Abstract
The American Revolution presented George Washington with an immense challenge as the commander of the Continental Army. Facing the most powerful empire in the world, Washington had to mold a loosely organized, often undisciplined force into an army capable of sustaining the revolutionary cause. His early campaigns, particularly the disastrous New York campaign of 1776, nearly destroyed the Continental Army and exposed the weakness of conventional European-style tactics when applied to America’s military situation. From these defeats, however, Washington began to reshape his approach, adopting a Fabian strategy of endurance that emphasized survival over decisive engagement. This transformation not only preserved the revolutionary cause but ultimately allowed Washington to capitalize on selective offensives and coalition warfare, culminating in the Franco-American victory at Yorktown in 1781.
Recommended Citation
Haines, Connor S.
(2026)
"Washington’s War: The Evolution of Strategy in America’s Fight for Independence,"
Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History: Vol. 8:
Iss.
3, Article 15.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ljh/vol8/iss3/15