The Empire Strikes Out: The War in the Field

Question 1

Gen. George Washington

Answer 1

• Takes command over New Englanders during the early stages of the war
• Intentionally group colonists’ strategic interests together by including southerners in the army
• Initially aimed to kick out black people, but relented once his officers made the argument that they needed more men
• Commands the siege of Boston which resulted in a victory for Washington; Continental Army liberates Boston
• General George Washington suffers a major, humiliating defeat in the Battle of Long Island; the army, lacking discipline, flee against the general’s orders - British form a base of operations in NY as a result

Question 2

Trenton and Princeton

Answer 2

• Washington had just suffered a major, humiliating defeat and his men’s contracts were nearing the end of their terms… need a victory
• Attacks British army at Trenton on Christmas night, 1776… British surrender quickly; takes 900 prisoners
• Remaining British flee to Princeton where a larger force lay in wait; the British launch a counter-attack on Trenton, but Washington escapes in the dead of night to attack Princeton
• Earns second major victory in a week after a year and a half of running away
• GW was also heroic and fearless on the battlefield; he is able to convince his men to re-enlist, saving the continental army

Question 3

Battle of Saratoga

Answer 3

• Represented another massive victory for the colonists in the war effort
• After Lexington and Concord, the British aimed to alter their strategy by bringing an invasion force in from Canada to NY, thereby separating NE from the other colonies
• Saw MA as the principle problem
• Washington, stationed near NY, sends a small force led by Horatio Gates, and his talented officer, Benedict Arnold against the force of 8,000 men
• Arnold’s idea to avoid open conflict with the British army and instead aim for the trailing supply lines leads to a massive success; 6,000 of the British forces surrendered
• Victory in Saratoga helped convince France of America’s chances in the war (1778 treaty) - development cannot be understated:
  1. France sends their army and Navy
  2. Sends economic aid

Other countries begin using the shifting tide in the war as an opportunity; Spain and the Netherlands declare war on the British (indirect allies); what started as a minor rebellion becomes a full world-war for Britain

Question 4

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Answer 4

• By this point in the war, the British were scaling back their ambitions and were hoping instead to retain their colonies in the south
• British forces led by Cornwallis had a difficult time convincing the colonists to lend their support when the army was also requisitioning their crops and slaves (for their army)
• Cornwallis is chased across the south by Nathaniel Greene; low on supplies, Cornwallis eventually retreats to Yorktown
• Greene pursues and takes up position outside Yorktown, as does Washington & French commander Lafayette
• French Navy routed British reinforcements arriving by sea
• In October 1781, Cornwallis along with 8,000 soldiers surrender
• With this, the war was over in America