The year of 1777 was a year of preparation and defence. The British in the south solidified their position as the American’s readied themselves to push the empire out of New York before turning south. Washington knew had much relied on taking New York and congress believed another victory would finally see France entre the war on their behalf. As the army held against British skirmishes and prepared for a siege. New and old people began to emerge as heroes to the people. Ready to take up the flag and fight. These people included:
Alexander Hamilton: Hamilton was born out of wedlock in Charlestown, Nevis. He was orphaned as a child and taken in by a prosperous merchant. When he reached his teens, he was sent to New York to pursue his education. He came to the attention of the armed forces when he along with a few others stole food and canons from the British then used them to defend their position. Saving them from defeat. In 1777, he became a senior aide to General Washington in running the new Continental Army.
Benedict Arnold: Benedict Arnold was an American military officer who served during the Canadian campaign. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army, rising to the rank of major general. In 1777 he acquired command of the American forces in the south and valiantly defended Wilmington from a British invasion; keeping the American hold on north Carolina strong
Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was a leading diplomat, scientist, and inventor of the 18th. He. He had been a major figure in Philadelphia life, creating both a university and fire department there both which would be used as models for the country. He was also a spokesman for the colonies who played a crucial role in creating the Declaration of Independence before being deployed to France in order to convince the French to form an alliance with the new country.
John Laurens: John Laurens was a soldier and statesman from South Carolina. While the rest of his state joined Georgia in siding with the British. Laurens worked undercover of night to liberate slaves and ferry them north. He eventually joined the Continental army and took charge of the first all-black battalion in early 1778 with the objective of disrupting Georgia and South Carolina though raids and secret attacks.
John Adams: John Adams was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat and writer. Adams was a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress and became a principal leader of the Revolution. He assisted in drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and was its foremost advocate in Congress. In 1777 he was dispatched to Spain hopefully to open trade and bring the country into the war.
Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson was a one of the most important and prominent figures at the time. He was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence. He was also an advocate of the ending of slavery and was key to keeping Virginia in the union. Once he was finished in congress in early 1778, he was elected governor of Virginia where he set about properly ending slavery and protecting the state from the British.
Marquis de Lafayette: Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette), known in the United States as Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer. He was the first official French military aid to the country. At first, he aided American troops in training before being given command in 1778 in order to fight in the upcoming battle for New York.
James Monroe: James Monroe was an American statesman, lawyer, diplomat. Monroe served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War where he was known to fire up the troops with his speeches. After being injured in a British raid in Virginia, Monroe was deployed as a diplomat to the Dutch republic (congress believed the country was a lost course due to its closeness to the British). In 1778 Monroe secured Dutch loans and trade and continued talks to bring them into the war.
Aaron Burr: Aaron Burr Jr. was an American politician and lawyer. He began his career as a lawyer before joining the Continental Army as an officer in the American Revolutionary War in 1775. In 1777 Burr was sent as a diplomat to the Indian nations in order to secure friendship and drive out British influence.
All these people helped gain America allies or troops in its most critical hour. The battle of New York was fast approaching. If America won, it would drive the British completely out of the north and allow the main forces to begun attacking the south. If the battle of New York was lost, the whole American idea could die before it ever truly started.