The Continental Army showed that it had the most spirit when it won battles and during the alliance with France. The reasoning I have for saying that the revolutionary spirit flourishes most after winning battles is that General Washington knew this fact and would use it to his favor during the Revolutionary War. An example of this is seen when the manual states that General Washington "...knew that the morale of his men and the hopes of a new nation required 'a shot' of good news in the face of devastating losses around New York City." So he took the initiative with a desperate gamble to achieve a well-deserved first victory…” (150) Afterwards, this first victory had a snowball effect and led to another victory at Princeton. These two “unexpected victories at Princeton and Trenton saved the cause of independence.” (152) It is very evident that after winning battles, the Continental Army and Patriot morale was high and led to reinforcements and subsequent victories. Likewise, the Battle of Saratoga was another surprising victory, but it did much more to boost troop morale. the revolutionary promise. The victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga attracted French attention and support. It is said that “the American victory at Saratoga was strategically important because it convinced the French to sign two crucial treaties…” with the Patriots. This major victory brought, above all, the morale of the Continental Army to continue fighting, but it also brought French reinforcements. It is unclear to what extent the French army and navy propelled the revolutionary promise once allied with the American military. However, it is said that "The... middle of paper ...... settled on Indian lands that they negotiated under the Treaty of Paris without the consent or representation of the Indians. (175) Likewise, women who played a role in helping America gain its independence did not receive as well. “The legal status of women in the colonies was governed by British common law, which treated them essentially as children, limiting their role to the domestic sphere. ” (173-174) Most of the constraints women faced while they were supposed to “earn their freedom” were that they could not vote, hold office, and preach. Like Indians and women, slaves found that they, too, had not achieved their freedom at the end of the Revolutionary War. It seems very ironic to think that the Continental Army and colonists were fighting for freedom while Indians, women, and slaves had no more freedom at the end of the war than at the beginning of the war.