HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR AMERICA TO GO TO WAR WITH ENGLAND?

SassoUS I

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR WAR?

After TJ’s work, the American colonies begin to refer to themselves as states

Each province treats itself as a sovereign entity

Most states will develop state constitutions by 1781, however a national constitution is hard to develop

Most Americans aren’t entirely sure that they want a national government

This is a pretty big issue, since waging a war requires some element of central direction

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR WAR?

Organizing the war effort is a formidable task for the new state govts and the weak Continental Congress

Have to figure out a way to finance the war

Have to raise and equip an army Very difficult to accomplish

these tasks Taxing seems to be a simple

solution, but that’s not the case The Continental Congress

doesn’t have the authority to tax

State govts generally choose not to tax

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR WAR?

Hard currency (gold/silver) is extremely scarce in America

Congress will request money from each of the states, but will only receive a small % of what they ask for

Congress will try to borrow funds by issuing bonds, but most people tend to invest their money in other ways

As a last resort, Congress will issue paper money (Continentals)

This isn’t the best choice in the world, but desperate times lead to desperate measures

No value to the money, which leads to extreme inflation

Many American farmers and businessmen would much rather do business with the British, because they would pay in hard currency

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR WAR?

Raising the army is only slightly easier

Big initial surge of patriots, but that will eventually tail off

People will become reluctant to volunteer

States will have to pay bounties or draft

Militias will be very important, but they do present some difficulties

SOCIETAL ISSUES

1/5-1/3 of the white population stayed loyal to England during the war

Many cultural and ethnic minorities felt they would not be protected in a “new” America

Some people just felt that England would surely win

Loyalists will be mercilessly harassed; up to 100,000 citizens will flee

Many choose to go to England, but that’s not always a great choice

Canada becomes another popular destination

SOCIETAL ISSUES

For many slaves the war meant freedom

England will offer emancipation for slaves that serve in the British military

When the fighting shifts to the Southern states, British armies will emancipate thousands

This is probably the worst nightmare for Southern plantation owners

Eventually the America military will provide similar terms of service

SOCIETAL ISSUES

Yet again, there is a lot of uncertainty for the Native Americans

Both the Americans and the British want them to stay neutral

Some Natives will perceive the British as the lesser of two evils

Some will launch attacks of their own on both sides

Their position is considerably weakened Many internal divisions as well

SOCIETAL ISSUES

Many women will begin to step to the forefront in their towns/villages/city

Have to step up in place of the men who will be fighting

Begin to take control of farms and businesses

Some will attack British soldiers they were supposed to quarter in their homes

Other women will directly contribute to the war effort

Many will fill auxiliary roles at battle camps

Others will find themselves in combat

Many women will begin to question their position in society

SOCIETAL ISSUES

However, little will change for women at this stage Single women had certain legal rights, but married

women had none Coverature- policy in English common law, that was

adopted in Colonial America Everything a married women may possess or earn

would be transferred to her husband Married women have no property rights, so they would

be unable to engage in legal transactions Can’t vote, can’t divorce, no legal authority over their

children, etc. It will be awhile before all of this changes

ENGLAND

England is a precarious position, but still is a far better position to win than the Americans

It has a far superior military It has far more money It has a structured and stable

government However- tactical errors doom

the English Overconfidence, dependency

on mercenaries, and ineffective leadership all prove to be detrimental to the British war effort