What was the actual reason the british withdrew entirely?
Was it the French helping the yanks? Or were there no reinforcements being sent from Great Britain?
Printable View
What was the actual reason the british withdrew entirely?
Was it the French helping the yanks? Or were there no reinforcements being sent from Great Britain?
I think a big part of it was financial along with Parliment and the British people growing tired of the war. That is what I recall from my reading but I am American so it would be interesting to hear a Brits comments. Let's not forgot, although Washington lost more battles than he won he got the Brits pretty good in the South, where they surrendered.
In Common Sense (I believe it was), Thomas Paine wrote that it was inevitable that the British would lose/withdraw if the Americans simply continued to resist. He pointed out that each British soldier had to come a long way to get to the battle, and if he had to replaced another guy had to make that trip. As did their supplies and weapons. He pointed out that, while they could control the cities, they could never hope to control the countryside, which would make transfer of troops and provisions very difficult. Eventually the expense and impossibility of the task would defeat them.
The entry of the French made that cost go up.
But wasn't there outside help from France to fight the British?
The part I have issues is that the British ruled most of the world so America should have been very easy to take,
British were like the Romans so traveling to me wouldn't have been enough but I guess the Atlantic Ispretty darn big!!
France had been quietly supporting the American cause since the start, and sent troops and a fleet in 1780. Of course they were also fighting the British elsewhere around the world.
It actually took a lot of time to get the French going. They were in a tight spot. They thought it would be a good opportunity to beat the Brits but America's point was denial of the Kings sovereignty which flew in the face of everything at the time. If it were not for Ben Franklin the French may never have backed us. Of course the American Revolution was the spark for the French Revolution not long after. Nowhere in my readings on the Revolution is it mentioned we ever considered surrender to the Brits. There was a large population of Torries, or people who wanted to remain loyal to the Crown including Ben Franklin's son. The Brits realized in was futile. In the cannons of European warfare at the time England had won. They took over most of the major cities including Philadelphia, the seat of power at the time. Perhaps if the Brits had B-52's back then they could have made us submit, short of that it would never have happened. The French officer Lafyette is still celebrated in the US. We have many roads and buildings named after him. All in all, a very interesting time in history.Quote:
Originally Posted by greynotsoold
Some say because the French supported the US their Royals became bankrupt and led to their demise.
The French were late in coming, but also since America was an ocean away it was too expensive for England to keep at war with us. Now in 1812 they attempted to regain control over us, but once again we stood strong and won out and we actually had a Navy this time which helped keep future wars from happening. Also England had enemies closer to home and some that were bigger worries to them. They couldn't afford the cost or manpower it would take to quell the Americans, it would have left them vulnerable at home.
Right you are Master. Supporting us drained the coffers of France and pissed people off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
Anyone know much about the fort william Henry seige ?
Wasn't that the one where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. I didn't want to look it up as I want to test my memory
I think the fort was called William HenryQuote:
Originally Posted by walrus
This?
Siege of Fort William Henry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This incident, the massacre, is also part of the plot of one of James Fenimore Cooper's novel featuring Natty Bumpo, one of which is The Last of the Mohicans. I think the name of the book is The Pathfinder.
Oh snap, thanks. Getting scalped must make for a very bad day.Quote:
Originally Posted by greynotsoold
It was the film that spurred my questions on these topics.
I will give that link a read also!!
Always found the warfare backin those days crazy!!
Why did these armies used to march slow accross open fields?
Like in Gettysburg they just walked for miles towards cannon lol
Interestingly it was the French and Indian War that led to the American Revolution. The colonies were being taxed at a high rate as the Brits felt the colonies should pay the brunt of the cost of the war. This led to the no taxation without representation state of mind. Yup, money was at the root of the American Revolution, what a surprise
Also economy the States were forced to buy goods from England even after supplying England with the finest cotton and tobacco.Quote:
Originally Posted by walrus
Right after the Revolution, President Washington had trouble with excessive taxation via the Whiskey Rebellion. He learned his lesson after that though.