Sunday, November 25, 2007

Revolution Notes 09/20/07

Massachusetts displeased with Br after coercive acts

Advertisements to get young men to join the military

Led by George Washington

Br hired German mercenaries against Americans

Lexington and Concord

General Gauge, April 14th, 1775 is ordered by Sec of State, Lrd. Dartmouth is ordered to inforce Coercive Acts

Force in necessary

Gauge orders Francis Smith to attack

Francis leads men to Concord to an ammo depot

Brings 700 troops

Right before he leaves, word gets to Boston Committee of Safety

Committee sent Revere and W. Daws to warn countryside

Revere reaches Lexington at midnight, warns Sam Adams, John Hancock

Joined by Sam Prescott. Three ride to Concord, Daws is turned back, Revere captured

When Smith arrives in Lexington w/ 700 men, Minutemen gather up (All 70)

Smith tells Minutemen to surrender

Someone shoots at them, British return fire, killing 8, wounding 10.

Smith wins, leaves men at Lexington, takes rest to Concord to destroy ammo depot, as they are coming back, 4000 Americans attack

Of 700 redcoats, 73 killed, 140 wounded.

Lose 93 Americans

British army sieged Boston

Police, curfew

Americans had to plot outside of Boston

Thomas Paine

Common Sense, intellectual retaliations

Problems with Monarchy

Origin and designs of government

State of American affairs

How could America beat the British?

America

Strengths

A widespread acquaintance with firearms

Had far superior rifles

George Washington

Fighting in own territory

Weaknesses

State Militia conflicts

Short term enlistments

Shortage of supplies

Shortage of shelter

1/3 Population were loyalists

South made money from cash crops, ship to Britain

Women accompanied soldiers, drain on supplies, needed protection

Weak Navy

Start of submarine warfare, "The Turtle"

Britain

Strengths

Well equipped

Strong Navy

Well paid

Many loyalists

Weaknesses

Long way to sail

Not familiar with the geography

Unaccustomed to unconventional warfare

Unclear aims

Poor recruiting

Unpopular war

Fighting British citizens

Low estimation of American forces

No comments: