Post by European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington DC

When the American colonies fought for independence, one of their greatest military minds came not from America, but from Europe. A Polish military engineer, Kościuszko designed the fortifications that helped secure key American victories, including at Saratoga: the turning point of the Revolutionary War. He later oversaw the construction of the defenses at West Point, which would become the home of the U.S. Military Academy. But Kościuszko believed freedom should belong to everyone. In his will, he asked that his American assets be used to buy the freedom and education of enslaved people, a remarkable vision that reflected the ideals he fought for on both sides of the Atlantic. 250 years after America's founding, his story reminds us that the struggle for liberty has always crossed borders. This is the first episode of our America 250: Europe's Story in America's Founding series, celebrating the Europeans whose ideas, courage and expertise helped shape the United States. Who should we feature next?

Video Content