Why Did The Colonists Keep Fighting

Question 1

What was the situation ?

Answer 1

The colonists had been swept away by popular excitement but it was not certain that the war would be beneficial

Question 2

Why was it uncertain whether the war would be beneficial in terms of economic warfare ?

Answer 2

It was hitting the colonists hard because of the ban on trade with Britain and Britain’s blockade of American ports

Question 3

Why was the upsurge of opposition an area of concern ?

Answer 3

The upsurge of opposition in 1774-75 included the dangerous radical lower class which worried the more respectable middle class radicals

Question 4

What was the potential impact of the war ?

Answer 4

• higher taxes and greater control than the British had imposed as well as high levels of debt and destruction of property in battle areas

Question 5

What were the military obstacles ?

Answer 5

• Britain had a powerful army and navy

Question 6

What was the difficulty in uniting the colonies ?

Answer 6

• no sign colonists would unite and by 1776 it proved difficult to sustain a new continental army

Question 7

What was the issue of loyalists, former slaves and native Americans ?

Answer 7

• all groups disinterested with rebellion and some groups didn’t have interest in war

Question 8

What was the issue of open warfare ?

Answer 8

• hard to defeat Britain in open warefare as colonial troops had limited military skills and little experience of formal warfare

Question 9

What were the problems with compromising?

Answer 9

• surge of enthusiasm, radical influence had grown and opposition suppressed
• difficult to ensure future governments of a Britain would not reimpose controls on trade and expansion, an increase taxation
• Royal officials forced out so difficult to reaccept them again
• hope for help from France