The American Revolutionary War, Essay Example

The American Revolutionary War, also referred to as the American War of Independence, was commenced by the thirteen American protectorates’ delegates in opposition to Great Britain. The thirteen colonies objected to the congress’s taxation guidelines and the absence of colonial representatives. The conflicts between expatriate militiamen and British multitudes started in April 1775 in Lexington. Before beginning the preceding summer, the protesters had instigated an all-out war to gain their liberation. The French offered their support to the Continental militia and compelled the British to capitulate in 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia. Although the Americans successfully achieved their liberation, the War did not officially conclude till 1783. The War was deemed an internal battle within the Great Britain Empire until 1778, after which it advanced to a global war and involved other nations[1]. The initial objective of the American colonists was to gain control of their affairs, particularly tax regulations. The Britain Empire had the most control over the thirteen colonies’ affairs until 1776 when the American colonies attained independence[2]. However, the War lasted until 1783 and turned out with British multitudes losing influence on the colonies due to their incompetence. This paper looks at the reasons as to why the American War of Independence turned out the way it did.

The American colonies believed that the British administration’s role was to safeguard their liberties and freedoms. However, after the Indian and French War, the colonists began experiencing several occasions of violation of their sovereignty and privileges by the British government. The lack of colonist representatives within the parliament made them believe that they were not eligible for taxation. This was because British citizens were granted the liberty to choose their parliamentary representatives who had the power to vote on suggested taxes. The revolution’s progression resulted in a government’s formation by the Americans founded on the Confederation Articles’ provisions, which received ratification in 1781. The formulated government provided for individual states’ creation since most Americans did not believe in a robust centralized authority as they were fighting for liberation from Great Britain. The notion established by this provision was to retain power and prevent their subjection to effective controls separate from their states. However, this governmental regime proved to be incompetent and resulted in the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia.

During the onset of the War, the British had more militiamen in their troops. The armed forces’ growth was slow initially. After the Prime Minister, Lord North, received information on French troops’ augmentation, more individuals were recruited and added to existing units. However, the effort made by the British military changed drastically after the French involvement in the War[3]. A common belief on why Britain lost to the American colonies is due to their overconfidence and arrogance. However, the British army knew how tough it would be to conquer the rebellion. They had no particular hope of overcoming America due to the territory’s largeness and the meager nature of attainable resources. Given this, they established a tactic that they anticipated would produce disproportionate outcomes due to diligent efforts. This plan was referred to as the Hudson strategy since it integrated activities across the Hudson River, which runs up to Canada from New York. The British army anticipated to separate New England rebels from the southern and Middle colonies that were moderate. Britain was of the view that such isolation would strangle the American rebels’ right to submission[4]. The main setback was the poor execution of the plan and not the strategy itself. The outstanding leadership skills portrayed by George Washington and the British leader’s strategic errors promoted the conquest of the American colonies.

The British tactic aimed at destroying the Northern rebellion, and they came close to defeating the Continental militiamen several times. However, the triumphs at Princeton and Trenton in 1776 and the beginning of 1777 reestablished patriotic expectations. Further, the Saratoga triumph, which stopped the British from advancing from Canada, resulted in a French intervention in the colonies’ support[5]. The beginning of the War saw the absence of an expert army for the American colonies. The militiamen were casually armed, underwent slight training, and lacked uniforms. The militia units occasionally served and did not go through adequate training nor learn the discipline expected from skilled soldiers. Furthermore, native militias were hesitant to leave their homes, thus making them unreachable for comprehensive operations. The continental army endured drastically due to the absence of efficient training schedules and inexperienced sergeants and officers.

The British army had successfully operated in America before the Revolutionary War. It was tempting for the British to assume that similar logistics would apply during the American Revolution. There were differences in the British structure of logistical management[6]. The logistics during the eighteenth century were accountable to several executive sectors, including the Navy Board, the War Office, and the Board of Ordnance. However, the most considerable portion of accountability rested on the treasury. The revolution onset collapsed this system drastically. An example of patriotic boards’ action was cutting off the provisions intended for the Boston army. This significantly impacted their involvement in the War. The situation made it necessary for the British military to seek Europe’s assistance since preserving massive armed forces over great distances was largely difficult. It would take three months for ships to convey across the Atlantic Ocean; thus, briefings emanating from London were mostly nonoperational when they arrived. Before the War, American colonies were autonomous political and socio-economic entities and lacked a distinct region of definitive strategic significance. This illustrates that a city’s collapse in America did not stop wars all the more so after the forfeiture of main commune areas such as New York, Charleston, and Philadelphia.

The British influence relied on the Noble Navy, whose supremacy allowed for their resupply of expeditionary powers while averting admittance to adversary ports. However, most of the American populace was agricultural, received France’s support, and barricade runners grounded within the Dutch Caribbean, hence protecting their economy. The American colonies’ terrestrial extent and inadequate human resources indicated the British incompetence to concurrently carry out military processes and inhabit the region while lacking local maintenance. The campaign held in 1775 portrayed how Britain overrated their troops’ capabilities and undervalued the colonial militiamen, making it necessary to reassess their strategies and tactics. However, it guaranteed the Patriots an opportunity to undertake resourcefulness, which led to the rapid loss of British influence over most colonies.

Several intercontinental contexts of the American Revolution contributed to its outcomes. The first context was Britain’s political agenda[7]. The British avoided the intervention of foreign states during the War since it would lower their chances of conquering the battle. They isolated themselves from other allies since they could not afford to reimburse them[8]. Additionally, Britain was becoming extremely powerful and failed to locate partners who would threaten the Spanish or French Home Front. The second aspect was France’s plan to reduce British influence and avenge them. The French also offered their support to the American colonies in numerous ways. They provided material backing in May 1776, established a treaty of Commerce and Amity in February 1778, which resulted in recognition and trade, and formed an alliance treaty in 1778 for a military agreement[9]. There was martial intervention between the French and American colonies. The third international aspect of the War was Spain’s plan, which integrated numerous tactics. Their main objectives were to bring back Gibraltar and lower British influence and authority. Spain formed a military intervention in 1779 and joined the War, not as America’s allies, but France’s supporters.

The fourth aspect was the circumstances in Holland. The Anglo-Dutch associations turned sour as the Dutch were not in support of Britain due to their trade relations with France and America. This resulted in War raging between Britain and Holland. The British anticipated doing away with Holland’s support to the French and the rebels, which was unsuccessful[10]. The enlightenment notions also promoted the turn of events during the War. The enlightenment was a scientific and cultural movement initiated in Europe that emphasized aspects of rationality and reason over misconception. Thomas Hobbes, an English theorist, developed the social contract idea. Additionally, John Locke, another theorist, established that individuals have the liberty to the preservation of life, property, and other additional attributes from the governing administration. These notions influenced the American Revolution’s outcomes as the colonists were dedicated to achieving the right to liberty, life, and the search for contentment.

The primary revolution outcome was the liberty of the thirteen once British protectorates in North America. Additionally, the revolution served as a philosophical refinement of monarchists in the thirteen former British protectorates. Most of these royalists were forced to move to Canada after the War, and among them were several slaves who fought as British allies in the War. The Revolutionary War had several consequences, including the death of approximately 7,200 Americans due to the War. An additional 10,000 succumbed to disease and similar exposure while roughly 8,500 perished in the British jails[11]. Another consequence was the escape of some slaves in Georgia and South Carolina. The nations also implemented transcribed constitutions that ensured religious liberty, heightened the powers and form of the legislature, transformed inheritance regulations, and advanced the tax system.

[1] Hoffman, Ronald, and Peter J Albert. 1981. “France and the American Revolution Seen as Tragedy”. In Diplomacy And Revolution, 73-105. Charlottesville: Published for the United States Capitol Historical Society by the University Press of Virginia.

[2] Spring, Matthew H. 2014. “The Army’s Task”. In With Zeal And With Bayonets Only, 3-23. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

[3] Resch, John, and Walter Sargent. 2007. “Incompatible Allies”. In War & Society In The American Revolution, 191-214. Northern Illinois University Press.

[4] Moyer, Paul, History 309. “The International Dimensions Of The Revolutionary War”. Presentation.

[5] Resch, John, and Walter Sargent. 2007. “Incompatible Allies”. In War & Society In The American Revolution, 191-214. Northern Illinois University Press.

[6] Bowler, Arthur. n.d. “Logistics and Operations in the American Revolution”. In Logistics And The Failure Of The British Army In America, 1775-1783, 55-71.

[7] Moyer, Paul, History 309. “The International Dimensions Of The Revolutionary War”. Presentation.

[8] Resch, John, and Walter Sargent. 2007. “Incompatible Allies”. In War & Society In The American Revolution, 191-214. Northern Illinois University Press.

[9] Tiedemann, Joseph S, Eugene R Fingerhut, and Robert W Venables. 2009. “Loyalty is Now Bleeding in New Jersey, Motivations and Mentalities of the Disaffected”. In The Other Loyalists, 45-77. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

[10] Hoffman, Ronald, and Peter J Albert. 1981. “France and the American Revolution Seen as Tragedy”. In Diplomacy And Revolution, 73-105. Charlottesville: Published for the United States Capitol Historical Society by the University Press of Virginia.

[11] Spring, Matthew H. 2014. “The Army’s Task”. In With Zeal And With Bayonets Only, 3-23. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.