HIST 386 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Extreme Measures, William Ranney, Rembrandt Peale
The First Year of the War: 1775-1776
The American Military Forces
The Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army in June 1775
and elected George Washington as commander-in-chief.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the challenges that the Continental Congress faced in establishing an army
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
• Due to lack of funds for the war effort, much of the burden of financing military
operations was passed on to the states.
• Voluntary enlistment, short enlistment periods, and extremely harsh conditions
contributed to the Army’s difficulties retaining soldiers.
• Declining enrollment led to longer enlistment periods later in the war.
• In 1776, Congress passed the “Eighty-eight Battalion Resolve,” ordering each
state to contribute regiments in proportion to their population.
Key Terms
• Eighty-eight Battalion Resolve: Passed on September 16, 1776, by the
Continental Congress, it called for each state to contribute regiments in
proportion to their population.
• George Washington: One of the Founding Fathers of the United States,
serving as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American
Revolutionary War and later as the new republic’s first president.
• Continental Army: The colonies that became the United States of America
after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental
Army, raising 22,000 troops from the Boston area and 5,000 from New York. Many of
these troops had little training or military experience; the minimum enlistment age
was 16. On June 15, 1775, George Washington was elected as commander-in-chief
of the Continental Army.
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Continental Army, 1779-1783 by Henry Ogden, ca. 1897: This painting depicts the Infantry of the
Continental Army.
As the Continental Congress increasingly adopted the responsibilities and posture of
a legislature for a sovereign state, the role of the Continental Army was the subject of
considerable debate. Though the war against the British required the discipline and
organization of a modern military, many Patriots objected to maintaining a standing
army. Washington was never financially compensated for his service as Army
commander. The financial responsibility for providing pay, food, shelter, clothing,
arms, and other equipment to army units was given to the 13 states by Congress.
Unfortunately, the states frequently failed to fulfill these obligations. In 1776,
Congress passed the “Eighty-eight Battalion Resolve,” ordering each state to
contribute regiments in proportion to their population.
Lack of funds for the war effort was a major concern for Congress and resulted in
poor conditions for soldiers. Standard conditions for the Continental Army included
low pay, hard work, freezing winters, hot summers, poor clothing and shelter, little
food, harsh discipline, and a strong likelihood of becoming a casualty. Recruitment
depended on the voluntary enlistment of Patriots from each of the 13 states. Early in
the war, rising patriotism contributed to high rates of enlistment, however, as the war
dragged on, bounties and other incentives became increasingly commonplace. Two
major mutinies late in the war drastically diminished the reliability of two of the main
units, and officers were faced with constant discipline problems. High turnover was a
consistent issue, particularly in the winter of 1776–1777.
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American soldiers at the siege of Yorktown, by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine DeVerger: This watercolor
features several Continental foot soldiers, including an African American soldier from the first Rhode Island
Regiment.
Congress’ hesitance to establish a standing army resulted in short, one-year
enlistment periods in the beginning of the war. In 1777, enlistment terms were
extended to three years or “the length of the war.” In the later years of the war (1781–
1782), Congress was bankrupt and it was difficult to replace the soldiers whose
three-year terms had expired. Popular support for the war was at an all-time low, and
Washington had to put down mutinies both in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey
lines.
Congress also created a Continental Navy in 1775. The main goal of naval
operations was to intercept shipments of British supplies and disrupt British maritime
commerce. The initial fleet consisted of converted merchantmen; later in the war
Congress commissioned several warships. Ultimately, the naval effort contributed
little to the overall outcome of the rebellion. Following the war, Congress dissolved
the navy due to lack of funds.
George Washington by Rembrandt Peale, ca. 1850: George Washington served as commander-in-chief
for the duration of the Revolutionary War without compensation.
Britain’s War
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Document Summary
The second continental congress established the continental army in june 1775 and elected george washington as commander-in-chief. Identify the challenges that the continental congress faced in establishing an army. In 1776, congress passed the eighty-eight battalion resolve, ordering each state to contribute regiments in proportion to their population. Key terms: eighty-eight battalion resolve: passed on september 16, 1776, by the. Continental congress, it called for each state to contribute regiments in proportion to their population: george washington: one of the founding fathers of the united states, serving as the commander-in-chief of the continental army during the american. Revolutionary war and later as the new republic"s first president: continental army: the colonies that became the united states of america after the outbreak of the american revolutionary war. On june 14, 1775, the second continental congress established the continental. Army, raising 22,000 troops from the boston area and 5,000 from new york.
