apush chapter 7 study guide
· The War For Independence o Introduction
§ At the start of the war Britain had the best-equipped and most disciplined army, along with a navy that was unopposed in American waters
§ Due to the native officer corps and considerable experience in colonial wars, the Patriot forces proved formidable
§ Initially the British thought they could regain political control by having one military victory
§ This strategy did not work due to the geography on eastern North America
§ Patriots had the advantage of fighting on their own land and the popular support for the American cause o The Patriot Forces
§ Forces include:
· 350,000 eligible men
· Over 200,000 saw action
· No more than 25,000 were engaged at one time
· Over 100,000 served in the Continental Army under George Washington and the Continental Congress
· The rest served in Patriot militia groups
§ Militias played a vital role in defending their own areas, but they alone did not win the Revolutionary War
· This was due to lack of discipline, short terms of enlistment, and appalling rates of desertion
· The victory of the war resulted from the constant struggle of the Continental Army
§ Washington and his officers wanted a force that could directly engage the British, but Congress initially refused to invoke a draft or mandate army enlistments lasting over one year
· This was due to the fear of a standing army
§ After the militias failed in early battles of the war congress enlarged state quotas for the Continental Army and extended the enlistment term to three years
§ To spur enlistments Congress offered bounties, regular wages, and promises of free land after victory
§ Discipline was important in the Continental Army because men fired at close range, charged with bayonets ready, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat
§ At the end of the war 25,324 American men died
· About 6,800 from wounds suffered in
§ At the start of the war Britain had the best-equipped and most disciplined army, along with a navy that was unopposed in American waters
§ Due to the native officer corps and considerable experience in colonial wars, the Patriot forces proved formidable
§ Initially the British thought they could regain political control by having one military victory
§ This strategy did not work due to the geography on eastern North America
§ Patriots had the advantage of fighting on their own land and the popular support for the American cause o The Patriot Forces
§ Forces include:
· 350,000 eligible men
· Over 200,000 saw action
· No more than 25,000 were engaged at one time
· Over 100,000 served in the Continental Army under George Washington and the Continental Congress
· The rest served in Patriot militia groups
§ Militias played a vital role in defending their own areas, but they alone did not win the Revolutionary War
· This was due to lack of discipline, short terms of enlistment, and appalling rates of desertion
· The victory of the war resulted from the constant struggle of the Continental Army
§ Washington and his officers wanted a force that could directly engage the British, but Congress initially refused to invoke a draft or mandate army enlistments lasting over one year
· This was due to the fear of a standing army
§ After the militias failed in early battles of the war congress enlarged state quotas for the Continental Army and extended the enlistment term to three years
§ To spur enlistments Congress offered bounties, regular wages, and promises of free land after victory
§ Discipline was important in the Continental Army because men fired at close range, charged with bayonets ready, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat
§ At the end of the war 25,324 American men died
· About 6,800 from wounds suffered in