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The Myth of Popular Participation in the Revolutionary War

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Many believe that men were eager to fight in the Revolutionary War during the late eighteenth century. However, this may not be the case. It seems as though history may prove that the heroic and inspiring George Washington was desperate for people to fight for his cause. The struggle for victory was more challenging than some historians put it off to be, and the fact that George Washington pulled the Revolutionary War off and defeated the British was probably a miracle. Part of the reason why there was a lack of participation of the army was because George Washington and other war officials did not announce that they had lacked men because they did not want to come off as weak to the British. By law of the Continental Congress, every white man was obligated to serve if a threat was cast. Of course, they began encouraging more and more people to join the army, and used the right to bear arm as a reason as to why they should. Even then, the army was struggling to move along. Many men died from disease, exhaust, age, hunger, and warfare. The number of men who stood for the American side during the American Revolution was not stable. Battles with the British were brutal for Americans, especially because the British had a strong and well train army, and the Americans had a minuteman army. It proved that the army needed further training. The Continental Congress tries to see if they could collect taxes to help pay off some war needs and further help the army. They sought an ally to help them, which later France stepped into be since they rivaled with Britain. France sent over money, militia, utilities, their naval and munitions. Without the help of the French it is doubtful that the Americans would have won the revolution. Americans became so desperate for help to the militia that they started promising freedom for any adult black slave males. The first black regiment became known as the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, and after that, slaves

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