Congress was reluctant to levy taxes. Instead, it borrowed money by issuing bonds. It also printed money, resulting in terrible inflation. The worthlessness of Continental currency inspired the phrase, "not worth a Continental." It became more difficult to get people to lend money. By 1779 and 1780, Washington's army had to confiscate supplies in order to feed and clothe itself.

During the Revolution itself, some 400,000 Americans, including at least 5,000 African Americans, served in the fighting for at least some time.

The Revolution would have failed miserably without the participation of thousands of ordinary farmers, artisans, and laborers who put themselves into the line of fire.

On October 17, 1781, a British drummer marched toward the French and American lines carrying a white flag of surrender.

the Continental army had fewer than 6000 troops.

The character of the war was totally transformed as France (in 1778), Spain (in 1779), and the Netherlands (in 1780) entered the war on the American side.

The French loaned money to the revolutionary government and provided crucial military support. French control of the seas was instrumental in securing an American victory in the Revolution.

But on Christmas Eve, 2,400 of his soldiers crossed the icy Delaware River and attacked British outposts in New Jersey. At Trenton,

forced a British surrender.

At the beginning of 1781, Washington had just 5,000 troops at his command and British forces were ravaging the Virginia countryside.

But on Christmas Eve, Washington's troops crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey, and defeated the British forces at Trenton and Princeton, and restored a sense of optimism.

perhaps in the hope that if we don't teach about war, it will go away. But military history is enormously important. Wars are among the most important turning points in history.

One percent of the American population died during the American Revolution. If the United States were to lose one percent of its population today, the toll would be two-and-a-half million dead.