As we celebrate the American Independence Day on July 4th, most of us know that on that date in 1776. the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence….declaring that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the British Empire.
But the Revolutionary War that was fought to win our independence was a costly one and a bloody one.
The war lasted eight years and 25,534 American combatants lost their lives in the armed conflict, according to historian Howard H. Peckham widely regarded as the most accurate accounting of the death toll.
But you might be surprised to know that fewer than 30 percent of Americans actually died in battle.
As History.com puts it, “Musket, cannon balls and sabers weren’t as big of a threat to survival as diseases that spread through Continental Army camps and the prison ships that British forces used to confine American POWs.
But it all turned out well for America, with us becoming the most powerful and most influential nation and the leader of the free world.
And as we celebrate the 4th of July, it’s a good idea to remember that and to know how it all began.
(Photo Getty Images)
