Letter Home: A Foreign Soldier's Perspective in the American Revolution
Imagine you are a foreign soldier who has volunteered to come to America to help fight against the British during the American Revolution. Many soldiers from France, Poland, and other countries joined the Patriot cause for different reasons, such as a belief in freedom, a desire for adventure, or the hope of gaining military experience. In this assignment, you will write a letter to your family back home, explaining why you have decided to risk your life in this cause. Use evidence from your textbook and your own reasoning to support your answer.
Group 1
Write a short letter (1-2 paragraphs) from the perspective of a foreign volunteer soldier in the American Revolution. In your letter, explain your reasons for joining the fight against the British and what you hope to achieve. Use at least one specific example from the attached excerpt or your textbook to support your explanation.
Source 1.1
The Patriot cause had supporters around the world. A number of individuals from other nations even risked their lives to help the American cause. One leader at Valley Forge was Marquis de Lafayette of France. He had come to the United States as a 19-year-old volunteer in June 1777. Lafayette believed the American cause represented the future of humankind. He wanted to join the battle for freedom. He became a trusted aide to Washington. Other Europeans volunteered to work for the patriot cause. Two Polish men—Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski—supported American efforts. Kosciuszko helped build important defenses for the Americans. Pulaski won promotion to the rank of general. He died in 1779, fighting for the Continental Army. Friedrich von Steuben, who was from Prussia, helped train the Patriot troops at Valley Forge and shape the Continental Army into a more effective fighting force.
Question 1a
Write a letter to your family back home explaining why you have decided to risk your life by volunteering to help the American Patriots fight against the British. Be sure to explain your reasons and what you hope to achieve by joining this cause.
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