During the American Revolution, how and why had the Colonist broke the “Rules of War”?

The American strategy was about obtaining legitimacy on an international level. While the Declaration of Independence was written to spell out American ideals and principles, its main purpose was to flash a rescue beacon to the international world. As the former colonies sought to throw off the yoke of British authority, there remained the real chance that no other country would look upon them as anything more than unruly British subjects. This is precisely what the British wanted, and what the Patriot leaders feared. Courting foreign nations to recognize the United States as a sovereign nation was the main goal of diplomats Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. From a diplomatic stance, without foreign assistance, the United States stood little chance of achieving true independence.

From a military standpoint, the Continental army was faced from the outset with a crisis in legitimacy of its own. Most soldiers were farmers and merchants, not professional soldiers. Most had no formal military training, and what munitions they owned were personal firearms and possessions. In the beginning, much of the army did not have uniforms. Only officers who could afford their own wore the distinguishing blue coats. Tactically, the army faced disagreements over how it should face off against the superior British army. Some officers had experience from the French and Indian War, while others were simply appointed into their ranks through political favors. Ultimately, the inexperience of the Continental army, and the lean on unreliable militia forces, threatened the existence of the American forces.

Following the disastrous string of defeats around New York in 1776, enthusiasm for the war effort evaporated among the Patriots. Stinging from these losses, the Continental officer staff had to revise their strategy. General George Washington desperately wanted to retake New York, but he now saw New Jersey completely overrun by British and Hessian soldiers. As his army dwindled in size, and the odds were stacked against them, he realized that the American army did not have to necessarily win battles to win the war. They just had to not lose it either. Strategy to ensure their survival was paramount. Above all else, so long as the Continental Army existed in the field, the Revolution was alive. The Fabian strategy, named after the Roman general who beat the rebel Hannibal through a war of attrition and continuous maneuvering, was reluctantly adopted by Washington to stave off a direct engagement with the full army forces of the British. Members of Congress, including John Adams, were critical of this decision because it was viewed as. In truth, Washington was an aggressive leader by nature, and often disagreed with many of his war council’s recommendations. Nonetheless, the American commander understood more than anyone that the army’s very existence was what kept the Revolution alive. If he gave into his impulses, and acted rash, it could jeopardize everything. The Americans would avoid a direct assault on the British unless conditions were overwhelmingly favorable. Short of that, they would prod and harass the British forces without coming into a major engagement.

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