Founding Colonies and the Evolution of British War Strategy

Comparing the Chesapeake Bay and New England Colonies

The establishment of British North America saw the founding of two distinct colonial regions. In 1607, the first permanent British settlement, the Chesapeake Bay Colony, was founded in the area of Maryland and Virginia. Later, in 1630, another group of British settlers, including women, men, and children, settled in the area around New England, forming the New England Colony.

These two colonies differed significantly across several key areas:

• Population Structure: The Chesapeake Bay Colony initially consisted primarily of single men seeking profit, whereas the New England Colony was comprised of families seeking religious freedom.
• Political Systems: The Chesapeake Bay Colony implemented the political system of England (the House of Parliament), while the New England Colony utilized elected representatives to govern their society. The political ideologies were vastly different.
• Economic Focus: The Chesapeake Bay Colony was established primarily to generate profit for the Crown, focusing heavily on cash crops like tobacco and cotton. The New England Colony invested more in subsistence farming and planting vegetables.
• Religion: The Chesapeake Colony generally followed the Anglican Church, while the majority of the New England Colony were Puritans.

Shifting British Military Strategy During the American Revolution

British strategy evolved significantly throughout the American Revolutionary War due to unexpected obstacles and military setbacks.

Initial Strategy and Failure in Massachusetts (1775)

The initial British objective was to contain the revolution strictly within Massachusetts and prevent its spread. This strategy failed following the loss of key battles in 1775. When the Americans successfully attacked Boston with cannons, the British army attempted a counter-attack. Their attack failed because of a severe storm. Consequently, the British army abandoned Boston and retreated to New York.

The Three-Pronged Attack and General Howe's Detour

The British developed a new plan involving a coordinated attack on the Americans from three different angles. This plan was undermined by General Howe, who decided to take a detour, leading his troops to Philadelphia instead of proceeding to Upstate New York as planned. This deviation severely hampered the overall strategy.

Logistical and Political Challenges

Several other factors contributed to the failure of the British campaign:

• Supply Lines: The British struggled significantly with accessing supply ships when fighting further inland, while the Patriots maintained easy access to their supplies.
• Local Support: Patriot forces could easily blend in among the general population, making them difficult to track and engage.
• French Intervention: France's entry into the war forced Britain to divert resources to defend other territories, stretching their military capacity thin.

Furthermore, General Washington's leadership was crucial, as he successfully kept the Continental Army intact despite numerous challenges.