American Revolution
"How did the inexperienced, poorly armed, badly trained forces of an infant nation made up of thriteen independent and mutually jealous staes come to defeat one of the world's greatest military powers?"
Answer this question from Foner and Garraty's Reader's Companion to American History. Make sure to support your answer with specific facts, data, events from the revolution.
Answer this question from Foner and Garraty's Reader's Companion to American History. Make sure to support your answer with specific facts, data, events from the revolution.
posted by Mark Killian | 12:32 PM
4 Comments:
Honestly I think God must have had a lot to do with it, other than that, though, there were a number of other things. First of all there was a rather large ocean between America and Britian, so it wasn't easy getting supplies and news back and forth. Most of the supplies Americans needed were already in America. The propoganda during the war is also notable. While "Common Sense" encouraged Revolutionaries in their fight it would also discourage the British soldiers. Knowing that you're fighting on your own turf may also encourage, although in a desperate way. The fact that the British soldiers were not fighting on their own turf may have also made them more apathetic towards the war. Britian at that time was still in some bit of debt since Parliament probably didn't get all the taxes out of the colonies that they needed to. The war also probably very unpopular in England, just as the Seven Year War was. Colonists were united for their fight because they were fighting for the same thing against a common enemy. They were led by a spirited and admirable man, George Washington. They knew the land and many tactics of survival which the British may not have known. They also knew the Indians, better, and many of the tactics that they knew. The colonists had all of this and later on they would have the help of the French. It's amazing what a little unity can do.
Although the Americans were unexperienced and had little naval power, they managed to pull though and defeat the British after many years of harsh conditions. These conditions were such as poor shoes or none, no guns if any harsh weather conditions and few soldiers to fight. In the midsts of all the comotion Gerorge Washington made a brave move to take a loan from the British bank and helped supply much needed materials. At the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 the French realized that their revenge on the Bristish from the French and Indian War was to soon be fulfilled by joing the ameicans in battle. The battle that is most relized today for the aid in winning the war is the battle of Yorktown in 1781. This is the first encounter with the French, who with help out numbered the British two to one. Poor, unhealthy and unexperienced the Americans pulled through the War to bring a vicotry and have the Treaty of Paris singed September 3, 1783. This treaty gave Ameicans access to the Great Lakes, land and the Mississippi River. In conculsion the MAeican were not expected to win the War but with Gerorge Washingtpon as a leader and the French helping us in the most needed times we were able to become the nation that was long wanted.
The Americans could have defeated the British for a number of reasons. If it were not for the Radical leaders, then the fight against the British might not have even happened. Who would have lead the people if there was no one who wanted to go up against the British? Who would have put the time and effort into designing a Declaration of Independence? Who would have had the guts to tell the British, the world’s super power at that time, that we don’t want anything to do with you? THE RADICALS! They defiantly helped us win the revolution. But then wouldn’t the famous writing of “common sense” help us win the revolution because it helped our soldiers spirit lift and realize they where fighting for a greater cause. But wouldn’t the loan that George Washington took out have greatly helped us win the war because we might not have had the proper firearms to defeat the British. Wouldn’t the surprise attack that day after Christmas on the troops from Poland and Germany that where paid to fight for the British helped us win the Revolution. Could it have simply been that George Washington was a good General? I think all of these things contribute to the win of our Revolution. No one action can take credit, just like a king shouldn’t take credit for a victory when the soldiers where the ones who won the battle, if just the king had fought, then there wouldn’t be a victory, it was the work of many men, and many actions that makes a victory.
How did the American colonists defeat the great and powerful British Army? Some people and historians try to hypothesize that there is ONE specific thing that led to the defeat of Great Britain. For example, some believe the colonists won due to the lone from the French, the fact that they fought on their own well-known and well-adapted land, or that it was somehow connected to divine providence. But, I think that it wasn't just one thing that led to the defeat of Britain; I believe that one benefit after the other kept coming about in favor of the colonists. Then, finally, the table turned, they won the war, and it all added up in the end. Another thing that contributed to their victory was the enlightenment. This time period put an emphesis on freedom of speech, natural rights, liberty, and rebellion unto those who opposed those views. In conclusion, it wasn't one little thing that made a big difference; It was a bunch of little things that in themselves made a big difference, therefore together they made such a big difference that they defeated the world's greatest power. The spirit, enlightenment, motivation, lone from France, well-knowing of the land, and superb fighters and generals together made the American Revolution what it is known to be today.
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