer." N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2013.
.<http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/sence/some-writers-have-so-confounded.php>.
From this source I learned that soldiers were motivated to fight the American Revolution
because they were fighting for their independence and rites.
Snowden's Diary (n.d.): n. pag. Ushistory.org. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/prayer.html#02>.
From this source I learned about a soldier at valley forge who witnessed Gorge
Washington in Prayer. I leaned about why the prayer at valley forge was important and
how it connected to my topic being a turning point in the American Revolution.
United States. Cong. The Declaration. By Benjerman Franklen, Robert Livingston, Roger
. Sherman, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Cong. Bill. National Archives, n.d. Web.
10 Jan. 2013. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html>.
From this source I learned what the Continental Army was fighting for and why there
wrights where important to them.
Waldo, Albigence. The Journal of Albigence Waldo a Surgeon at Valley Forge (n.d.): n. pag. 3
Aug. 2006. Web. 6 Feb. 2013. <http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/17761785/albigence-waldo-from-the-diary-of-a-surgeon-at-valley-forge-1777.php>.
From this source I learned a lot about what the Cottontail army faced at Valley Forge.
The army had no food and torn clothes. Many of them where killed from sickness and
malnutrition.
Washingtion, George. George Washingtion's Prayer Journal (n.d.): 24-35. Constitution.org.
Web. 30 Jan. 2013. <http://www.constitution.org/primarysources/george.html>.
From this source I learned about what George Washington said in his prayer. I learned
that George Washington was a faithful leader that wanted the best for his country and
army.
Washingtion, George. "Washingtion's Letter to Governor Gorege Clinton." Letter to Govenor.
George Clinton. 16 Feb. 1778. MS. N.p.
From this letter I learned that even though the Continental Army was starving and even
though they didn't have good supply's the soldiers never complained.