Why did Britain switch to a southern military streategy Why did that strategy ultimately fail?

Answer 1

Some reasons for the failure of British troops in the South are as follows:

• The British had to divert troops to defend gulf coast forts under Spanish attack.
• Rebels used guerrilla warfare, while the British were used to a more forthright style of war.
• The British overestimated the loyalist faction.
• The British got too far away from their fleet and had no reliable supply lines.

Answer 2

The British southern strategy ultimately failed for several reasons. For example, General Henry Clinton upset many people in the south who might have been loyal to the crown.

Answer 3

The whole of Britain's strategy was cockeyed right from the start.

As far as we can gather the number of Americans who joined the home government's army was far beyond expectation! The trouble was the idea of a nation in arms didn't become acceptable till after the French Revolution, or during the French Revolution and the British believed it was the duty of the King, or State to defend its people by means of the army! The trouble was that it was at least three thousand miles from the scene of the conflict!

In America , General Thomas Gage was one of the people who believed in this idea and when the loyal Americans rushed to join the forces of the Crown they were either left doing nothing or totally ignored. By the time of the southern campaign the Loyalist faction were ready, but the Army kept them doing nothing, there were plenty of them, but the Government still thought that it is the duty of the Army to fight and the Government to govern! When the loyalists rose, they were not used as they should have been and when they were, it was in penny packets as shock troops.

When the Whigs looked for trouble in the beginning 1774/5&6. they did not only collect armaments but took over the local government with comittees to control the population. People were tied to trees, put in mines 30 ft, below ground,[Simsbury?]The Whigs controlled the country by means of mobs,violence and intimidation. In the South when the loyalists attempted to rise and keep their villages the same thing happened. But the Government wasn't able to get over its prejudices. It had marvellous soldiers, Arnold, John Harris Kruger and other Americans , it could raise regiments of willing and eager loyalists , it didn't know how to use them! Consequently they never had enough men on the ground where needed!

Answer 4

There were too few Loyalists.