WOI- Strengths, Weaknesses And Challenges Flashcards
British strengths- navy
Royal Navy had over 300 ships- 75% of Americans lived within 75 miles of the sea so naval strength was a crucial advantage
British strengths- natives
British used 10,000 Native American scouts and raiders to attack colonists in the frontiers- locals know the lay of the land
British strengths- loyalists
500,000
British strengths- bases
Had several bases close to the 13 colonies eg Canada and Florida
British strengths- Germans
1775 Britain hired 18,000 soldiers from Hesse
British weakness- experience
One quarter of the infantry had less than a years service
British weakness- north
Lord North often ineffective leader due to illness in 1776/7
British weakness- disconnection
Took at least 3 months to get a reply to a letter- men on the spot had to make decisions which were not always effective
British weakness- supply
3,000 mile supply chain vulnerable to French fleet- troops used to preserve line and attempt to source supplies locally
American strengths- militia
Intimidated loyalists
Over 100,000 Americans served at some time in the militia
American strengths- privateers
Congress and the states commissioned 2000 privateers causing heavy damage on British merchant shipping
American weakness- unity
Lack of unity- each colony guarded its own interests
American weakness- new
In 1775 America built an army from scratch
American weakness- troops
Enlisted for a short time and went home before terms expired
American weakness- navy
50 vessels ran by converted merchantmen- congress never appointed a commander
American weakness- government
No effective national government- articles of confederation (1777) gave limited powers to central gov- empowered to make war but not wage it
American weakness- arms
Shortage of arms due to British blockade
American weakness- finance
Congress couldn’t levy taxes so printed paper money causing inflation.
British strategic problems- army availability
Only a small part of the army was available field operations because the army had to protect American ports under British control
British strategic problems- supplies
Due to the hostile population the British Army was reliant on Britain for supplies which was 3000 miles away
British strategic problems- territory
Capturing territory had no lasting advantage as soon as they moved away the rebellion flared up in their rear.
British strategic problems- what was most important
The destruction of the Continental Army
British strengths- loyalists by 1783
By 1783 19,000 Americans had a listed in the British Army thousands more have joined the Loyalist militia
British strengths- Richard Stockton
Signer of the declaration of Independence was kidnapped by a band of loyalists and persuaded to recant his support
November 1776 pardon
Howe brothers offered a pardon to all who took an oath of future loyalty
Roughly 15% of the free adult male pop accepted the pardon in the first week of release
American challenges- militia in the Philly paper
Militiamen wouldn’t turn out- “if in this hour of adversity they shrink from danger they deserve to be slaves”
American challenges-new jersey cold autumn
Lack of supplies- Washington reported they are “so thinly clad as to be unfit for service”
HISTORIAN: Joseph Ellis comment on why Washington chose an offensive strategy
“Avoiding battle (as in war of posts/ guerrilla) was akin to dishonourable behaviour”
