补充文档：Revision“衡水杯”一等奖

Unit7Revision文档

（AmericanWarofIndependence）

CausesoftheWar

ThefirstofaseriesofwarsofindependencethatendedEuropeancontrolofbothNorthandSouthAmerica.TheconflictbetweenBritainandherAmericancolonistswastriggeredbythefinancialcostsoftheAnglo-Frenchwarsofthepreviousthirtyyears,inparticulartheSevenYearsWar(1756-63).AprincipaltheaterofconflicthadbeeninNorthAmerica,whereitwasfeltthatthecolonialshadfailedtoplaytheirparteitherfinanciallyorinthefighting.Intheyearsimmediatelyafterthewar,thearmyinNorthAmericaconsumed4%ofBritishgovernmentspending.Thiscost,combinedwiththevictoriesovertheFrenchhadincreasedBritishinterestintheircolonies.Ironically,thosevictorieshadalsoremovedoneelementtyingtheAmericanstoBritain-fearofFrenchstrangulation.In1756,theFrenchheldCanada,theOhioValleyandtheMississippi,isolatingtheBritishcoloniesontheeasternseaboard.By1763thatthreathadbeenremoved.

AttheheartofthedivisionbetweenthecolonistsandBritainwasafundamentallydifferentconceptofthepurposeofthecolonies.TotheBritish,theirAmericanlandsweretherelargelytoproviderawmaterialstoBritainandbeconsumersofBritishmanufacturedgoods.ThisfeelingexpresseditselfinanincreasingcontrolandrestrictionofAmericantradeandindustrythathelpedtobuildupresentment,especiallyinNewEngland,wheremanufacturinggoodsforexporttothesoutherncolonieswasalreadyanimportantpartofthelocaleconomy.Incontrast,manyofthecolonistssawthemselvesascarvinganewsocietyfromthewilderness,unrestrictedbydecisionsmade3,000milesawayacrosstheAtlantic.

ThesepressuresweretolerableaslongasBritishregulationoftheruleswasfairlylax.However,inthedecadebeforethecoloniesrebelledtherewasanewlevelofinterestinexploitingtheAmericancolonies.Thefirstmovewasanattempttolimitfurtherexpansionbythecolonies.In1763itwasdecidedtodrawaborderbehindtheexistingcolonies,alongthelineoftheAlleghenies.ThelandtothewestwastobelefttotheIndians,whoweretobeencouragedtobecomeconsumersofBritishgoods.NewcolonistsweretobeencouragedtogonorthtoNovaScotia,wheretheycouldproducemuchneededtimberforthenavy,orsouthtoFlorida.Thislimitontheirexpansioncausedmuchdiscontentamongstthecolonies,costingmany,includingGeorgeWashington,agooddealofmoney.

Thenextincreaseinthetensioncamein1765withtheStampActandatradeactknowastheSugarAct.ItwastheStampActthatcausedthemostprotest.Thiswasadirecttax,leviedonthepaperrequiredforlegaltransactionsandonnewspapers.Ithadbeenproposedin1764,andtheAmericanshadbeengiventheyeartosuggestalternativemethodsofraisingthemoneyneededtoadministeranddefendthecolonies.Instead,thisyearwasusedtoorganiseoppositiontotheact.

TheStampActcausedhostilityforavarietyofreasons.First,thepolicyoflimitingwestwardexpansionthatitwasintendedtohelpfundwasnotpopularinthecolonies.Second,itwasthefirstdirecttaxationtobeimposedonthecoloniesfromLondon.Allprevioustaxationhadbeenintheformoftradeduties.Finally,theactbroughttotheforeanissuethatwasboundtoeventuallyemerge-thestatusofthelegislativeassembliesthatexistedinseveralofthecolonies.InBritaintheywereconsideredtobesubordinatetoWestminsteronallissues,inthecoloniesanewtheoryemergedthattheWestminsterParliamenthadcontroloverimperialissues,butnotovercolonialtaxation.CombinedwithaboycottofBritishgoods,theriotscausedbytheStampActcausedthefallofthegovernmentofLordGrenville.ThenewgovernmentofLordRockinghamrepealedtheStampActin1766,butatthesametimepassedaDeclaratoryActconfirmingParliamentaryauthorityoverthecolonies.

ThenextgovernmentattempttoraisemoneywastheRevenueActof1767.PutforwardbyCharlesTownshend,thenChancelloroftheExchequer,thiswasaschemebasedonindirecttaxesontrade,organisedacrossallofthecoloniesbyaboardofcommissioners.Townshendsuggestedthattheproceedscouldfundboththearmedforcesneededontheborders,andacivillistthatcouldfreeroyalgovernorsfromanyneedtorelyoncolonialassembliesforfunding.Thegovernmenthadreasonablegroundstoexpectthatthisnewapproachwouldbeacceptable-duringthecontroversyovertheStampActsthecolonistshadacceptedthevalidityofindirecttaxation-butinsteaditwastofaceprotestonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.

InBritaintheprotestcamefromthosemerchantswhoseexportswerebeingtaxedandthenboycotted.InAmericatheRevenueActarouseddeepsuspicion.ThetalkofacivillistconvincedmanythattheActwasdesignedtoimposeabsoluteauthorityfromBritain.Withanexpectedyieldofonly£40,000,itwasunlikelythatanymoneywouldbeleftafterthearmyhadbeenpaidfor,sothesefearswereunjustified,butthemoreradicalvoicesamongstthecolonistswereabletolinktheDeclaratoryActandtheRevenueActandcreateaBritishplottodestroyallcolonialliberties.TheRevenueActwascommonlyheldtohaveoversteppedthenaturallawsthatlimitedtheauthorityofParliament.FromMassachusettsSamuelAdamsissuedacircularlettercallingforcommonactionagainsttheAct.Atfirstthisletterappearedtohavehadlittleimpact,untilLordHillsboroughissuedacounter-circulartothecolonialgovernorsinstructingthemtoignoreAdams'letter,whiletheMassachusettsassemblywassuspended.TheMassachusettsprotestnowbecameafocusofdiscontent,convincingmany,includingGeorgeWashingtonthattheBritishgovernmentwasintentongainingtotalcontrolofthecolonies.Acampaignofnon-importationwaslaunched,althoughthesmugglingofEnglishgoodsdidnotstop.

Non-importationhittheAmericanportshard,especiallyBoston,wherelawlessconditionseventuallyforcedtheBritishtoposttroopsinthecity.Meanwhile,achangeofgovernmentinBritainbroughtLordNorthtopower(1770).By1769theBritishgovernmenthaddecidedtoabolishallbutthedutiesonTea,andin1770LordNorthremovedalltheotherduties.Teawasretainedinpartasasymbolofsovereigntyandinpartbecauseitraisedjustover£11,000eachyear.

Atthesametimenon-importationcollapsedinthecoloniesasthespreadoflawlessnessconvincedcolonialopinionthatresistancetotheRevenueActwasthreateningthestabilityofsociety.On5March1770aBostonmobattackedacompanyofsoldiersguardingthecustomshouse.Thesoldiersstoodfirmuntilonewasknockeddownbytheriotersatwhichpointthesoldierswereorderedtofire,killingfiveoftherioters('BostonMassacre').WhilesomeradicalcampaignerssawthisasasignofwhattheysawasthebrutalityofBritishrule,muchcolonialopinionwasrepulsedbytheactionsofthemob.ThiswasespeciallytrueinNewYork,wherearadicalleader,AlexanderMcDougall,hadusedtheeconomiccrisisintheporttothreatentheauthorityoftheNewYorkAssembly.AconservativereactionsetininNewYorkandattheendofthesummerof1770NewYorkabandonednon-importation,whichsooncollapsedacrossthecolonies,leavingonlyanunwillingnesstodrinktaxedtea.

Forthenextthreeyearsitlookedasifthedangerofacolonialrevolthadbeenaverted.LordNorthmadelittleornoefforttointerfereinthecolonies,whileinAmericainter-colonyrivalryrevived,astypifiedbytheactivitiesoftheGreenMountainboys.However,thisimagewasfalse.ThereturntoevengrudgingloyaltyonlylastedforaslongastheBritishdidn'tact.ExpectationsandattitudesonthetwosidesoftheAtlanticweretoofarapartforanypermanentunderstandingtobeestablishedwithintheEmpire.

Itwasthisgulfthatgavetheissuethatfinallyledtowaritspotency.ThecrisiswascausedbythefinanciallossessufferedbytheBritishEastIndiaCompanyasitmovedfromtradingconcerntopoliticalauthority.PartofLordNorth'splanforrestoringthefortunesofthecompany,seenasvitalforreducingthenationaldebt,wasaschemefordisposingoftheCompany'sTeasurplus.Previously,EastIndiaCompanyteahadtoimportedintoEngland,whereitpaid1staxbeforebeingexportedtoAmericanbyEnglishmiddlemen,whopaidafurther3d.NorthgavetheCompanypermissiontoselldirecttotheAmericancolonies,payingonlythe3dduty.Ifimplementedthiswouldhavehalvedthecostofteainthecolonies,from20s.perpoundtoonly10s.

Thisnewpolicyworriedtheradicalsinthecolonies.TheboycottonTeawastheonlyprotestagainstBritishrulethatwasstilleffective,andtherewasagreatfearamongstradicalopinionthatthisnewcheapteawouldendthatboycott.InNewYorkandPhiladelphia,wheresmugglingwasrife,theboycottoftaxedteawassecure,butBostonwasseenasaweakpoint.Toowellpolicedforsmuggling,theradicalswereafraidthatifteawaslandedintheport,itwouldbedrunkacrossthecolonies,breakingtheboycott.Theirreactionwastopreventtheteafrombeinglanded.On16December1773agroupofBostonradicals,dressedasIndianbraves,dumpedthousandsofpoundsworthofteaintotheharbour,aprotestimmortalisedastheBostonTeaParty.

TheBritishreactionwascritical.Alow-keyresponsecouldhavedefusedthesituation,butinsteadLordNorthdecidedonconfrontation.ThereactiontoeventsinBostonin1770ledthegovernmenttoexpectthattheothercolonieswouldonceagainrepudiateradicalactioninMassachusetts.However,theactionstakenbyLordNorth'sministrycouldnothavebeenmoreoffensivetocolonialsensibilities.Earlyin1774aseriesofacts,calledthe'coercive'or'intolerable'actsinthecolonies,werepassedinanattempttorestoreorderinBostonandMassachusetts.Theportwascloseduntilthelostteahadbeenpaidfor.ThegovernorwasgiventhepowertotransfertrialstoBritain.Bostonwasmadetoprovidebarracksfortroopsinsidethetown.Finally,theconstitutionofthecolonywaschanged.Massachusettshadatwochambersystem,withanelectedhouseofrepresentativeswhohadthepowertoappointtheupperhouse,orcouncillors.ThiswasnowchangedsothattheCrowncouldappointthecouncillors.

RatherthanisolatingMassachusetts,theseactsunitedthecoloniesinprotest.Inparticular,Britishinterferencewiththeconstitutionofoneofthecolonieswasfelttothreatenall.AtthesametimenewsoftheQuebecActreachedthecolonies.ThiswasasensibleresponsetotheproblemfacinginCanadaofrulingalargelyFrenchpopulation,onlyrecentlyconquered.ItallowedfortoleranceofFrenchCatholicism,evengivingtheCatholicmajorityaplaceonthenewCanadiancouncil.Canada'sborderswerealsoexpandedtoincludetheareasofIllinoisandDetroit,wheretherewasalreadyaFrenchpopulation.Inthethirteencoloniesthisactcausedgreathostility.Onceagainwestwardexpansionhadbeenblocked.Worse,atleastasfarasNewEnglandwasconcerned,wasthetolerantattitudetoCatholicism.ThecolonialresponsewasthefirstContinentalCongress,whichmetinPhiladelphiainSeptember1774.

WhenthisCongressmetitdemandedtherepealofallcoloniallegislationpassedsince1763.Untilthisdemandwasagreedto,CongressagreedtoblockallimportsandexportstoandfromBritainotherthanthosecropswhichthesouthernstatesdependedon,torefusetopayanytaxestoBritainandtopreparetoresistanyBritishtroops.However,theCongressdidnotatthisstagewantindependence.Despitethis,conflictwasnowinevitable.InBritisheyesCongresswasanillegalbody,nottobedealtwith.Evenso,opinionwassplitonhowtorespondtoAmericandiscontent.InNovemberGeorgeIIIwasalreadycertainthattherewouldbefighting,buttherewerestillconciliatoryvoicesinParliament.InAmerica,GeneralGage,nowGovernorofMassachusettsaswellascommanderinchiefoftheBritishforcesinNorthAmerica,warnedthatthediscontentwaswidespreadandrequestedlarge-scalereinforcements,butbackinBritainthescaleofthetroublewasnotyetappreciated.LordNorthwasnotaloneinseeingMassachusettsastheheartoftheproblem,andinApril1775thatideawasreinforcedbythefirstfighting.

1775

TheWarbegins

ThefirstshotsofthewarwerefiredinMassachusetts.HerethemostrebelliousofthecolonieswasfacedbyGeneralThomasGage,GovernorofMassachusettsandcommander-in-chiefofallBritishtroopsinNorthAmerica.LordNorthhadconsideredthecolonytobeinrevoltfromFebruary,butfailedtoappreciateeitherthescaleofthediscontentinMassachusettsorthatitwasalsopresentacrosstheothercolonies.

Thefightingbeganwitharelativelyminorskirmish.On19April1775GagedespatchedacolumntoseizeanarmscachethoughttobeatthetownofConcord,only16milesfromBoston.Unluckilynewsoftheexpeditionleaked,andatLexingtontheBritishencounteredasmallforceofAmericanmilitia.Itisnotknownwhichsidefiredthefirstshotsofthewar,butthemilitiawithdrewandtheBritishcontinuedtoConcord.However,itwasthereturntoBostonthatrevealedthescaleoftherevoltandtheweaknessoftheBritishposition.Outnumberedbyhostileforces,theBritishcolumnwasbeingslowlydestroyedbysnipinguntilitmetupwithareliefforceatLexingtonandwasabletoreturnrelativelysafelytoBoston.

Newsofthefightingspreadquickly,andGagesoonfoundhimselfbesiegedinBostonbyanirregularbutlargeforce,whichquicklydugitselfin.Meanwhile,Gagewaswaitingforreinforcements.On26Maytheyarrived,ledbythreemajor-generalswhoweretoplayanimportantpartinthewar-WilliamHowe,HenryClintonandJohnBurgoyne.

Encouragedbyhisreinforcements,GagedecidedtostrengthenhispositionbycapturingkeyhillsthatoverlookedBostononitsisland,andthreatenedtheharbour.TheAmericanslearntofthisplan,andfortifiedBreed'sHillontheCharlestownpeninsularnorthoftheharbour.TheresultingbattleofBunkerHill(17June1775)wasadisasterfortheBritish.AlthoughtheydidmanagetocapturetheAmericanpositions,itwasatthecostofhalfoftheirforcekilledorwounded.

BunkerHilleffectivelyknockedthemainBritisharmyoutofthewarforthenextyear.ForninemonthsitremainedinBoston,nowcommandedbyHowe,whofailedtoappreciatetheweaknessoftheAmericanforcesfacinghim.

WashingtonandtheContinentalArmy

Thedominatingfigureofthewarnowenteredthescene.On15June1775GeorgeWashingtonwasappointedcommanderofthenewContinentalarmy,createdinthesamemonthoutoftheforcesbesiegingBoston.Washingtonwastofaceformidableproblemsinhistask.Firstamongstthemwasthepersistentbeliefintheabilityofthemilitiatowinthewarwithoutapermanentprofessionalarmy.ThisbeliefinthemilitiasystemhadbeenoneoftheproblemsfacedbytheBritishintheirattemptstoraisetaxesinAmerica.Hissecondproblemwasthattroopsfromthedifferentcolonieswereoftenunwillingtoserveawayfromtheircolony,orinmixedunitswithmenfromothercolonies.Athirdproblemwasthatthearmywasnotproperlysupplied,aproblemthatremainedformostofthewar.Fourth,manyofhismenwereservingforshortperiodsoftimeandseveraloperations,suchasthe1775invasionofCanada,wereadverselyeffectedbyenlistmentsending.Finally,therebelliousattitudethathadpromptedmanytojointhearmyalsomadethemresistanttotakingordersfromofficerstheyhadnotselected.Washingtonwastohavefrequentproblemsgettingmentoaccepttheprinciplethatthebestmanshouldhaveapost,notsimplytheonewhohadservedforlongest.Washington'smostimportantcontributetothewarwasthepatiencewithwhichheturnedtheforceshefoundoutsideBostonintoanarmythatwaseventuallyabletotakeonregularBritishtroopsonthebattlefield.TheRevoltSpreads

AwayfromBostontherewereveryfewresourcesthatcouldbeusedtomaintainRoyalauthority.Overthesummerof1775newsofthefightingaroundBostoninflamedrevolutionaryactivityacrossthecolonies.AseriesofRoyalgovernorswereforcedtofleetothesafetyofRoyalNavyships.Allacrossthecolonies,sizablemilitiaswereformed,leavingthesmallBritishgarrisonsvulnerable.Alackofappreciationofthescaleofunrestmeantthatlittleornoaidcouldbeexpecteduntilthefollowingyear,ifatall.ThisallowedtheAmericancausetogainvitalmomentum.

InvasionofCanada

TheonlyAmericansetbackof1775cameintheirinvasionofCanada.TheirinvasionwasbasedontheexpectationthattherecentlyconqueredFrenchofQuebecwouldrushtotheaidoftheinvasion.Ifthathadhappened,thentheweakBritishgarrisonofCanada,alreadyusedtoreinforceBoston,couldhavebeenoverwhelmed.Asitwas,theFrenchpopulationwasrelativelyhappyunderBritishrule,andtheAmericansfoundthemselvesoperatingwithoutpopularsupport.

Thecampaignbeganslowly,withoneadvancealongLakeChamplainstartinginMayandcontinuinguntilthesurrenderofSt.Johnson2November.AnotherforcefurthernorthwasdefeatedoutsideMontrealon25September.Finally,athirdforceof1050,underBenedictArnold,wassentthroughMainetotheSt.Lawrence.Thisforce,reducedto600onthemarch,arrivedoutsideQuebecon9November.FacingthemwasahastilyformedforcecommandedbyMajor-GeneralGuyCarleton,theBritishcommanderinCanada.Mostofhisregulartroopshadbeencaptured,sothedefencewasbasedonLoyalists,Frenchmilitia,sailorsandmarines,withasmallcoreofregulars.

Despitetheirapparentstrength,theAmericanforceinfrontofQuebec,onethousandstrongbyearlyDecember,sufferedfromonemajorhandicap-theirsoldiersperiodofservicewasduetoendon31December.Facedwiththis,theAmericansattemptedtotakethecitybyassaultearlyon31December(battleofQuebec).ThefailureofthisassaultendedthebestchancetheAmericanshadforvictoryinCanada.

1776

TheBritishRespond

TheBritishresponsetotherevoltwastobedirectedbythenewSecretaryofStatefortheAmericancolonies,LordGeorgeGermain,whoheldthepostfromNovember1775untilhewasreplacedinFebruary1782.GermainhadbeendisgracedafterhisroleinthebattleofMinden(1759).Hehadspenttheinterveningyearsattemptingtorebuildhisreputation,whichmayhelpexplainhisaggressivestanceasSecretaryofState.Despitehisdistancefromthefighting,GermainwastocontrolmostBritishstrategyduringthewar.

Bythestartof1776itwascleareveninBritainthatthecolonialrevoltwasnottheworkofasmallnumberofmalcontents.TheBritishresponsewastoplanwhatwasthenthebiggesttransatlanticexpeditionevercarriedout.TroopssentfromBritainweretobesenttothreeseparatetheatresofwar,theretoreinforcethetroopsalreadypresent.ThefirstcampaignwastobeinCanada,wheretheAmericaninvasionwastoberepulsed,followedbyamarchdowntotheHudson.ThesecondwastobesenttoreinforcetheforcesinBoston,tobeusedtocaptureNewYorkandperhapsmeetupwiththearmymarchingdownfromCanada.Finally,athirdforcewastobesenttothesouth,whereitwasconfidentlyexpectedthattheloyalistswouldriseagainsttherebelsassoonasaBritisharmyarrived.Twoofthesethreeexpeditionswouldachieveatleastpartialsuccess,buttheyearendedwiththeBritishnonearertoendingtherevolt.

Independence!

Themaineventof1776wasnottocomeonthebattlefields.On4July1776theDeclarationofIndependencewassigned.Thedesireforindependencehadnotbeenamongstthecausesofthewar,butatthestartof1776TomPainepublishedCommonSense.ThischallengedtheideathatreconciliationwithBritainwaspossibleandinsteadspokeoutstronglyfortheideaofindependence.Thisworksoldover100,000copies,andmadepublicadebatethathadbeenhappeninginprivate.Overthefirsthalfof1776themoodshiftedtowardsindependence,withseveralstatesmakingitclearthattheywouldsupporttheidea.Finally,on7JuneamotiontodeclareindependencecamebeforeCongress.Afteraseriesofdebates,Congresspostponedtheirfinaldecisionuntil1July,butalsoappointedacommitteetodraftadeclarationincaseonewasneeded.Thiscommittee,dominatedbyThomasJefferson,finishedthedrafton28June,justintimeforCongress.BythispointallthestatesapartfromNewYorkhadapprovedindependencealthoughPennsylvaniawasalsounconvinced.Congressfinallyapprovedaslightlymodifieddeclarationon2July.On4JulytheDeclarationofIndependencewasapprovedbyCongress,althoughNewYorkdidnotsignuntil15July.

TheDeclarationofIndependencewasamomentousevent.ItgaveaclaritytotheAmericancausethatithadpreviouslylacked,andthattheBritishwerenevertogain.Itplayedapartinconvincingforeignpowerstohelptherebels,overcomingafearthatareconciliationbetweenBritainandthecoloniescouldcauseanyinterventiontobackfire.Italsomadeanyhopesofapeacefulsettlementmuchlesslikely-Independenceoncedeclaredcouldnoteasilybesurrendered.

ClearanceofCanada

Despitethefailureoftheirassault(seebattleofQuebec),andamanpowershortagecausedbyexpiringperiodsofenlistment,theAmericansattemptedtomaintaintheirsiegeofQuebec.Alreadyhamperedbytheirlackofpropersiegeequipment,theAmericanswerealsoshortofmoney,andon4Marchdeclaredanyonewhowouldnottaketheirpapermoneytobeanenemy.Whatlittlelocalsupporttheyhadenjoyednowevaporated.TheirpositioninCanadawasonlysecurewhiletheicepreventedtheBritishfromsendingreliefforcesin.Whentheicebroke,theAmericangarrisonatMontrealdeparted,whilethearmybesiegingQuebecwithdrewwhenaBritishreliefforcearrivedon6May.TheAmericanswithdrewnearlyonehundredmilesuptheSt.LawrencetoSorelatthejunctionwiththeRichelieuRiver.Reinforced,theAmericanforceadvancedbackuptheSt.LawrenceandattemptedasurpriseattackontheBritishcamp.TheresultingbattleofTroisRivieres(ThreeRivers,8June1776)resultedinanheavyAmericandefeat,rapidlyfollowedbytheabandonmentoftheCanadianadventure,nottoberepeateduntiltheWarof1812.

FailureInTheSouth

Thesouthernexpeditionwentwrongalmostfromthebeginning.ThenavalexpeditionunderSirPeterParkerwasmeanttoleaveCorkon1December1775,arrivingoffCapeFearinearlyFebruary,allowingtimeforacampaigninthesouthbeforemovingontoNewYork.ItwasconfidentlyexpectedthatGeneralHenryClinton,commandingthelandforcesalreadyinthearea,wouldfindmanyloyalistsreadytojointheBritish.However,theloyalistshadbeendefeatedatWidowMoore'sCreekon27February,twoweeksbeforeClintonarrived(12March),whilethefleetdidn'tleaveCorkuntilmidFebruary1776.ThefirstshipsreachedAmericaon18April,buttherestofthefleettrailedin,Cornwallis(commandingthereinforcements)onlyarrivingon3May.TheBritishtroopswereinapoorcondition,especiallythereinforcements,whohadspentthreemonthsatsea,andClintonwouldhavepreferredtoabandonanyplansinthesouth.

Parkerontheotherhandwaskeenforaction.TherewerereportsthatthedefencesofCharlestonwereinpoorconditionandsoitwasdecidedtoattackSullivan'sIsland,whosefortificationsguardedthesouthernapproachestoCharlestonHarbour.TheBritishplanwastolaunchatwoprongedattack-Clintonwith2,000menwouldwadeacrossshallowslinkingSullivan'sIslandtoLongIsland,whileParkerbombardedthefortificationsfromthesea.However,onthedayoftheattack,28June,theweatherandtheseaswerenotastheBritishhadexpectedthemtobe.ThewaterbetweenLongIslandandSullivan'sIslandwasfartoodeeptowade,whileParkerwasunabletogethisshipsascloseashehadexpectedandcameunderadevastatingfirefromtheAmericanguns.WhennightfelltheBritishshipswereforcedtowithdraw,havingsufferedseriousdamage.WiththefailureoftheattackonCharlestonBritishactivityinthesouthendedfortwoyears.

AttackonNewYork

ThemainBritisharmybegantheyearblockadedinBoston.OutsidethecityWashingtonhadmanagedtoputtogetheraformidablearmyofover17,000menbyFebruary.Hehadalsobuiltuphisstocksofartilleryandpowdertothelevelwherehecouldcarryoutapropersiege.InBostontheBritisharmyhadenduredmonthsofboredompunctuatedbyoccasionalalarms,anddisciplineinthearmywaspoor.GeneralGagehadnowbeenreplacedbyGeneralWilliamHowe,whowashadbeengivenpermissiontoevacuateBostonifthesituationjustifiedit.Howewasconvincedthatheshouldleave,butdidnothaveenoughshipsforaproperevacuationandwaswaitingformoretransportswhen,on2March,theAmericansbegantheirartillerybombardment.TheythencapturedtheDorchesterHeights,overlookingBostonHarbour.TheBritishpositionwasnowuntenable,andHowedecidedtowithdrawintheshipshealreadyhad.Afterdestroyingthemilitarysuppliesinthecity,HoweandhisarmydepartedforHalifaxon17March.TheAmericanslethimgoinpeaceinreturnforanagreementnottoburnthecitybeforeheleft.

Halifaxwasitselfapoorlocationforanarmy.Supplieswerestilllimitedandtheweatherappalling,butHowesettleddownformonthswhileheplannedhisattackonNewYork.NowBostonwassecure,theAmericanswereconcentratingtheirforcesaroundNewYorkandbuildingupthedefences.HowedecidedtowaituntilClintonandthearmyinthesouthcouldjoinhim.

HowefinallydecidedtomoveinJune.TheBritishfleetwassightedon29JuneandtheBritisharmylandedonStatenIslandon3July.AfterClintonarrivedinmid-AugustHowehad32,000menunderhiscommand.Washingtonwasfacedbyaseriousproblem.Hewasoutnumbered,hadlimitedsuppliesandnonavalsupport.Hehadtwomainislandstodefend-LongIslandandManhattanIsland.Ifhesplithisforcedbetweenthetwoislands,Washingtonwaswellawarethattheycouldbesplitintwoanddefeatedindetail,buthehadlittleornochoice.TheBrooklynHeightsonLongIslandoverlookedNewYork.Iftheyf