America War of Independence

Question 1

Why was logistics a reason the British lost the American War of Independence?

Answer 1

• After Brits seized Fort Ticonderoga they wanted to keep moving forward –> Moved slowly due to taking large baggage trains with wives + families –> stretched supply lines with Burgoyne never in control –> had to leave troops to protect supply lines so British troops were now down to 500.
• Britain only sent 8000 inexperienced troops in 1775. London failed to give military strategy
• Britain had to defend empire elsewhere (Siege of Gibraltar 1782-Feb 1783 - 7,500 Brit troops, 65,000 French & Spanish)
• Resulted in losses at Saratoga and Yorktown

Question 2

Why was weak British leadership a reason the British empire lost the American War of Independence?

Answer 2

• General Gage had only 4,000 troops + British reinforcements = too late. This led to early defeat at Concord 273 British casualties with 73 deaths and Bunker Hill 1/8 of British officers died
• William Howe did not pursue a weakened continental army through Central Park in 1776 and failed to take Philadelphia. Allowed Washington to regroup and attack
• Lack of coordination between the generals when Burgoyne needed Howe and Clinton’s support left Burgoyne on 1/2 rations – led to British surrender at Saratoga in October 1777 = the first turning point of the war

Question 3

Why was American allies (foreign intervention) a reason the British empire lost the American War of Independence?

Answer 3

• Victory at Treaton + Saratoga encourages French and Spanish intervention. Benjamin Franklin diplomacy got French support. Spain entered as French allies in 1779
• Marquis de Lafayette - 1780, 5k Frecnh troops
• Opened more fronts -> Brits spread forces -> reduced troops from 65% to 20% in America due to threat of French invasion and to defend empire elsewhere (Siege of Gibraltar 1782-Feb 1783, 65,000 French + Spanish, 7500 Brits)
• 1781 less than 1k French troops helped America defeat British at Yorktown
• 1781 Spanish troops cleared British troops from the Mississippi river

Question 4

Why was legislation a reason the American War of Independence started?

Answer 4

• Townsend Duties 1767 - duties on imports of lead, glass, wine, china, paper and tea -> colonist argued British shouldn’t interefe with internal matters after stamp act -> colonists now deeply suspicious of British intentions
• The Tea Act 1773 - try and help debt incurred by EIC, government allowed EIC to trade directly with colonies -> undercut smugglers -> Boston Tea Party (£10,000 british tea thrown into sea) -> resulted in Coercive Acts 1774 (Gage now governor, murder trials in England to avoid American juries, closed Port of Boston from 1st June 1774) -> further upset colonist

Question 5

Boston Massacre as a cause of the American War of Independence

Answer 5

March 5th 1970, 5 people killed, soldiers put on trial defended by Samuel Adams and found not guilty -> repeal of townsend duties except for tea making tea symbolic

Question 6

How did the Sons of Liberty cause the American War of Independence?

Answer 6

• Set up in 1767 opposing British taxes
• Knew that Gages 4000 men would be at Concord and Lexington -> first shots were fired with 20,000 partiot militia

Question 7

How colonists ideology start the American War of Independence?

Answer 7

• Protestants seeking religious freedom valued independence
• Most men owned land so exepcted recognition and rights
• Influenced by enlightment thinking, viewed Britains’s posting of troops not as defensive but as tyrannical

Question 8

What was decided at the First Continental Congress?

Answer 8

September 1774, Philadelpha
Called on Massachusetts to arm for defence
Proclaimed right of each colony to determine its need for troops
Massachusetts declared in a ‘state of rebellion’ by Britian on 9th Feb 1775

Question 9

What happened at the Second Continental Congress June 1775?

Answer 9

Issued paper money to pay for war
Made Washington Commander-in-Chief

Decleration of independence came later becuase…
- Different colonies took a while to all align their intellectual reasons for revolution
- Communication was difficult
- Moderates had to see that every effort was made to find peace
- Olive Branch Petition of 8 July sent to George III
- August 1776 - George III declares rebellion throughout colonies - gave Patriots no alternative.
- Bostonian revolt to Continental Rebellion