Importance of West Point During the American Rev
Revolutionary War Project: West Point General George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, the Continental Army commander, and later the first president of the United States of America during the American Revolution declared West Point, as “the most important military position in America”[i]. West Point is located in New York, along the Hudson River and 50miles from New York City. West Point was a very strategic point during the American Revolution, due to its location near the Hudson River and its geographical conditions for its defense, which therefore was caused the Continental Army to fortify its defense there. Thus afterwards a military academy was founded at West Point, in which played a vital role in United States history. West Point being a vital point in the American Revolution was due to the Hudson River. The New York Provincial Congress quoted “If the Enemy persist in their plan of subjugating these states to the yoke of Great Britain, they must…be more and more convinced of the necessity of their becoming masters of the Hudson River”[ii]. Traveling by land by default was always known to be a risk, especially during the time of war. Not only it took more time to travel, but furthermore there are always chances of ambushes set up by the enemies. The Hudson River allowed a quick and safe reliable transportation of troops and supplies for commerce during the war time. Boynton also further quotes “the Hudson was connected by an easy portage with Lakes George and Champlain and through them with the St, Lawrence, the great river of the Canada’s…by a short portage to the basin of the great lakes and to the magnificent river system of the Mississippi”. [iii] This further show the Hudson River not only represented an importance of military commerce, but communication as well. Communication was another big advantage point of the Hudson River during the American Revolution. Losing the Hudson