During the American Revolution, General William Howe was one of the most significant of the British Generals and may have been the key component to the result of the American Revolutionary war. Howe contributed to many of the early blunders that led to the ultimate failure of Britain to maintain control over America. There are many facts that lead some historians to believe that these seemingly trivial mistakes—which any person, let alone a successful and experienced General would know not to make—were not an accident. Howe’s decisions were in fact a result of his secret support of American victory. By purposely making poor decisions, William Howe was the reason that Britain lost the war to America, leading to the development of the United States of America as a sovereign and independent nation.
According to revolutionary-war.net, following in the steps of his two elder brothers, young William Howe was presented with the opportunity to join the army during the French and Indian war, which began in 1754. Howe was a successful major during that war and won many battles, which increased his popularity drastically. This status led to a position in Parliament. Thoughtco.com states, “Howe opposed the Intolerable Acts, which were highly resisted by the American colonists, and preached reconciliation with the American colonists as tensions grew in 1774 and early 1775. Though publicly stating that he would resist service against the Americans, he accepted the position as second-in-command of British forces in America” (Hickman). By speaking out against the Coercive Acts (A.K.A. The Intolerable Acts) and opposing war with the American colonists, one can conclude that Howe may have not supported British victory at all, and in fact hoped to take a more pacifistic approach. The Coercive Acts, according to American History by Alan Brinkley, were acts imposed specifically on the colonists of Massachusetts, as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party and other riots. The Intolerable Acts ensued outrage throughout America, and imposed laws such as the closing of the Boston port, which hints that Howe may have been a traitor to Britain. Howe took the position in America because, according to thoughtco.com, he stated that, “he was ordered, and could not refuse” (Hickman). American History states, “Howe felt no particular hostility toward the Americans. He hoped to awe them into submission rather than fight them, and he believed that most of them, if given the chance, would show their loyalty to the king” (Brinkley).
In 1777, Howe formulated a strategy to split the United States in two. He would move north from New York City up the Hudson to Albany, while another British force would come south from Canada to meet him. The plot was brilliant, and may have worked, if Howe had not abandoned his own plan! “Instead, he left it to the young, inexperienced British officer John Burgoyne, who experienced staggering defeats” (Brinkley). Another unusual choice made by William Howe, was to allow George Washington and his army to go unmolested at their weakest moments, including during the epitome of their vulnerability during their winter spent at Valley Forge.
Some historians argue that it was Howe’s personal weaknesses that led to his vital errors: “Howe’s apparent alcoholism, and his romantic attachment (he spent the winter of 1777-1778 in Philadelphia with his mistress when many of his advisers were urging him to move elsewhere)” (Brinkley). Nonetheless what these critics fail to recognize is that William Howe made mistakes that could only lead to the truth that he was a traitor. There is no explanation for why he was a successful and respected general during the French and Indian war, where the American colonists and Britain fought united against a common enemy (France), but was a dismal failure as commander of the British forces when Britain and America fought against one another. Revolutionarywararchives.org states, “His early support of the colonies when he was a member of Parliament, and his public reluctance to accept command in America, added to his obtaining permission to negotiate a peace in 1776, leads one to think he really had no heart for fighting the Americans” (Moran).
General Sir William Howe was the greatest asset to the America’s frail, decentralized army. In the early phases of the war, Britain had a substantial advantage over America, yet managed to lose the war as a result of appointing a disloyal commander to a high position, leaving the fate of the British army in his hands. After the second phase of the Revolutionary War, America received substantial aid from Britain and was able to become autonomous at last.