Source: Baron von Steuben, Prussian military officer who served as inspector general of the Continental Army, letter to a friend in Europe, 1778
"The genius of this nation is not in the least to be compared with that of the Prussians, Austrians, or French. You say to your soldier, 'Do this,' and he doeth it; but I am obliged to say, 'This is the reason why you ought to do that,' and then he does it."
Based on the excerpt, which of the following best explains a major characteristic of mobilizing and organizing the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War?
- The army was composed primarily of volunteer citizen-soldiers who were motivated by republican ideals and expected their commanders to respect their individual agency.Answer
- BThe Continental Congress utilized centralized federal powers to conscript citizens and fund the army through national property taxes.
- CThe difficulties in enforcing military discipline led the Continental Congress to implement the Townshend Duties to pay for professional foreign mercenaries.
- DThe decentralized command structure of the army directly caused the immediate formation of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties during the war.
Answer
The Continental Army was composed primarily of volunteer citizen-soldiers who were motivated by republican ideals and expected their commanders to respect their individual agency.
The correct answer is correct because Baron von Steuben's observation highlights that the Continental Army consisted of volunteer citizen-soldiers who were driven by republican ideology and individual consent. Unlike European professional soldiers who were trained in unquestioning obedience, American soldiers expected their officers to explain the purpose of their orders, reflecting the democratic and individualistic ideals of the revolutionary movement.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The mobilization, organization, and ideological motivation of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.