Washington's Army Was Starving While Congress Had Zero Power (1779-1781) скачать в хорошем качестве

Washington's Army Was Starving While Congress Had Zero Power (1779-1781)

Everyone knows George Washington won the Revolutionary War. But almost nobody knows that between 1779 and 1781, he nearly lost it—not to the British, but to complete governmental collapse. The Financial Catastrophe: In January 1779, the Continental dollar was worth 20 cents. By December, it had fallen to less than 2.5 cents. Congress printed over 200 million dollars in paper money, and it became worthless. Pennsylvania farmers refused to sell wheat except for hard money. Washington's army was literally starving. Congress had no power to tax. It could only beg the states for money, which the states routinely ignored. Congress appointed Henry Laurens to negotiate loans in the Netherlands—though the Netherlands hadn't recognized American independence. It drew bills on John Jay in Spain for 100,000 pounds—though Spain was hostile to America and Jay had no funds. Congress was writing checks on imaginary accounts. In August 1780, when a paper dollar was worth only 3-4 cents, Washington ordered his agents to stop accepting continental currency. The commander-in-chief was refusing United States money because it was worthless. Subscribe for the untold stories of American history. #GeorgeWashington #AmericanRevolution #ArticlesOfConfederation #AlexanderHamilton #JamesMadison #RevolutionaryWar #FoundingFathers #ContinentalArmy #USHistory #AmericanIndependence #1780s #ColonialAmerica #MilitaryHistory #ConstitutionalHistory