Date of Award
5-2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
History
First Advisor
Dr. John L. Gordon, Jr.
Second Advisor
Dr. Robert C. Kenzer
Abstract
Seventy-seven men were asked to serve as Generals during the Revolutionary War by the Continental Congress. These men came from such disparate backgrounds that it may seem surprising that they could unite in such a dangerous venture as a rebellion against Great Britain. This thesis explores the military history of the Revolutionary War through the framework of these seventy-seven men by providing biographical sketches of each and drawing from these sketches to create a list of factors which affected their service in the war. Specifically, the thesis focuses on where these men came from, how they earned a livelihood, and what motivated them to join the Revolution. The thesis then presents correlations between these factors and the skill of the seventy-seven Generals during the war.
Recommended Citation
Elgin, Patrick Michael, "An unlikely alliance : the generals who won the American Revolution" (2007). Master's Theses. 683.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/masters-theses/683