Introduction
The complex history of the United States is characterized by different events, racial dynamics, and conflicts. Modern scholars can rely on most of the available structures, infrastructure systems, and monuments to learn more about the country’s past. The famous Braddock Road has been neglected and forgotten for the past three centuries despite being an instrumental resource during the infamous French and Indian War. By examining the issues and roles associated with this road, Americans can be in a position to learn more about the unique history of Pennsylvania.
Background Information
Built in the year 1755, the Braddock Road would become the first modern and quality road in British America. The ultimate aim of the infrastructure system was to help British soldiers, under the command of Edward Braddock, to move across the Appalachian Mountains (OpenStax 2014). The main objective was to prevent the French from conquering the county of Ohio. The road would play a critical role throughout the French and Indian War and the subsequent Seven Years’ War (Fischer 2015). Most of the people involved in the Braddock Road expedition, such as George Washington, acquired numerous military skills and ideas that helped them to achieve their goals throughout the Revolutionary War.
Current Event and Significance
In the recent past, different agencies have been collaborating to undertake a new project aimed at rebuilding the Braddock Road. This renewed interest is expected to protect the road from further degradation and allow more citizens and tourists to learn more about it. This kind of initiative is recommendable since it will result in the preservation of a historical road and shed more information about the history of the United States. The initiative will allow more scholars to identify most of the events that reshaped the country’s future (OpenStax 2014). The effort will allow more Americans to acquire additional ideas about the past of Pennsylvania and its achievements.
The new project presents a unique opportunity for more people to appreciate the challenges many people in America encountered in the process of building a nation. By preserving the selected road, it will be possible for analysts to learn more about General Edward Braddock and appreciate his engagements in the fight for autonomy (Fischer 2015). Specifically, the reader would acquire additional about the hero and how he led a successful expedition in an effort to fight French soldiers. The successful completion of the road revolutionized the manner in which different army units pursued their objectives at the time.
Through the lens of this road, many people can appreciate the fact that most of the soldiers and their captains encountered numerous obstacles. The unexpected defeat and death of Braddock compelled his followers to bury him in an undisclosed location on the road. This decision was intended to honor their hero while getting the morale to remain courageous and continue to pursue their goals (Fischer 2015). The members of the French army were unable to locate his body or even be sure of his demise. These developments present a unique perspective regarding the issues Braddock had to deal with while at the same time remaining focused and keen to complete his mission for Fort Duquesne.
The proposed project has the potential to encourage more people to appreciate the courage and resilience of different soldiers who helped America grow and eventually become a successful country. While General Braddock could have failed in his campaign to get rid of the French colonists in Ohio, the British army continued to pursue their goals diligently. Those who are interested in the significant of the selected road will realize that the British Empire remained weak and incapable of achieving most of the outlined goals (Hulbert 2012). Nonetheless, the demise of Braddock would compel the British army to become more organized and consider new ways to coordinate their future operations.
In the early 18th century, most of the colonies lacked adequate roads to support movement in underdeveloped regions. The move to construct Braddock Road was an ingenious move that encouraged future explorers and armies to try new strategies to improve their means of transport from one point to another. Future commanders and leaders would consider Braddock’s strategies to solve most of the experienced challenges (Hulbert 2012). Through similar tactics, the British army would manage to record decisive victories in most of the wars fought during the time. These observations show conclusively that Braddock Road is an inspirational infrastructure that presents a new way for examining and learning more about the history of the United States.
Conclusion
The above discussion indicates that different agencies and organizations are planning to restore and preserve the Braddock Road. Such an effort is timely since it will make it possible for scholars, historians, and citizens to learn more about the complex past of the United States. The infrastructure will shed more light about the military pursuits, technological breakthroughs, adversities, and wars that took place from the early 18th century in colonial America. The insights could guide more people to identify better ways for solving emerging challenges and pursuing their national goals.
Bibliography
Fischer, Joseph R. 2015. “Braddock’s Road: Mapping the British Expedition from Alexandria to the Monongahela by Norman L. Baker (Review).” Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies, 82(2): 189-190.
Hulbert, Archer B. 2012. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Historic Highways of America (Volume 4), by Archer Butler Hulbert. Urbana: Project Gutenberg.
OpenStax. 2014. U.S. History by Openstax. Ann Arbor: XanEdu Publishing Inc.