American Revolution

01 September 2004 (Lecture #04)

 

·    Remarkable: revolution vs. an imperial power had never before succeeded

·    In 1775, more were neutral than anything else

·    Washington made CDR of army because he was the only Seven Years War hero young enough to lead

o        He is also from the South, which helped pull reluctant southerners into the revolution

·         British Troops – Hessian presence convinces many loyalists to become rebels

·         US Troops – militia could not be counted on

o        Little discipline, could not compete in open battle

·         US Advantages

o        Motivation (defend our and)

o        Logistics (did not have to move supplies overseas)

o        Geography (know the land)

·         US Strategy – avoid losing

o        Make UK chase you around

o        Another day is another day for the new nation, a day the UK may quit or allies may join from overseas

 

·         British regulars were well-trained, very highly disciplined, and well-equipped

·         US regulars started at 16,600 but few joined from there (high discipline required, low pay); most preferred to be irregulars

o        Made it difficult for Washington to plan long campaigns

·         Women followed both armies around (paid half-rations for cleaning, bathing, treating wounds, burying the dead)

 

·         GEN Howe (UK) is overly cautious (trying to save lives) and ADM is not aggressive (hopes for reconciliation)

·         Brits alienate the citizens of NYC (food shortages caused by army) and Hessians alienate the countryside (rape, pillage, …)

·         UK Army also angers the MD countryside (loots their crops, etc. en route) and Philadelphia (food shortages, mean troops)

 

Disaster for the British at Saratoga

·         GEN Burgoyne marches 9,500 Brits from Canada into NY; carries much unnecessary luggage

·         GEN Gates stops Burgoyne at Saratoga, forcing his surrender

·         France was eager for revenge from the Seven Years War

·         With Saratoga, and the convincing Ben Franklin, France signs a treaty of alliance with the US

 

Winding Down the War in the North (159)

·         Howe replaced; Brit forces reduced to be dispersed elsewhere to fight France, Spain

·         Prussian Baron von Stueben arrives and helps drill the US army into a disciplined force; improves moral

·         Indians mostly stay neutral; some join the Brits b/c they tried to prevent colonist expansion westward

 

The Struggle in the South (162)

·         Brits realized the South was more profitable and closer to the West Indies

·         More loyalists in these areas and farmers would need guns pointed at slaves, not soldiers

 

The Siege of Charleston

·         Savannah quickly captured and Charleston, SC fell too (loyalists came out in numbers)

·         Rebels found themselves under siege, but prevailed

·         Cornwallis’ error: allowed his troops to mistreat civilians; turned more Americans to the rebel cause

 

The World Turned Upside Down (167)

·         Washington and French GEN Rochambeua agree to siege Yorktown when French ships arrive to help from sea

·         Cornwallis surrenders

·         Treaty of Paris signed, ending the war

o        US convinces Brits to recognize generous borders and independence by offering to weaken ties to France

o        US convince France to sign in order to present a united front vs Brits

·         UK tried to give Cornwallis’ sword in surrender to French GEN, who pointed to Washington who pointed to his 2nd in cmd

 

Conclusions

·         UK makes early mistakes and fail to decisively stamp out the initial insurrection

·         UK forgot to win the population’s loyalty

·         UK lost sea control at a critical time