We celebrate the Fourth of July now with fireworks, parades, and gatherings, but the American Revolution demanded a steep price from those who fought as marines and soldiers for the Continental Army. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and from 1775 to 1783, the thirteen colonies fought for freedom from the British rule after tension finally turned to war. The initial conflict happened in Lexington, but it did not take long for the Rebels and the British troops to be engaged in a full-scale war. France joined the war in 1778 by providing assistance to the Continental Army and Britain surrendered. America had won their independence after overcoming several setbacks. We are so lucky to be able to celebrate the efforts of our marines and soldiers by having festivities and fireworks. The war and the lives lost during the war will always be remembered as factors that led to America's Independence. There were an estimated 17,000 casualties during the Revolutionary War. That is 17,000 people that sacrificed their lives for our freedom. All 17,000 lives were the price of our freedom during the Revolutionary War, and sadly that is not the only price we have had to pay for our freedom. The numbers are almost incomprehensible, and that is why we should appreciate every second we have living with our freedom. …show more content…
In a message to congress, Abraham Lincoln wrote, “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free -- honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best, hope of earth.” Fighting for freedom seems to be a trend in history, and the American Civil War is another important event for slaves gaining their freedom. From 1861 to 1865, Confederate Forces fought against Nationalists of the Union over the controversy of slavery. The North stayed loyal to the U.S. Constitution while the Southern States thought state’s should have rights to expand slavery. The Confederate States of America included eleven states which fought to keep their slaves. Sorrowfully, 625,000 people died as a result of the four year long series of intense battles. At the time, that number of deaths was more than all the U.S. military deaths in the other wars combined. After the Confederacy collapsed, the South was also left with a lot of clean up, and the long rebuilding process of the United Nation began. On the bright side, the war led to the abolishment of slavery which freed four million slaves. The United States of America could finally confidently say that all men were created with an equal right to liberty. North’s victory preserved the United States as one nation and truly upheld the promise of freedom in