The American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War was the most important conflict in US history. Although it was initially a military conflict, it was later transformed into a national struggle. This article covers some of the important events during the war. It also covers the role of the Militiamen and British strategy. You will also learn about the history of the Hudson River and the Continental Army.
British strategy
The British strategy for the American Revolution was based on the assumption that the American citizens would be loyal to them. This assumption was not necessarily true. The Americans often manipulated the public by using propaganda, such as Thomas Paine's Common Sense pamphlet. These tactics, along with other tactics, helped to undermine British support for the war.
The strategy involved focusing on the Southern colonies, particularly those of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. This strategy included the occupation of Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, in late 1778 and early 1779. The British also won the Battle of Camden in 1780.
Continental Army
The Continental Army was composed primarily of infantry and artillery, with a few cavalry units. Infantry regiments were organized into brigades, which had several regiments and were commanded by brigadier generals. In the North, an artillery brigade typically comprised of four regiments under the command of a chief of artillery. An infantry regiment had a theoretical strength of 750 men and was divided into small companies. The Continental Army also had a small corps of artificers and engineers.
The Continental Army was formed in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress as the United States began its war for independence from Great Britain. It was established by a resolution passed by the Congress on June 14, 1775, to coordinate the military efforts of the Colonies in the war for independence. Its commander-in-chief was General George Washington.
Militiamen
The American revolutionary war was marked by the use of militiamen in battle. They were much older than Continental soldiers and received little training. In fact, militiamen constituted nearly forty percent of the soldiers under General George Washington. Washington, however, lamented that the militiamen did not provide "manly opposition" in the crucial battles of 1776. For example, in the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, militiamen panicked in front of advancing redcoats and fled. This resulted in one of the greatest defeats of the war for the Americans.
In the early Revolution, the militiamen in Massachusetts were organized into two groups: minutemen and regular soldiers. Minutemen, or volunteer soldiers, were given additional training and were provided with hunting shirts and leggings. Their responsibilities included overpowering loyalists and stopping slave uprisings. In addition, they were tasked with recruiting men to serve in the Continental Army.
Hudson River
The Hudson River played an integral role in the American Revolutionary War, as it was a vital liquid highway for troops and supplies. In case the British were to seize the river, they would cut off New England from the rest of the rebel colonies, and this would have a profound impact on the American Revolution.
The Hudson River was the nexus of American population, industry, commerce, and logistics. It also provided a critical route for invasion from Canada, as well as to New York City. Its command would have significantly affected the movement of supplies and the economy, and President George Washington even said that the defense of West Point at the Hudson River was the "key" to America's success in the war.
George Washington
When the American Revolution broke out, George Washington sought seclusion from the public eye. He was a notoriously shy man and sought to live in relative obscurity. In 1751, he travelled to Barbados with his brother, Lawrence, who was suffering from tuberculosis. The two of them hoped the warm climate would improve his brother's health. However, the trip resulted in George contracting smallpox, a disease that left permanent scarring on his face. In the aftermath, he went on to inherit his brother's estate, Mount Vernon, in 1752.
After the war, Washington retired to Mount Vernon and pursued his interest in the western frontier. He also participated in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which led to the development of the United States Constitution. As president, he was unanimously elected to two terms. Washington's support convinced many delegates to ratify the new United States Constitution.
Founders' aspirations
The Founders' aspirations during the American Revolution were far from utopian ideals. Though they believed in self-government, they also thought that their country would serve as a model of virtue in international affairs. Their aim was to ennoble the American character by proving that men should behave more modestly.
Today, key accounts of the American Revolution are increasingly focused on the everyday people who were part of the revolution. These people include Native Americans, blacks, and women. These new ways of historiography have greatly expanded our understanding of the founding moment. We now take a more comprehensive view of who counts as a "Founder" and ask more encompassing questions about how American citizens experienced the founding.
Military encounters
Friederike Baer's Military Encounters During the American Revolutionary War is a major new study of the war that fills a gap in the historical record. The book describes how the Europeans and Americans interacted during the war and provides new perspective on how the conflict changed the lives of soldiers. Baer compiled the results of her eight-year research to create a new and more accurate account of this pivotal period in American history.
Daniel Morgan was a brilliant military strategist and death-defying hero. As a brigadier general in South Carolina during the American Revolution, Morgan won the Battle of Cowpens. He went on to serve one term in the U.S. House of Representatives after the war. Another notable American soldier was Margaret Catherine Moore Barry, who played a vital role in warning the Americans of an impending British invasion. Her warnings prompted the militia to prepare for battle.
