Why England Lost the American Revolutionary War
This was an existential war for the rebellious Americans. If they lost, leaders would be hung, Tories (loyalists) would retaliate, English rule would be harsh and revengeful. On the other hand, England could sail away and still remain a global power.
England had to win, which meant destroying the American Continental Army, disarming the militias, and establish strong political control. But the Americans did not have to win battles to win the war. They just had to continue to exist - keeping the Continental Army together - until the British decided that the war could not be won and had become too expensive.
Opposition to the war in England was substantial and rose rapidly after 1780. King George’s cabinet was forced to resign and Parliament passed a bill to limit George’s unilateral power to fight wars (sound familiar?). Power returned to Parliament; this was the last time an English king or queen exerted any power.
England had an average of over 30,000 troops but they had to fight in an area of about 100,000 square miles. England gave up Boston early. Later in the war, English troops could not hold Philadelphia after defeating the Americans and occupying the city. England also could not hold isolated garrisons throughout the colonies, which were exposed to attacks by local militias. At most, England could hold New York City, some surrounding territory, and sometimes Charleston.
England's strategic war planning was incoherent and often contradictory. King George and his cabinet thought they could make strategic decisions from London and force their generals to carry out their instructions. One problem was that plans were often made on the false assumption that America was full of loyalist supporters just waiting to rise up when an English army appeared. This led to Yorktown. At other times, English generals ignored instructions. General Howe in New York was told to march up the Hudson River Valley to link up with Burgoyne coming down from Canada. Instead, he decided to attack Washington near Philadelphia. That, plus Burgoyne's supply difficulties, greatly increased the chances of America success at Saratoga.
The American victory at Saratoga in 1777 was crucial. After the American victory, France decided the Americans stood a chance and entered the war. The American rebellion became another world war between England and France. This eventually brought French troops, supplies and money to assist the Americans. England moved troops and ships out of America to help defend the British West Indies sugar islands from the French. By transferring troops and ships out of America, the English government indicated that the West Indies were more important to England and the empire than the American colonies.
English generals in America were demoralized by losing troops, fearing that the war could not be won.
Most of the supplies for the English army had to come from England. A slow, 3,000-mile supply chain. A lack of enough supplies, especially to store up for a coming offensive, was the cause of the English abandoning offensives that might have led to victories.
Offensives by Burgoyne and Cornwallis were failures partly because of the inability to maintain supply lines based on horses and wagons traveling through wilderness.
English attempts to supply by foraging and pillaging locally were often upset by the actions of local militias, a form of guerilla warfare. In the last English campaign of the war, local militias cut Cornwallis’ supply lines and forced him to abandon garrisons.
Arthur Bowler, Logistics and the Failure of the British Army in America, 1775-1783.
For the story of the American Revolution, see
The American Revolution and a New Country, 1755-1790
For other essays on American History, see
Comments
Post a Comment