- Naval Strength - Britain had the world's strongest navy during the 18th century. The British Navy had recently (in the last 100 years) fought many naval battles in and around Canada, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. The British Navy was important because with a powerful navy, they could establish supply lines back to England to bring in troops and supplies.
- British Army - The British Army was very advanced and well trained. On top of this, the American colonists' armies were not very well-organized, consisting of militiamen who were not trained for war. The British had shown their military strength with recent battles such as the Seven Years War and the colonization of India.
- Loyalists - Britain still had about 20% of American colonies loyal to them. This was important because they were able to receive help (such as quarters, etc...) from these loyalists and they made for a few friendly faces in the hostile colonies.
The American Revolution Made Simple
A brief look at the war that spawned a nation. A resource for all who love history.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Why The British Lost the Revolutionary War
Valley Forge Outline
Valley Forge Outline
I. Battle Conditions
a. Dec. 19 1777- FREEZING!
b. Supplies were hard to come by because it was difficult to get them to the troops
c. 12,000+ troops to feed- food was in short supply s
i. Forest foraging
ii. Taking from the farms they passed
d. Clothing was also in short supply
i. Shortage of blankets
ii. Shoes were wearing thin from all of the walking and battles
iii. “At one point, these shortages caused nearly 4,000 men to be listed as "unfit for duty."
e. Disease
i. Close quarters, undernourished, and lacking proper attire led to the spread of Typhus, typhoid, dysentery, and pneumonia
1. Killed as many as 2000 men
II. Baron Von Steuden
a. Trained in Russian army where he learned everything he taught the American soldiers
b. Benjamin Franklin was in Paris and let him know that he could find work in the Continental Army
c. Assisted by Alexander Hamilton and Nathanael Greene to draft and train an army
d. Training
i. Started with 100 men and trained them, they in turn moved outward and started training the other soldiers
ii. Trained in full uniform, yelled and swore at them in French and German since he didn’t speak English
1. He hired a translator so they could understand him
iii. “To correct the existing policy of placing recruits in a unit before they had received training, Von Steuben introduced a system of progressive training, beginning with the school of the soldier, with and without arms, and going through the school of the regiment. Each company commander was made responsible for the training of new men, but actually instruction was done by selected sergeants, the best obtainable’”
iv. Repetitive gun training so the men would be able to fire and reload their weapons like it was second nature since battles were close-range and firing the weapon was crucial
v. After a man could handle his weapon he was then put into a group of three, then twelve to learn alignment and dressing (?) because alignment meant smoother firing
vi. He also created sanitation making bathrooms on one side of camp, usually downhill, also kitchens and rows of commanders, enlisted men, and officers
1. Men previous to this plan, would set up tents wherever, relieved themselves where they pleased, and would leave a rotting carcass where it fell down dead
e. Promoted to Inspector general
i. Created “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States” aka “The Blue Book” which was the plan he used in Valley Forge