来自：查字典高考网 2014-12-25
The Revolutionary War
The Americans had the advantage of fighting at home, but Britain was a much stronger military power. There were victories and defeats on both sides during the seven years of war.
The first aim of the American army led by George *Washington was to force the British, called *Redcoats because of the colour of their uniform, to leave Boston. On 17 June 1775 the British fought and won the Battle of *Bunker Hill, but they lost so many soldiers that their position in Boston was weak and in March 1776 they were forced to leave. The Continental Congress suggested that Britain and America should make an agreement, but Britain refused and so, on 4 July 1776, members of the Congress signed the *Declaration of Independence. This document, written by the future President Thomas *Jefferson, gave the Americans reasons for wanting to be independent. It included ideas that were rather new, e.g. that ordinary people had certain rights that governments should respect. Since the British king *George III refused to accept this, Americans had the right, and the duty, to form their own government.
Later in the same year the British took control of *New York and *Rhode Island, and Washingtons army moved away into *Pennsylvania. The defeats discouraged many Americans, but at Christmas, when soldiers were not expecting an attack, Washington surprised the British by taking his army across the Delaware River to Trenton, *New Jersey, and defeating the Hessians, German soldiers paid by the British to fight for them. A story often told is that, before crossing the river, Washington threw down a silver dollar, thinking that if any guards were near they would hear the noise and come. Since nobody came, he knew it was safe to attack.
Washingtons army spent the winter at *Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It was very cold and the new government of the United States did not have money to provide soldiers with warm clothes and food. Many became ill, and many more lost their enthusiasm for the war. But in the spring of 1777 they received help from two different sources. A German, General von Steuben, came to train the American soldiers, and the Marquis de *Lafayette brought French soldiers to fight on the American side. With this help, the Americans won a victory at *Saratoga, New York. France and also Spain supported the United States because they thought that if Britain became weaker in North America, it would also be weaker in Europe.
Over the next few years, neither side was strong enough to defeat the other completely. But in 1781 Washington saw a perfect opportunity to win. The British General *Cornwallis had taken his army to *Yorktown, Virginia, where he was too far away to get supplies or help. Washington marched south to meet him, while French ships made sure that the British could not receive help by sea. Cornwallis realized how bad his position was and surrendered.
In 1783, after a period of talks, Britain recognized the United States of America, making the US completely independent and giving it the western parts of North America.()
【托福(toefl)阅读考试知识(十三)】相关文章：
[标签：海外留学,语言考试,托福,,]
爆笑班主任 第一季 第221集 高考结束学生有多疯狂？山东王老师疯狂吐槽
1000张学生用草稿纸考研专用免邮空白便宜薄演草演算纸白纸本书写纸批发打草a4大张实惠装18k高考数学草稿本
高考阅卷名师给考生的高考作文密训课 第5集 高考作文审题实操方法精讲（三）
创艺第二届：2019届高考录取表彰大会暨“核桃音乐节”合影——你只管努力，剩下的交给创艺
2019全国高考志愿填报攻略 第50集 天津市高考历史三年本科录取排名
高考前必听的5首励志歌曲，《Dream it possible》最能鼓舞人心！
葛军大爷怒了：高考我出了个小学数学送分题，你们跟我说不会做？
探秘历史 第二季 第233集 考英语用来睡觉，结果仍是高考状元，如今她怎么样了？
张雪峰高考志愿填报指南 第28集 高考志愿分析，材料科学与工程专业，就业很一般，建议慎重选择
沈阳音乐学院郎亦农教授的女高音高考曲目解析课程 第1集 沈阳音乐学院郎亦农为你讲解女高音高考曲目
张雪峰高考志愿填报指南 第47集 高考志愿，令人头疼的数学系，才是专业万金油，毕业后机会多
