My topic is "did an established navy have an effect on the outcome of the Revolutionary War, and to what extent did the navy help the Colonies?" This topic seemed interesting to me, and seemed like a subject that is not given as much interest as I believe it deserves.
When I conducted my research this time, I found a scholarly journal and a book online. I found these sources from each other. The journal talked about the "Marine Committee" and I did not know much about this committee, so I researched it more. From the journal, I learned that the first armed vessel that the United States owned was made in Philadelphia of protect the city, so this could be considered the birthplace of the United States Navy. I also learned that there was a Continental Shipyard, meant to build ships for the Navy. It raised the question, "if there was a whole shipyard meant for the Navy, why were there so few ships?" The book I found was a history of the Entire Navy, so I on,y used the chapter that was relevant to my time period. It talked about the Marine Committee, and how it was meant to supervise the construction of the Navy. It also talked about the beginnings of the Navy, and how the first and only Commander-in-Chief of the Navy was court marshaled for disobeying orders. He attacked and captured Nassau in the Bahamas instead of attacking the British fleet. He was able to gain valuable resources form this capture, but he was still disobeying orders, and had to accept the consequences. The book also talked about the Battle of Lake Champlain. This battle was a battle fought by Benedict Arnold and the British. They had both constructed fleets on Lake Champlain, though the British were far better equipped. They fought for The majority of a day before Arnold was able to escape in the fog at night. He was attacked again however, and was forced to abandon his fleet and retreat from the battle. He did however succeed in slowing down the British for a year and helping the Americans to outlast the British in the war, and his actions allowed for the surrender of Saratoga later in the war.
When the United States colonies were first established, they were able to rely on the British for safety from enemies at sea. When the Revolutionary War started, they needed to find a new way to defend themselves from the British. They established their own Navy in 1775, which allowed them to gain supplies for their troops, and weakened British morale. In the long term, establishing a Navy was an advantage for the Americans in the war, and made it easier for them to keep their territory, and outlast the British. When the British were trying to keep America as British colonies, the colonies established a Continental Navy to aid in the war. This allowed the colonies to "hang on" to their territory, and made it more difficult for the British to capture the colonies. The Continental Navy also lowered British morale, and allowed the colonies to gain much needed supplies for the war.
When I conducted my research this time, I found a scholarly journal and a book online. I found these sources from each other. The journal talked about the "Marine Committee" and I did not know much about this committee, so I researched it more. From the journal, I learned that the first armed vessel that the United States owned was made in Philadelphia of protect the city, so this could be considered the birthplace of the United States Navy. I also learned that there was a Continental Shipyard, meant to build ships for the Navy. It raised the question, "if there was a whole shipyard meant for the Navy, why were there so few ships?" The book I found was a history of the Entire Navy, so I on,y used the chapter that was relevant to my time period. It talked about the Marine Committee, and how it was meant to supervise the construction of the Navy. It also talked about the beginnings of the Navy, and how the first and only Commander-in-Chief of the Navy was court marshaled for disobeying orders. He attacked and captured Nassau in the Bahamas instead of attacking the British fleet. He was able to gain valuable resources form this capture, but he was still disobeying orders, and had to accept the consequences. The book also talked about the Battle of Lake Champlain. This battle was a battle fought by Benedict Arnold and the British. They had both constructed fleets on Lake Champlain, though the British were far better equipped. They fought for The majority of a day before Arnold was able to escape in the fog at night. He was attacked again however, and was forced to abandon his fleet and retreat from the battle. He did however succeed in slowing down the British for a year and helping the Americans to outlast the British in the war, and his actions allowed for the surrender of Saratoga later in the war.
When the United States colonies were first established, they were able to rely on the British for safety from enemies at sea. When the Revolutionary War started, they needed to find a new way to defend themselves from the British. They established their own Navy in 1775, which allowed them to gain supplies for their troops, and weakened British morale. In the long term, establishing a Navy was an advantage for the Americans in the war, and made it easier for them to keep their territory, and outlast the British. When the British were trying to keep America as British colonies, the colonies established a Continental Navy to aid in the war. This allowed the colonies to "hang on" to their territory, and made it more difficult for the British to capture the colonies. The Continental Navy also lowered British morale, and allowed the colonies to gain much needed supplies for the war.