New Jersey in the American Revolution - Research Paper Example

New Jersey in the American Revolution The American Revolution which was a sequence of actions by American colonistsfrom 1783 to 1775 was aimed at protecting British domination and to culmination in the revolutionary war. It is called a revolution since it was organized before the war commenced fro it was in peoples mind and heart, in religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. During the revolution war there were many clashes between the Americans and British within New Jersey colony, it is estimated that there were 296 total engagements that happened within New Jersey this was the most clashes that occurred in any other colony, in the revolution war (John, pp 2-7). New Jersey also called the crossroads of the American Revolution for it is located at the central position of the new nation and acted as the military capital. However, it was not all of the people of the New Jersey who vividly advocated foe independence. The British was joined by African slaves who were promised freedom, for example, colonel Tye who was a slave after escaping and joining the British army which lead to regular raids against the people of New Jersey. During this time of American Revolution, the New Jersey community was made up of extremely diverse cultural groups of who were not equally distributed over the colony’s land surface. These social groups were difficult for the British to unite them, since every social group occupied different and distinct area. Additionally, the culture defined the way of life which affected the people activities and also the landscapes made by man that can be identified by means of their traits and characteristics complexes this made completely governing the colony very difficult for the British since every group had a different form of dwelling preferred by various groups in New Jersey this made New Jersey difficult to unite it war since it would cripple the British in the Americans economy hence an able to support the fight (Fischer, pp 45 262). New Jersey also was an important area which was used to disrupt British supply units. George Washington used forts on the Delaware River where he could mount an attack British supply troop as they sailed to Philadelphia. It was organized that men in whale boats crossed the Hudson and then raided New York city and long island and then captured the shipping that were to be taken to sandy hook where they used New Yolk harbor as the staging area. Additionally, ships that were located at Southern Jersey port raided British ships at the entrance point. Jersey also provided iron products for it had several ironworks that included the cannon that were used for the war effort beside its food production. The following the attacks and the raids on the British shipments made ford family in Morristown which ran a black powder mill that supplied the much needed powder for the early war efforts started to experience shortage which resulted in low production (Lengel, pp 13-73). New Jersey that is a land that is endowed with navigable rivers between key cities of Philadelphia and New York, this colony was set as the scene of a dizzying frequent military advances and retreats, battles, raids and also carrying out evacuation on the likely hit towns. All opposing forces also sought to have and also maintain a source of war material and also lines of supply and to establish safe zones where the troops could encamp thereby making military strength. For a period of seven years, the Delaware and Hudson varies which are found in New Jersey formed a crucial area where the troops could regularly and subtly shift the British control. Due to the vast New Jersey land which are well known for gentle topography especially in the inner coastal plains and the low land piedmont which made accessing of these areas though fall-line port settlements that sprang up along the Delaware, lower Hudson and Raritan (Fischer, pp 45 262). Army movements were facilitated by New Jersey’s topography that ensured regular and continued supply in the zone keeping the war alive for the time. The first watching mountain which marked the boundary and which was the western limit of the British military capability in the neutral ground throughout the war, also widespread civilians in the new jersey, offered the Americans troops homes where they resided in private citizens home who were sympathetic to the patriot cause during their movement to the battle or from a battle field. New Jersey was used as a military ground where militia camped for reinforcement, and also stationing of troops. During the revolutionary war reconstructions which are found in fort lee, fort mercer and fort nonsense are physical evidence in the present day which are surviving evidence of military encampments and also installations in the new jersey. Since the military also required food for survival, the New Jersey vegetation and rich agricultural soil provided adequate food for the Americans troops (Fredriksen pp 63-134). New Jersey had a long sea coast with many natural harbors, small bays and small ports which provided good docking area for the ship to anchor, during the revolution, they became useful ports for the shipping since NYC was held by the British and also Philadelphia that could also have been used was also held by the time. Those commercial and privates who wanted to avoid the capture of British shipping base used the New Jersey, the British lose of New Jersey privates was a constant core spot. However, the British would occasionally raid a small port or supply loyal units from one ship to the other. The American troops used the ocean and Delaware rivers for making ships which were used against the British, though the united state fleet and the ships were a small the results of use against the British force was small, but the effects of the commerce raiding the British merchantmen were crucial in winning the war since it would cripple the British in the Americans economy hence an able to support the fight (Fischer, pp 45 262). Many sea battles were fought in New Jersey ocean waters the small town which were located along the shore was raided much like the neutral ground which was more accessible by water. The small towns were important since they provided the revolution with materials such as food and salt and also were used for raiding the British making those targets to the British and German soldiers. The New York City and the surrounding near water were considered to be neutral ground and also no man’s land where it was not controlled by any forces. The Americans troops could patrol the area only to warn of expected British attack and Tory troops, in this area they were unable to prevent any enemy excursion. War along the Hudson River and coast to sandy hook-were brutal with neighbor raiding neighbor which was assisted by armed forces of both sides which thought of each other as murderous thieves (Fredriksen, pp 63-134). The New Jersey also made a significant contribution to the war as it supplied important war material for the troops that included war materials such as raw iron, worked iron, which included the muskets and shot, slat gun powered and also cloth. Since the manufacturing in other colonies had been prohibited by the British, the new vital industries that were started its new jersey had the responsibility of supplying the troops with the requirements (Schecter, pp 56-96). In 1779 Paulus hook which was a peninsula what is present day New Jersey City and also acts a major landing point for anyone going from New York into New Jersey since it was located along Hudson River the British troops were unable to protect it from the Americans who raided the city making the British troops retreat. The natural vegetation of New Jersey also provided a good hiding place during the inland action where the troops could masquerade within the bushes and effectively launch an attack on the unsuspecting British militia. Washington who badly needed a victory to prove his army’s hope of winning and also boost the morale of his troops launched several decisive battles; by crossing of the Delaware River them surprisingly took Hessians who were not prepared for an attack during a bad storm which was stationed in Trenton (Lengel, pp 13-73). Due to the central area of New Jersey and its proximity to the ocean that made it easily accessible through the sea and also land George Washington found it more strategic to make attacks and also organize raids to the British troops. Alternatively New Jersey representatives like Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, Abraham Clack and John Hart were among those who declared U.S.A independent. These men from New Jersey like other men also took major risks in order to fight for independent and all went back render their service to the new nation for the rest of their lives. At a personal level they sacrificed what they previously had to be elected to political position in the various levels to enable them rule and the state (Buchanan, pp 32-133). Although New Jersey was more significant in the fight for freedom during the American revolution, it also contributed to a loss of many American in the Baylor massacre which happened in September 1778under the command of colonel George Baylor in the present day river vale, New Jersey during that night the American troops loyalist betrayed them by informing the British of their whereabouts, the British killed and also injured many Americans troops using bayonets and also took 67 prisoners of the dragoons. There was developed ill feeling during the war and also after the war between the loyalist and those who supported the British (John, pp 2-7). New Jersey was the most significant colony for staging action to ensure that the Americans acquired independent from the British. New Jersey also played a principle formulation of new United States government structure. Work cited Buchanan, J. The Road to Valley Forge: How Washington Built the Army That Won the Revolution. Wiley. 2008, 33-133. Print Fischer, D.H Washingtons Crossing. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004, 45- 262. Print Fredriksen, J.C Americas military adversaries: from colonial times to the present. Santa Barbara 2002. 63-134. Print John Rees. Revolutionary War History in New Jersey. 2008, 2-7. Retrieved on March 22nd 2014, from http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/NJrev.html on 23rd March 2014 print. Lengel, E. General George Washington. New York: Random House Paperbacks. 2005, 33-73. Print Schecter, B. The Battle for New York. New York: Walker. 2002, 56-97. Print Read More