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America fights for independence, 1775-1783

America fights for independence, 1775-1783. “ ‘Bye George: We’ve Got It “:. Tweeting the Declaration. John Trumbull, The Declaration of Independence , 1795. New Views. Post-Vietnam assessments Change of focus : Away from fighting the war Toward organization & culture of army

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America fights for independence, 1775-1783

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  1. America fights for independence, 1775-1783 “ ‘Bye George: We’ve Got It “:

  2. Tweeting the Declaration John Trumbull, The Declaration of Independence, 1795

  3. New Views • Post-Vietnam assessments • Change of focus: • Away from fighting the war • Toward organization & culture of army • Effect of political realities on logistics

  4. Re-Evaluation • Armies were polar opposites: democratic vs. aristocratic • British soldiers: automatons; • American soldiers: improvisational • Lesser character/approach of British= Defeat

  5. The British Army

  6. Character of Army • Aristocratic? Not so much. • Rank and file: • Included criminals, but varied

  7. “La petite guerre” • Early skirmishes fit stereotype: column fighting • Later battles: adapted uniforms & tactics to American exigencies Boston Massacre, 1770

  8. The Continental Army

  9. Composition • Continental Army + Militias • 30,000 + Militias; • 200,000 over course of war • 40% of free males over 16 served

  10. Army Culture • British model • Surrendered certain rights • Sense of moral contract Washington: “Men of character . . . necessary for due subordination.”

  11. Punishments • Humiliation (officers) • Fines • Whipping (enlisted)

  12. Terms of Service • British: lifetime • Continental/Militias : Various+ bounties

  13. Motivations • Officers: Something to gain • Enlisted: Difficult to assess Frank Schoonover illustration, c. 1910

  14. Army as Community “We have good and bad, rich and poor, black and white; we have Courts of Justice,… Statesmen, Politicians, Doctors, … [and] trades of various Kinds going on.” Sergeant Maj. John Hawkins

  15. Impact on Civilians • Cities • Countryside Howard Pyle illustration, 1881

  16. Theirs to lose

  17. Distances • Initial Boston focus • Delay in receiving supplies • & reinforcements • Time for troop movements

  18. Hearts and Minds • Use of Hessians • Native alliances • Embrace of slaves • Loyalist soldiers • Behavior of troops • Impact on civilians

  19. Entry of Rivals • French, Spanish, Dutch involvement transformed war into global struggle for British • Redeployments begin late 1778

  20. American Victory Yorktown surrender, 1783; Engraving print,1819

  21. Questions?

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