Royster does an effective job of explaining how the revolutionaries managed to hold on and keep fighting against the larger British forces. In the hellish nightmare of war, "Liquor in moderation was thought to relieve fatigue," Royster explains (144). This was not a decision that the generals made -- allowing soldiers to drink alcohol during battles -- but rather it was fully endorsed by Congress. Those that haven't read Royster's book might not know that Congress "rewarded victory with rum" -- although perhaps elected officials didn't realize that liquor had its bad side; many soldiers "got drunk every day and men sold their clothing and equipment to buy liquor, which "aggravated mutiny as well as valor" (144).
Two themes beyond what have already been expressed are important to Royster's book. One is religion, which he uses as a subtle and not-so-subtle theme off and on; a total of 52 pages of this book relate to various aspects of God and religion, including all the passages from 152 to 177. That said, it is also fair to mention that the soldiers and families of soldiers in that era did indeed put a lot of faith in God. The other theme is George Washington's leadership and the lack of direct criticism he received, even when he did not perform up to his own standards. When General Washington's army failed to beat Howe a number...
Origins of WarIntroductionThe origins of war�are they inherent within the human condition? Are they part of the human personality, the human spirit, the inner turmoil and conflict in the psyche or soul? Why do people fight? Why does conflict exist in society? These questions and those like them get to the heart of the human condition and have been asked by philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, politicians, theologians, and anyone who ever
War on Terror Although the rhetoric on the War on Terror has subsided somewhat since Bush left office, terrorism itself remains an unfortunate reality around the world. The War on Terror was largely a propaganda machine, which perpetuated a cultural climate of fear. As Coaty points out in Understanding the War on Terror, fear-mongering is destructive rhetoric. In the end, too much fear-driven crisis leads to uninformed and ill-devised political strategies.
War of 1812 Causes The early part of the nineteenth century was eventful in United States history because it marked a time when the country was trying to grow from its infancy. The government had been functioning well for almost two decades, the monetary system was gaining the U.S. trading partners overseas, and the military was growing as the U.S. added heavy frigates to their small arsenal. One problem was the
The British came to impose serious taxes as a result of the French Indian war. These in turn were unacceptable to a people which considered itself not to be responsible for the causes of the war. The confrontation had been in fact another matter of European dispute that had to be solved outside the continent in the colonies. Third, there is a disagreement in the way in which the war
The idea that all human beings were born equal and that as equals and that all had equal rights flew in the face of traditional social norms. In the Old World, social hierarchies determined political and economic status. In the New World, citizens at least had the opportunity to participate in town meetings. The newly bestowed rights and freedoms were not universal, however. Slaves and women were both excluded
Eventually, these deficiencies would lead to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. But during the years that they 13 states struggled to achieve their independence, the Articles of Confederation accomplished what they had been intended to. Adopted by Congress on November 15, 1777, the Articles became operational on March 1, 1781 when the last of the 13 states signed the document (The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, 2009). During
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