Why Were The Colonists Victorious In The War Of Independence Flashcards
What was unity of the colonists important as a factor in the colonial victory ?
- many colonist felt inclined to support Britian rather than independence some beloved a union would support their needs
- many poorer colonists disliked the landowner elite ‘whegs’ who often supported patriotism driving many to support Brit
- independence varied amongst the colonies with Massachusetts as a hotbed but NY is was more loyalist
- civil war in areas south 1778 poorer areas of sottish Irish descent often loyal to crown against rich plantation owners
- Unity shared amongst resentment of mercenaries looting helped to provide support for Washington and scalping of Jane Mccrea furthered this
- colonists not fully untied as to wether become a new country or end british rule
Why was American leadership an important factor ?
Washington
- challenges: building up a capable, trained and professional force, not leading a United nation with a determined govenrment
- Army: lacked clothing and equipment
- Common place desertion: 1783 mutiny forced execution of 2 ringleaders
- winter 76-77 harsh condition and keeping army in improvised quarters with no established supply route was difficult logistically
- disloyalty from Benedict Arnold
- dogged persistence in face of difficulties set him apart and his ability to master logistics
- managed to keep army fighting accepting the superiority of Britian in open warfare in late 1777
- often reliant on external factors such as the French help at Yorktown and the mistakes of his enemies such as Howe
What was the importance of British leadership as a factor in the American victory ?
1776, sent the largest ever dispatch from Europe and Britain was a formidable Royal Navy proved effective among the coast and rivers
two key factors leading to problems
- fight being far away
- over ambitious and uncoordinated plans due to expectation for quick victory
faced issue of
- subduing large hostile local population and areas and maintain control
- fighting both France and Spain with one of the largest battles taking place near Gibraltar showing how extensive the conflict became
Is there an over-exaggeration in the importance of British leadership ?
- Landing and campaign 1776 nearly destroyed Washingtons army
- Howe did not make use of this early success because he aimed to negotiate and not crush America
- Howe was overly reliant on conventional warfare and expected the American to follow suite which leader to failures at both Trenton and Princeton
Why was foreign intervention important ?
France
- eager to regain losses from the 7 years war and gain territories in NA, Gibraltar, Minorca and West Indies
- the war was supported by King Louis XVI but he didn’t encourage the idea of liberty and France was not concerned by ideology
What did France provide ?
- gave secret aid such as gunpowder, weapons and financial support in secret and Marquis fe La Fayette helped the cause with many other young French officers encouraged to fight in the cause
- February 1778 France recognised new American union and signed a treaty with America
- facing European threat cause a reevaluation of importance
- France failed a 3k troop landing and not until 1780 did a 6k force under Marshall Roshambeau land at Rhode Island
- 1782 attempted to take Gibraltar
What was Frances biggest contribution ?
- Fleet in the West Indies under Admiral de Grasse gave Washington the advantage of a strong naval force, French artillery and 11k men
Why were key military turning points an important factor ?
- Brit plan 1777 lacked clarity and Lord German envisaged a link up of Canadian forces under Burgoyne with Howe (never occurred)
Philadelphia and Burgoynes Campaign - Howe urged to advance whoever he decided on taking a lengthy sea route
- Burgoyne’s forces in Canada underestimated the problems
- both poorly planned campaign were allowed by Gov
What was the lack of clarity ?
- German and Howe hoped to campaign in Virginia after Southend success
- Clinton (overall command) ordered Cornwallis to remain in Yorktown behind string fortifications which limited flexibility and was not given any naval reinforcment despite promise of it
- defeat in Yorktown lead to political will in Britain admitting campaign couldn’t continue
Any success ?
- Saratoga and Yorktown neither meant overall defeat but inflicting a defeat on patriots became increasingly more difficult
- pseudo status of American soldiers having superior guerilla tactics: Britain was more capable of fighting ruthless informal battles and didn’t rely on rigid plans
- defeats stemming from failure to adopt and follow a strategy
