Why the Western World Was Ready For Freedom - Great Unsung American Leaders

America’s Revolutionary War occurred at a pivotal moment in history. 

 In 1492, when Columbus landed in the Americas, Europe was just beginning to recover from the devastating effects of the Bubonic Plague. The prolonged Hundred Years' War between England and France had further ravaged the economies and productivity of both nations.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, England and France were often governed by adolescent kings, whose power-hungry relatives sought to usurp thrones and authority. This relentless ambition among the royalty fostered a culture of lavishness and decadence, as kings, knights, and nobility taxed peasants into starvation to maintain their extravagant lifestyles.

By the early 15th century, the Catholic Church was embroiled in a crisis, boasting three rival popes whose conflicting loyalties disgusted the clergy and paved the way for the Protestant Reformation (as detailed in *A Distant Mirror* by Barbara W. Tuchman). 

In this context, the Spanish Inquisition, initiated by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella in 1478—the same monarchs who funded Columbus’s first voyage—continued the legacy of oppression established by the Medieval Inquisition. This tribunal system aimed to try and punish heretics and remained active during the American Revolution, officially ending only in 1834.

Fast forward 291 years after Columbus’s first landing, the American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Between 1776 and 1783, a small segment of the tax-paying population fought valiantly for the nation that would become the United States. Against all odds, they emerged victorious!

As with any conflict, the Revolutionary War transformed many into heroes while others were cast as villains. Yet countless unnamed individuals fought and sacrificed their lives, leaving behind families uncared for, fields untilled, and futures unfulfilled. To these unknown heroes, we owe a debt of profound gratitude. 

I want to highlight three lesser-known commanders of the Revolutionary War: John Paul Jones, Francis Marion, and George Rogers Clark.

Captain John Paul Jones, often regarded as the Father of the American Navy, is famously quoted saying, “I have only just begun to fight.” During a fierce battle, when his ship was damaged and sinking, he led his sailors to board the attacking British vessel, ultimately claiming it as their own. Learn more about John Paul Jones https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Paul-Jones-United-States-naval-officer .

General Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox, was instrumental in disrupting British operations in the Southern swamps. His guerrilla tactics frustrated British forces and are remembered as a key part of the war effort. Discover more about Francis Marion https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Marion .

General George Rogers Clark, referred to as Long Knife by American Indians, recruited a force of 170 starving woodsmen and successfully captured five western forts that supplied Native Americans with weapons for scalping settlers. Remarkably, he lost only one man during these operations. Read more about George Rogers Clark https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Rogers-Clark .

These commanders, along with countless others, played crucial roles in securing America’s independence, and their contributions should not be forgotten as we reflect on this transformative period in history.