How successful was George Washington as a military leader? What was the influence of Baron von Steuben and the Marquis de Lafayette, and what was the significance of Valley Forge in the creation of a professional military?

Washington proved to be a better general than military strategist. His strength lay not in his genius on the battlefield but in his ability to keep the struggling colonial army together. His troops were poorly trained and lacked food, ammunition and other supplies (soldiers sometimes even went without shoes in winter).

warfare was the primary means of cultural transmission in both regions.