Chapter 4: The War of Independence 1776-83 Flashcards
Why were the British generally confident of victory in the war at the start?
Britain had 8m people - colonies had only 2.5m
Britain had the support of 500,000 loyalists
The Royal Navy ruled the sea
Britain had a 50,000 strong regular army
Most Britons supported the war effort
What issues did the Americans face at the start of the war?
They lacked unity - remained as 13 separate, self-interested states
Army numbers were small - at times barely 5,000; never above 20,000 for the entire conflict
State militias acted as an unimpressive fighting force
No Navy to speak of
No central government to control the war effort or fund the military
What were some strengths of the Americans at the start of the war?
Most Americans were committed to the cause
Militia turned out in large numbers wherever conflict took place & acted as a political police outside of open battle
Congress had about 2000 privateers to disrupt the British Navy
What issues did Britain face at the start of the war?
It took 2-3 months for reinforcements or supplies to arrive in America
The military was made of relatively inexperienced soldiers - 25% had seen less than a year of service
Native support for Britain may have spurred colonists to fight for the Americans
Lord North was a bad leader
Always the likelihood that France or Spain would join in & help the colonists
What was the British strategy in the early days of the war?
No clear strategy - there was no central place to invade
Seaboard strategy of occupying ports would have been too drawn-out
Hostile population meant the army was dependent on British supplies - needed to remain near the sea
What was the American strategy in 1776?
Washington rejected ideas of guerilla warfare or ‘War of Posts’, instead opting for direct confrontation in battle.
What is a ‘War of Posts’?
A defensive strategy where you fight a series of battles & withdraw from them, designed to wear down the enemy.
What were John Adam’s estimated for the political divides of the colonial population?
1/3 Loyalist
1/3 Active rebels
1/3 Neutral
What were Historian’s estimates for the political divides of the colonial population?
2/5 active rebels
1/5 loyalist
2/5 neutral
Who mostly made up the loyalists in the colonies?
Geographically uneven - only had a majority in places like New York
Didn’t draw exclusively from upper class - minority groups tended to be loyalist
Some promises of freedom in return for support offered to Black slaves
What were some problems with the loyalist forces in the war?
Loyalist activity required the prescence of British army forces - had little to no national organisation, as they were often driven by local issues.
Loyalists were often driven from their homes, imprisoned, and sometimes killed by patriots if the British weren’t around.
In what ways was the American revolution the first ‘modern war’?
It wasn’t a dynasty war
It was one of the first instances of a ‘nation-in-arms’. - Civilian soldiers from all classes
Guerilla warfare was used often as a tactic
Rise in the use of rifles rather than muskets
In what ways was the American Revolution not the ‘first modern war’?
Nationalism was already a well-developed idea
Many civilians didn’t really fight in the war - joined up and quickly went back to their farms
Continental army was very similar to European armies
Both the Continental and British armies fought traditionally
Who commanded British troops in America in 1776?
General Howe
Why did General Howe attack New York in 1776?
He hoped to draw Washington into a direct battle, defeat him, and bring the war to an end.
What happened at the Battle of New York 1776?
Washington was defeated - 2,000 casualties, 6 times as many as the British.
However, he managed to retreat to the mainland under the cover of fog.
What was the result of the Battle of New York 1776?
Howe sought peace - met with Continental Congress members Ben Franklin & John Adams. Failed; Howe didn’t have the authority
Washington’s forces in full retreat - force dwindled to 3,000 men
Pardons were offered to patriots who pledged allegiance to the king - thousands applied
What happened at Trenton & Princeton winter 1776?
Howe went into winter quarters rather than chase the Continental army
The patriots launched an attack on the garrison at Trenton, capturing more than 1000 prisoners with only 4 wounded americans.
Princeton faced a similar coup.
What were the results of Trenton & Princeton?
Howe lost his gains in New Jersey
Washington realised he needed a more defensive strategy
New life breathed into the patriot cause
What were the British plans in 1777?
General Burgoyne was to march down from Canada to isolate New England from the other colonies.
Howe was meant to help Burgoyne, but went to take Philadelphia instead.
What happened at the capture of Philadelphia 1777?
Washington was defeated by Howe at Brandywine Creek - lost 1200 men
Washington got away again
Washington attempted to counterattack at Germantown, but he lost a further 1000 men.
What were the results of the British capture of Philadelphia?
British naval control of the Delaware was secure
Washington driven back to Valley Forge
Howe decided to leave him be yet again
What happened to General Burgoyne in 1777?
He retook Fort Ticonderoga in July
When attempting to go south, it took his forces 3 weeks to go 37km, as he went through inhospitable terrain rather than sail down Lake George.
He lost 600 men to foraging missions, and a further 600 looking for the first 600.
He pushed on to Saratoga & lost.
Why did Loyalist support see a fall in 1777?
The British had the support of the Iroquois tribe, who killed farmers & scalped a woman called Jane McCrea.
