Saratoga through Yorktown

From the Battle at Saratoga to the Siege of Yorktown, there were many battles that tested the Colonist’s morale and their physical strength. The question is, which was more important, maintaining a high morale or winning big military victories?

First, we  should look at Battles that possibly helped boost the colonists morale. The first example is surviving Valley Forge. Although it was an extremely difficult time for the colonists, they were able to use their survival skills and tactics to survive. They faced many, many difficulties, the most common due to starvation, freezing, disease, and the lack of hospitals. This horrible and enduring trip through the winter bonded the colonists together in many, many ways because they felt as if they could survive many things together. Overall, it was a very bonding experience that brought them closer together.

When looking at the battles of the war that were considered huge military victories for the colonists. One standout example is the battle of Saratoga. The battle of Saratoga was considered a turning point in the American Revolution, but primarily because it was such a huge turning point in the war’s outcome. When the British surrendered to the Americans, that was when the war turned around, because the ragtag group of colonists had managed to defeat the great army of the British.

After looking through the evidence for both sides, I believe that it was mostly large military victories that helped the colonists win the war the most. It was because of the big victories that their morale increased, and without the victories their spirits may have been very low. It was important for them the maintain high spirits, but the big battles that they won were more important.