The political situation in Poland and bitter love for Ludwika make him leave the country and head for Drezno, where he wanted to join the army. His application is rejected and he goes to France. There he learns about a American War of Indepndence and in 1776, a month after the Declaration of Independence he arrives at America.

    Kosciuszko is nominated American Army's colonel and his first assingment is to fortify the town of Philadelphia, which is situated by the Delaware River and is under a constant threat of the British navy atack.
   In 1777 fortifies:

• Ticanderoga
• Saratoga
• West-Point - on the order of George Washington.

    Kosciuszko fought incessantly for the independence of America till 1783 - first, at General Gate's command, then General Nathaniel Green's. During the struggle for Charleston, he even took charge of a small unit. Leading the same people, Kosciuszko fought with the Englishmen on 14^th November 1782. A month later, General Green's army marched triumphantly in Charleston, where finally ended - lasting for 6 and a half - Kosciuszko's combat route on the American ground.

   In recognition of his achievements, oin 13^th October 1783 Tadeusz Kosciuszko was promoted to the rank of General of American Brigade thanks to the Congress resolution. He was also given about 250 ha of land and a significant sum of money. He was admitted to the Society of Cincinate, founded by the officers of merit.

   In 1784 General Kosciuszko left America and came back to the country. Unfortunately, he did not join the army because he was not born in the upper class. Therefore, Kosciuszko came to his family surroundings, where he spent five years. The estate provided Kosciuszko with little income what forced him to start cultivating the ground. What's more, he reduced serfdom to those who had to work it twice a week. Women were dismissed from work at all. These actions met with a great disapproval of the noblemen from the nearest neighbourhood. They also resulted in a worse financial situation of the possessions.

   Kosciuszko started being interested in the matters which were happening in the country. Poland needed strong reforms of which talked Stanisław Staszic and Hugo Kołłataj. The Parliament - called the Great - debating in 1788-1792 made an effort to repair the situation of the then country. Kosciuszko was especially interested in the plans concerning enlarging the army.

   Therefore, he supported a project on creating additionally police units which could work beside the regular army. These units would be credited by the noble class, however, it bred to widespread discontent among the noblemen. First taxes were introduced in a half a year time, but they occurred to be insufficient. On 12^th October 1789 Kosciuszko gained, signed by the king, promotion to General Major of Royal Army. Getting a long for mark was hoped to put an end to his financial problems.

   Debating from 1788, the Great Parliament adopted a resolution on introducing the major reform of Poland. The crowning achievement of it was the very first Polish constitution called - by the date of its passing - the Constitution of 3^rd May. It was the first act like this on the European land, which determined Polish political system as a constitutional monarchy, restricted the influence of the nobility, allowed bourgeoisie decide in country's matters and secured greater care for the peasant class.

   Polish aspirations towards strengthening the country caused anxiety at Russia and Prussia. In April 1792, traitors of Poland - Szczesny Potocki, Seweryn Rzewulski and Franciszek Ksawery Branicki - prepared a confederation act, which would abolish the Constitution of 3^rd of May's resolutions. This act was declared on 14^th May in Targowica, and a few days later a Russian army crossed Polish border.

   Kosciuszko prepared the army for a confrontation. Prince Jozef Poniatowski became a commander-in-chief of the Royal Army (gathering about 17 000 soldiers) while Kosciuszko took command over one of three divisions. When on 18^th May the Russian army (made up of 100 000 men) crossed the borders, the war in defence of the Constitution of 3^rd May broke out. As a result of many treacheries, the Royal Army did not have enough soldiers to defend properly and therefore had to withdraw. During a retreat, on 18^th June it came to a great battle fought near Zielence won by Polish people.

    Since those events, Kosciuszko became famous. He got promotion on the lowest rank of General and the cross - Virtutti Millitari. However, the fights did not last long. Like a bolt from the blue came the news about the king's joining the Targowica confederation and an order of cancelling any operations against Russian forces. The bitter defeat brought the second partition of Poland. Many activists left the country reaching the port of destination in Lipsk or Drezno. Kosciuszko also considered the thought about leaving, especially after hearing that National Legislative Assembly of revolution France conferred him a title of French Honorary Citizen. It was given in recognition of his achievements and fights for freedom.

    In the end, Kosciuszko resigned and left for Lipsk then he left for France. He treid to get help for Poland from the leaders of revolution, howwever in rain. In March 1794 he moved towards Cracow as the Highest Head of National Armed Forces. He arrived there on 23^rd plarch. Being the leader of Insurrection he swore on Cracow Market Squere "I, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, I swear in the face of God to the whole Nation of Poland that the power, I was entrusted do not use as a private aim of pressure but only as to defence the boarders, regain the independence".

   The battle of Raclawice took place on 4^th April. Kosciuszko led to victory especially thanks to Cracow's insurgents and peasants. Afterwards Kosciuszko established defensive camps in Bosurow on the banks of the river Dlubnia and then he moved to Polaniec to create defensive forces. On 7^th March he issued the act called "Universal Polaniecki". This document forbade the nobility to oppress the peasants, decreased serfdom and raised the rank of privilleges which peasants had not yet.

   The battle of Szczekonce took place a month later. Although the Russian and Prussian forces were joined together, Kosciuszko resisted the enemy well. However, he was forced to retreat the Polish forces towards Kielce and Warsaw. There took place hard-fought battles on the outskirts of Warsaw. Many Prussian attacks were fighted off well by Polish insurgents. When Insurrections broke out in Wielkopolska, the Prussian King Wilhelm II retreated. Warsaw was free. Soon, the King received a message that general Suwarow forced K. Sierakowski to retreat and in the end he won in the battle of Terespol. Fersen joinned forces with general Suwarow and then the blood battle of Maciejowice took place on 10^th October. Polish forces were forced to surrender after heroic fights with the enemy.

   Kosciuszko was hurt in the battle of Maciejowice and put to Pietropawlow's Fortress in Petersburg. The Tsarina Katarzyna II did not want Kosciuszko's death as she was going to take advantages of him in her political plans. Kosciuszko recovered slowly. After the death of the Tsarina Katarzyna II, her son Pawel I forced Kosciuszko to promise to be subject to him and then the Tsar freed him. Thanks to Kosciuszko about 20000 Polish people, who were imprisioned in Russia, became free. There were the indurgents of the Insurrection of 1794, the activists of the reformist camp of the period of the Great Seym, soldiers of the Polish-Russian war of 1792 and 14 000 people sent into Sybir excile. In November 1796 Kosciuszko became free and left for the USA where he stayed till 1798.

   When Polish Legions in the USA had been established, Kosciuszko came back to Paris. He mode contact with General Jan Henryk Dabrowski and become the moral leader of Legions. He even met with Napoleon. However, Bonaparte did not take care of the Polish affairs therefore Kosciuszko withdrew from political life and stayed with his friends.

   In 1815 Kosciuszko used the same method of acting towards Tsar Aleksander 1^st consequently avoiding political commitments. After the Vienna Congress when Kosciuszko found out that only a small part of Poland would create the Kingdom of Poland and be a subject to Russia, he decided to leave for Solury in Switzerland. He died on 15^th October 1817. On 23^rd April his corpse was placed in Kings' Graves on Wawel.

   In his last will Kosciuszko give freedom and lands to his peasants in his possesion - Siechowicze, as he had done earier with the Black in the possesion given to him by the USA government.