chapter 4 the war of independence 1776-83

the situation in 1776

british strengths

• larger population
• most britons fuly supported the war
• had the support of 500,000 american loyalists
• most native americans supported britain
• 50,000 army
• hired 18,000 hessian soldiers
• royal navy ruled the waves- colonies were on the coast
• Lord Sandwich (first lord of the admiralty)
• financial and manufacturing strength
• Lord George Germain (colonial secretary)
• several bases close to the colonies from which to launch attacks

american problems

• lacked unity
• had to build an army from scratch, troops only enlisted for a short time
• state militias were less impressive than most americans hoped
• no navy
• lacked an effective national government
• economy was disrupted by the war- shortage of goods, morale problems
• hyperinflation

american strengths/advantages

• most americans were committed to the 'glorious cause'
• the militia turned out in large numbers in areas where the fighting took place
• 2000 privateers

british problems

• large distance between britain and the colonies
• unfamiliar territory
• army was under strength
• royal navy had been allowed to decay
• the presence of hessian troops convinced many neutral colonists to support the patriots
• the fact that native americans supported britain may have spurred many colonists to join the patriot side
• british martial law alienated potentially friendly americans
• Lord North was not an inspired war leader
• likelihood that france and spain would join the war

british strategic problems

• faced a generally hostile population
• dependent on britain for obtaining most of its supplies
• army had to protect american ports under british control
• only a part of the army was available for field operations
• no necessary political or economic centre for british armies to capture
• some british leaders favoured a seaboard strategy
• would minimise the problems of operating and fighting inland in difficult terrain
• would betray loyalists and lose their support
• failed in New England in 1775
• pressure in britain for a speedy and decisive victory
• destruction of continental army was more important than the possession of towns and territory
• hoped that military success would make the resumption of british rule possible
• realised they must achieve reconciliation
• need to reach a political solution

american strategy in 1776

• guerrilla warfare could not defeat the british
• tried to create a traditional army
• washington preferred taking on the british army in battle
• welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate his contempt for what he saw as British pretensions of superiority
• hoped that courage combined with the rightness of the cause would compensate for inferior numbers and inexperience

the loyalists

who were the loyalists?

• drew adherents from all ranks of society
• many possessed strong links with britain
• tended to be drawn from minority groups who had little in common with the majority patriot population
• southern backcountry farmers who resented the dominance of the tidewater elite
• anglicans in new england
• germans and dutch in new york
• geographical distribution was uneven
• more loyalists in the southern and middle colonies
• many african americans supported britain

loyalist problems

• did not constitute a coherent opposition to the patriots
• loyalists only knew they stood against the patriots
• motivated by local concerns
• unable…