1775-1815: A Case Study
Why did the United States develop naval power from 1775-1815?
Beginning in 1775, the United States, just starting to fight for its freedom, did not even have one central navy. By the end of 1815, the US had established its navy as one of the best and it was finally respected around the world. The United States would not have survived as a nation had the navy not been built up. It was a progression over 40 years with several wars and conflicts that led the Americans to have to develop naval power. Going into the Revolutionary War, there was more than just one American navy. There were state navies, navies run by the army, and privateers, who were people authorized by the government to attack and capture enemy ships during war times and profit off the takings. The Continental Navy, a central navy for the United States, was created in October, 1775 as the Revolutionary War was getting started. The Continental Navy had been created, but since building ships and vessels takes a long time, there was a limited number of ships that the government was able to buy that were ready to go for the war. They had to rely on converting merchant vessels into warships. Soon after the Continental Navy was …show more content…
founded, Congress approved building 13 frigates, which were fast warships that were commonly used in scouting, raiding, and escorting merchant ships, and not long after that Benedict Arnold called for 12 vessels to be built.
The Revolutionary War lasted until 1783 and the United States, with the help of the French, was able to hold off the British.
The new ships that had been built for the Continental Navy did poorly in the war and the ships of the Royal Navy were easily able to outperform them. The converted merchant vessels actually were more successful than the new ships built. The privateers also were more successful than the new ships. The United States Congress approved 1,697 letters of marque, which give the right for a privateer to attack and capture an enemy’s boat. By the end of the war, US privateers caused about $66 million and over 2,200 ships lost or destroyed for the British. The Continental Navy had lost most of the 65 ships that attended the war, and the remaining ships were
sold.
The Continental Navy was shut down after the Revolutionary War mostly because the US was relatively low on money. There was not much of a need in the immediate aftermath with the country focusing on peace and not war. With no navy, there was little security on the border of the country and people were constantly smuggling goods in to avoid tariffs. To counteract this, the government created the Revenue-Marine to act as a Coast Guard and give a presence to enforce the maritime laws. At the time, the Revenue-Marine was the only naval section of the government.
Beginning in 1775, the United States, just starting to fight for its freedom, did not even have one central navy. By the end of 1815, the US had established its navy as one of the best and it was finally respected around the world. The United States would not have survived as a nation had the navy not been built up. It was a progression over 40 years with several wars and conflicts that led the Americans to have to develop naval power. Going into the Revolutionary War, there was more than just one American navy. There were state navies, navies run by the army, and privateers, who were people authorized by the government to attack and capture enemy ships during war times and profit off the takings. The Continental Navy, a central navy for the United States, was created in October, 1775 as the Revolutionary War was getting started. The Continental Navy had been created, but since building ships and vessels takes a long time, there was a limited number of ships that the government was able to buy that were ready to go for the war. They had to rely on converting merchant vessels into warships. Soon after the Continental Navy was …show more content…
founded, Congress approved building 13 frigates, which were fast warships that were commonly used in scouting, raiding, and escorting merchant ships, and not long after that Benedict Arnold called for 12 vessels to be built.
The Revolutionary War lasted until 1783 and the United States, with the help of the French, was able to hold off the British.
The new ships that had been built for the Continental Navy did poorly in the war and the ships of the Royal Navy were easily able to outperform them. The converted merchant vessels actually were more successful than the new ships built. The privateers also were more successful than the new ships. The United States Congress approved 1,697 letters of marque, which give the right for a privateer to attack and capture an enemy’s boat. By the end of the war, US privateers caused about $66 million and over 2,200 ships lost or destroyed for the British. The Continental Navy had lost most of the 65 ships that attended the war, and the remaining ships were
sold.
The Continental Navy was shut down after the Revolutionary War mostly because the US was relatively low on money. There was not much of a need in the immediate aftermath with the country focusing on peace and not war. With no navy, there was little security on the border of the country and people were constantly smuggling goods in to avoid tariffs. To counteract this, the government created the Revenue-Marine to act as a Coast Guard and give a presence to enforce the maritime laws. At the time, the Revenue-Marine was the only naval section of the government.