WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Why did American Patriots win and the British lose the War of Independence

p.129-131 Mobilizing for Warp.131-132 The War for Independencep.132 The First Phase: New Englandp.133-136 The Second Phase: The Mid-Atlantic Region p.136-137 Securing Aid from Abroadp.137-140 The Final Phase: The South

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

I. Traditional Reasons

A. “Home court advantage”

B. Fighting for a cause

C. Redcoats marching in straight lines

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

II. Militia

A. Supplies

B. Patriot militia v. Loyalist militia

C. Patriot advantage: militia & regular army• 1. Coordination of Continental Army and Patriot militia –

Greene in S.C.• 2. Lack of coordination between Redcoats and Loyalist

militia – N.J., Delaware

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

A. Patriot B. British

1. Fabian

a. Trenton and

Princeton

b. Greene’s

“retreats”

2. Guerilla – vs.

British Army in

N.Y.

1. Trying to capture

a strategic center or

capital

2. Restraint – goal:

to put down a

rebellion

III. STRATEGY

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

A. Regular Army

• 1. enlistments• 2. Training

• Von Steuben at Valley Forge

• Marquis de Lafayette

• 3. Veterans• 4. pay

B. Example of result:

Monmouth Courthouse

IV. TIME TO BUILD THE CONTINENTAL ARMY

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

V. Patriot Innovations

A. Knox use of cannon

B. Morgan’s use of riflesSniping vs. the British army in N.Y. (surrender

at Saratoga)

C. Morgan’s battle plan Cowpens

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

VI. Foreign Aid

A. Money and Supplies

1. France

2. Dutch loans

B. Treaty of Alliance

1. World War

2. French navy Yorktown

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Why did American Patriots win and the British lose the War of Independence

Home court advantage Americans fighting on their own

land; they knew the terrain – especially important in the fighting that takes place in the “wilderness” and in the south where they could move and live off the resources of the land and blend in with civilians

Francis Marian, the “swamp fox” (S.C.)

NE: rocky, cold in winter South: boggy, humid in summer Frontier: muddy roads, thick forests Settlements spread out Distance between England and the

colonies – time and money ferrying troops and munitions across the Atlantic

Desire for freedom and hope for a better existence is tough to defeat

Fighting for a cause

Redcoat tactics European style of warfare open field “gentlemen’s

war” war was not personal, war

was their job at the end of the day

European armies would help each other with the dead on the field and generals would have tea together

also warfare was “seasonal” – fighting generally stopped in the winter months

Loyalist Militia

Patriot Militia

Received supplies from all over, especially in the south

Numbers much greater than England anticipated

Afraid of consequences/retaliation from their neighbors if they joined the fight

Patriot advantage Gen. Washington is able to combine two

armies (militia and regular)

• Private in S.C. militia (lowest rank)Nathaniel Greene –

S.C.

• Rises to become a General in Continental Army

Determination and study (Art of

War)

Understands and requests permission to

use both militia and regulars

Patriot Advantage: Coordination of Continental Army and Patriot Militia

• Leave the defense of Trenton and Princeton to the Hessian mercenaries

N.J./DE. – during winter months British retreat to warm homes

• His orders were to secure Manhattan, which he did; he was know for not deviating from his battle plans even when tactical advantages presented themselves

William Howe believed the Continental

Campaign to be over for the winter season

• Washington has to surrender Princeton soon after…

Victory gives Continental Army a much needed

moral boost

Patriot Advantage: Lack of coordination between Redcoats and Loyalist militia

Frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through war of attrition and indirection◦ Harass the enemy through skirmishes to cause

attrition◦ Disrupt supplies and affect morale

Employment of this strategy implies the weaker side believes it has time on its side◦ Can also be adopted when no other feasible

alternative strategy can be devised

Fabian Strategy

Washington’s decision to wait until nightfall – his knowledge of Hessian celebration with alcohol at holidays

Quick attack, then retreat back across the Delaware River

Trenton and Princeton

(Greene) retreating from the field before defeat became apparent to reduce losses

German farmers hold off British advances◦ Battle of Oriskany – new type of warfare was

costly to the British; many complained of its lack of “fairness” in war

Greene’s Retreat and vs. British Army in New York

Realized that capturing Boston was an impossibility; Patriots had surrounded the town (Dorchester Heights) and it had become indefensible; British decision to leave Boston was so much of a defeat as it was a shift in strategy

British Generals believed if they captured a major city, the patriots would surrender (Philadelphia and Gen. Howe)◦ Attempts to take the city cause Gen. Burgoyne to fight

alone and eventually be defeated in the north◦ Howe does take Philadelphia but allows Washington to

retreat unopposed

British strategy

Enlistments: surge in 1775 after Lexington and Concord; faded after excitement wore off, states resort to persuasion and force paying bounties to attract recruits

Training: Baron VonSteuben – Prussian, “Revolutionary War Drill” manual; essentials of military drills, tactics and discipline

Training: Marquis de Lafayette – French, trained everyday men to become the Continental Army; increased morale at Valley Forge ◦ (Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier)

Time to Build the Continental Army:Regular Army

Veterans: none or little to speak of; French/Indian war fought mainly by British army; few commanders of the British Army become leaders of the Continental Army (George Washington)

Pay: $5/$6 day or none at all

Time to Build the Continental Army:Regular Army

Washington’s forces increased to 5,000 “new” Continental army is a foe to be

contended with…

Monmouth Courthouse