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WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Why did American Patriots win and the British lose the War of Independence
p.129-131 Mobilizing for Warp.131-132 The War for Independencep.132 The First Phase: New Englandp.133-136 The Second Phase: The Mid-Atlantic Region p.136-137 Securing Aid from Abroadp.137-140 The Final Phase: The South
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
I. Traditional Reasons
A. “Home court advantage”
B. Fighting for a cause
C. Redcoats marching in straight lines
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
II. Militia
A. Supplies
B. Patriot militia v. Loyalist militia
C. Patriot advantage: militia & regular army• 1. Coordination of Continental Army and Patriot militia –
Greene in S.C.• 2. Lack of coordination between Redcoats and Loyalist
militia – N.J., Delaware
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
A. Patriot B. British
1. Fabian
a. Trenton and
Princeton
b. Greene’s
“retreats”
2. Guerilla – vs.
British Army in
N.Y.
1. Trying to capture
a strategic center or
capital
2. Restraint – goal:
to put down a
rebellion
III. STRATEGY
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
A. Regular Army
• 1. enlistments• 2. Training
• Von Steuben at Valley Forge
• Marquis de Lafayette
• 3. Veterans• 4. pay
B. Example of result:
Monmouth Courthouse
IV. TIME TO BUILD THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
V. Patriot Innovations
A. Knox use of cannon
B. Morgan’s use of riflesSniping vs. the British army in N.Y. (surrender
at Saratoga)
C. Morgan’s battle plan Cowpens
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
VI. Foreign Aid
A. Money and Supplies
1. France
2. Dutch loans
B. Treaty of Alliance
1. World War
2. French navy Yorktown
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Why did American Patriots win and the British lose the War of Independence
Home court advantage Americans fighting on their own
land; they knew the terrain – especially important in the fighting that takes place in the “wilderness” and in the south where they could move and live off the resources of the land and blend in with civilians
Francis Marian, the “swamp fox” (S.C.)
NE: rocky, cold in winter South: boggy, humid in summer Frontier: muddy roads, thick forests Settlements spread out Distance between England and the
colonies – time and money ferrying troops and munitions across the Atlantic
Desire for freedom and hope for a better existence is tough to defeat
Fighting for a cause
Redcoat tactics European style of warfare open field “gentlemen’s
war” war was not personal, war
was their job at the end of the day
European armies would help each other with the dead on the field and generals would have tea together
also warfare was “seasonal” – fighting generally stopped in the winter months
Loyalist Militia
Patriot Militia
Received supplies from all over, especially in the south
Numbers much greater than England anticipated
Afraid of consequences/retaliation from their neighbors if they joined the fight
Patriot advantage Gen. Washington is able to combine two
armies (militia and regular)
• Private in S.C. militia (lowest rank)Nathaniel Greene –
S.C.
• Rises to become a General in Continental Army
Determination and study (Art of
War)
Understands and requests permission to
use both militia and regulars
Patriot Advantage: Coordination of Continental Army and Patriot Militia
• Leave the defense of Trenton and Princeton to the Hessian mercenaries
N.J./DE. – during winter months British retreat to warm homes
• His orders were to secure Manhattan, which he did; he was know for not deviating from his battle plans even when tactical advantages presented themselves
William Howe believed the Continental
Campaign to be over for the winter season
• Washington has to surrender Princeton soon after…
Victory gives Continental Army a much needed
moral boost
Patriot Advantage: Lack of coordination between Redcoats and Loyalist militia
Frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through war of attrition and indirection◦ Harass the enemy through skirmishes to cause
attrition◦ Disrupt supplies and affect morale
Employment of this strategy implies the weaker side believes it has time on its side◦ Can also be adopted when no other feasible
alternative strategy can be devised
Fabian Strategy
Washington’s decision to wait until nightfall – his knowledge of Hessian celebration with alcohol at holidays
Quick attack, then retreat back across the Delaware River
Trenton and Princeton
(Greene) retreating from the field before defeat became apparent to reduce losses
German farmers hold off British advances◦ Battle of Oriskany – new type of warfare was
costly to the British; many complained of its lack of “fairness” in war
Greene’s Retreat and vs. British Army in New York
Realized that capturing Boston was an impossibility; Patriots had surrounded the town (Dorchester Heights) and it had become indefensible; British decision to leave Boston was so much of a defeat as it was a shift in strategy
British Generals believed if they captured a major city, the patriots would surrender (Philadelphia and Gen. Howe)◦ Attempts to take the city cause Gen. Burgoyne to fight
alone and eventually be defeated in the north◦ Howe does take Philadelphia but allows Washington to
retreat unopposed
British strategy
Enlistments: surge in 1775 after Lexington and Concord; faded after excitement wore off, states resort to persuasion and force paying bounties to attract recruits
Training: Baron VonSteuben – Prussian, “Revolutionary War Drill” manual; essentials of military drills, tactics and discipline
Training: Marquis de Lafayette – French, trained everyday men to become the Continental Army; increased morale at Valley Forge ◦ (Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier)
Time to Build the Continental Army:Regular Army
Veterans: none or little to speak of; French/Indian war fought mainly by British army; few commanders of the British Army become leaders of the Continental Army (George Washington)
Pay: $5/$6 day or none at all
Time to Build the Continental Army:Regular Army
Washington’s forces increased to 5,000 “new” Continental army is a foe to be
contended with…
Monmouth Courthouse