Post by andrew on May 25, 2005 10:20:39 GMT -5
In 1776 The United States of America sent a declaration of Independence to the English. This document sparked a war with England that would rage on for several years before the United States was recognized as independent. Considering the timing, the war was unwinable for the British. The British at this time were already fighting the French and the American war was an inconvenience for them.
The English would return later allied with the Native Americans during the war of 1812. Also the French allied with the Indians for the French and Indian War. These conflicts were almost like swatting a fly to the Americans. The imperial powers in Europe did not have the free hand they needed to deploy a force large enough to smash the Americans.
This view point can be shared across every single war the US has participated in throughout its short history, except one. The Civil War was the only war in which the United States of America was truly threatened. Looking specifically at the statistics of miles of rail road laid, number of incoming immigrants, number of fully industrialized cities can be mysterious. All the figures show a landslide toward a northern victory. However, despite these numbers the South showed no signs of being a second rate enemy.
In fact, the South showed little signs of any problem fending off Northern attacks. On the contrary the Confederacy successfully invaded the North and winning several battles! It was not until the Battle of Gettysburg, 3 years into the war, that the North really turned the tides.
Was the North's deficient leadership significant in their failures?
Were there other factors that you would like to point out that gives a reason that the North could not deal a paralyzing blow earlier in the war?
The English would return later allied with the Native Americans during the war of 1812. Also the French allied with the Indians for the French and Indian War. These conflicts were almost like swatting a fly to the Americans. The imperial powers in Europe did not have the free hand they needed to deploy a force large enough to smash the Americans.
This view point can be shared across every single war the US has participated in throughout its short history, except one. The Civil War was the only war in which the United States of America was truly threatened. Looking specifically at the statistics of miles of rail road laid, number of incoming immigrants, number of fully industrialized cities can be mysterious. All the figures show a landslide toward a northern victory. However, despite these numbers the South showed no signs of being a second rate enemy.
In fact, the South showed little signs of any problem fending off Northern attacks. On the contrary the Confederacy successfully invaded the North and winning several battles! It was not until the Battle of Gettysburg, 3 years into the war, that the North really turned the tides.
Was the North's deficient leadership significant in their failures?
Were there other factors that you would like to point out that gives a reason that the North could not deal a paralyzing blow earlier in the war?