British: Strengths, Problems And Strategy In 1776

Question 1

How was the Royal Navy a strength of Britian ?

Answer 1

300 ships enabling reinforcements to Americas and
- 75% of American lived within 120km of the sea so control was vital
- several naval bases including Canada and Florida

Question 2

How was the British army strong ?

Answer 2

50k regular soldiers
- 18k German mercenaries mainly Hessians

Question 3

How was Lord Sandhwich a strength ?

Answer 3

• devoted and driven
• major ship building programme ensured Britain maintained naval control despite France and Spain

Question 4

Why was the distance a problem ?

Answer 4

4800km away taking 2-3 months for supplies to arrive meaning situation would have changed by the time they arrived

Question 5

What was the real strength of the Britians army ?

Answer 5

36k and had not been seriously tested since 1763
- 1/4 of infantry lacked any service

Question 6

Why were the mercenaries an issue ?

Answer 6

Convinced many neutrals to support patriotism
- further by the native support of British troops

Question 7

What was a weakness of the Royal Navy?

Answer 7

Decayed since 1763

Question 8

What were the problems with strategy ?

Answer 8

• hostile population
• Britians had to protect its ports diverting men from ground operations
• no necessary political or economic centre to capture making it difficult to destabilise power
• the movement British forces moved rebellion flared up

Question 9

What did British leaders favour ?

Answer 9

Seaboard strategy controlling ports and blockading the coast which minimised land ops but it had flaws
- betray loyalist support
- previsouky failed in New England 1775
- pressure for a speedy victory where a seaboard strategy was drawn out