The American Revolution was a pivotal part of history that pitted the colonists against the British. Both the British and the American colonist had distinct advantages and disadvantages in this conflict, which I will explain in depth. In addition, I will further expound on what each warring faction needed to do to achieve victory. First, let us look at what advantages and disadvantages the puissant British people had. Coming on top of the seven year’s war the British boasted a mighty Empire. Which included professional, experienced, well trained disciplined Army that numbered well over fifty thousand. Furthermore, the British also commanded the mightiest Navy the world had ever known, up to that point. Not only was their Navy a physical …show more content…
A huge advantage the colonist had was that they were mainly fighting a defensive war. The war was being fought on their home turf which meant that they knew the lay of the land. Having this distinct advantage meant they knew what problem areas to avoid, what shortcuts existed and the best possible places to hide. This only added to the lethality of their fighting style that favored a more unconventional guerilla fighting style. Not to be dismissed was the perspicuous advantage the colonist had of fighting for their rights, their liberty and their independence. They had much at stake such as losing their home, losing their livelihood, and possibly the death of their families. All together these intrinsic motivations are what formed the indomitable American fighting spirit. But I would I also be remiss if I did not talk about the phenomenal leadership that the colonists’ had. Starting with the brilliant George Washington who was considered a giant among men. To the diplomatic acumen of Benjamin Franklin which would become instrumental in securing foreign aid. As well as the savvy military appointment of the French Nobleman Marquis de Lafayette that greatly improved the colonist’s ability to secure help from the French. But alas the colonists had their fair share of disadvantages. The fact the colonies were an emerging nation meant that they did not have a vast storage of supplies or medicine. In addition, there was also a shortage of money and weapons. So much so that most of the equipment that the colonial soldiers used was piecemealed together or of poor quality. To further exemplify this concept, the American Colonies had no real Navy to speak of. They had a relatively few ships that stood in stark contrast to the mighty British Navy. Lastly one of the greatest hurdles the colonies had was the lack of unity at the onset of the war. It was a disjoined
McCullough describes washington as a leader of many qualities in which makes him successful. After making the British evacuate from Boston, washington is praised for being such a courageous and smart leader, therefore lifting morale around American troops. The war most likely would not have been won without George Washington's help most likely due to his incredible leadership skills. The colonies are virtually nothing without George Washington because he keeps them together by asking congress to support them and as McCullough describes, is relentless about doing so as we're Knox and Greene later on. George Washington was so important that even the loyalists plotted to assassinate him with hopes to derail the American rebellion. However, the colonies success wasn't just off George washington. Mccullough describes the average british soldier as strong and more fit compared to the colonial soldier, superior and overall well trained.The fact that the colonies were untrained made the British cocky, Making them think they didn't have to use their superior weaponry thinking the Americans would surrender out of free will. McCullough gives us an insight to how the Americans tried new things using their resources making great things with what little they
Even though the British army was larger, the American army proved to have talented fighters. The Continental Army and the state militias were essentially the two military organizations of the Americans. Throughout the war, the Americans employed only 231,771 men, which meant that the American forces rarely numbered over 20,000. Compared to the British, the American army was small, but their military tactics and skills were excellent. From a distance of 200 yards, an American rifleman could easily kill a British soldier. Many men observed that the British plainly fired in the general direction of the Americans, while the Americans aimed for the heads of the British.
At the start of the war, the Continental Army lacked training and organization. While the scattered guerilla tactics seemed to waste time and resources, they helped Americans stay alive. In addition, the colonists had the advantage of perseverance; they had to fight for their freedom as a nation. Another facet that helped survival was the leadership of George Washington. His knowledge and expertise was critical in making sure his soldiers stayed alive; having the home field advantage boosted his effectiveness as well. All of these assets culminated into a powerful force against the British
... that ended the revolution with an American victory. The English finally surrendered after many years of fighting. Britain had significant military disadvantages. Since they had to cross a sea, their information and resources were delayed. Since the colonies had not been unified under one central government before the war there wasn’t a central area of any kind of significance. This ensemble of factors caused the British to fail.
I feel that the Americans have a major disadvantage in this Revolutionary War. They don’t have too many resources because of the small amount of people supporting them. For now, the Americans must with the war with what they’ve
It depends on the material that is read and who is asked. Stanley Weintraub discusses, in his book Iron Tears, American Revolution from the British perspective and explains that the colonist complained to much about too little and instead they should have been trying to protect Great Britain. Everyone has their own point of views in this world it is hard to be able to come to a single understanding especially with a subject like the American Revolution. One thing is clear though, the American Revolution was going to happen, in all the interpretations that were read the American colonies no longer wanted to be under the rule of the British Government they were ready to become
The American Revolution: the war for our independence. This revolution opened the door to our liberty, freedom, and basically what America is now. Most Americans have heard the stories of famous battles, important people (George Washington for instance), and everything in between. However, this was only for our side of the American Revolution and a small fraction of people have been told of Britain’s campaign of the revolution. The only thing people have been told was the Britain lost the war. What of Britain’s triumphs, strategies, and everything that happened in the span of a few years? Not many people know it, but the British struck a major blow against the Patriots in the last few years of the war. Even though the United States won the American Revolution, Britain struck a major blow against the colonists when the British successfully and brutally took the town of Charleston, South Carolina.
The American Revolution began due to problems within the British economy. The most prevalent issue of the time was "taxation without representation". Unlike the leaders of America, the leaders of the French did not turn out to be as positive for the country. In fact, some of these leaders have caused much more harm than good.
As an American observes the life around him, noting the many advancements made in merely the last century, he must wonder how America climbed to such a level. The 21st century technology, the military and political power, education and ethics, all came from such meager beginnings, solidified by the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War proved to be a significant turning point in the history of our country, but what caused America to win? What were some of the most significant factors in the victory of these American patriots? By examining these three particular factors, America’s military assets, it’s aid from other countries, and its own spirit of independence, one’s understanding of the Revolutionary War, an essential root of this nation, is truly increased.
The American revolution is outcome of disagreement and injustices. Before, the American Revolution, Great Britain and the American colonies, were already brewing a lot of disputes. Although, Great Britain was thousand of miles away, Great Britain still enforced and create acts that were expected to be follow by the American colonists. Nevertheless the disagreement and injustices in the American colonies led the colonist to protested against the ruling of Great Britain.
The Americans had an advantage over the British for a simple reason: they were fighting for something they wanted, rather than the British fighting to “play defense” and prevent American independence. Americans colonists wanted to become an independant nation, have a new system of self governance, claim equal rights for all citizens, and rid themselves from tyranny. The Patriots who fought in the Revolution were primarily fighting for independence from Britain, and it was that similar goal that boosted morale. As stated in the Declaration of Independence American colonists were subject to a “long train of abuses and usurpations” and it was also argued that the British tyranny forced colonists to “alter their former system of government”. Therefore, the Patriots were fighting for a cause that affected their everyday lives which inspired them even more to defeat Britain. The British was fed up with the casualties and heavy taxes to pay for the war they were fighting without cause, while the Americans would have done anything to defeat the British. The American colonists and their want to defeat the British for the rights they deserved was a crucial factor to American victory during the revolutionary
For over a century Great Britain had ruled the colonies in America. Since the founding of the Chesapeake Bay colony in the south in 1607, and the Massachusetts Bay colony in the north in 1630, the colonies had relied on the crown for many of their needs. Over time the colonists established a social and economical system that was almost independent of the British Empire. In April of 1775, after many transgressions on both sides, the colonists decided that they no longer needed, or wanted the support, protection, and leadership of the country that founded them. There were many factors, both immediate, and longstanding that lead to the decision to fight for freedom from British rule.
The American Revolution is without a question one of the, if not the most, important period in the beginning of American history. Between 1765 and 1783, the colonists rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy after a series of taxes and tariffs were forced upon them, finally the colonists then ultimately overthrew their authority and founded the United States of America. Many historians and authors have debated over the exact reason and overall effects of the War for Independence, however, all agree of the significance and importance of this event. The colonies, which were created as a resource for raw materials and a means for generating profits for Parliament and the Crown, began to desire managing their own affairs and worked towards
The Revolutionary War was a war between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain from 1775-1783 during the American Revolution. The American colonists fought the British in hope of freedom and separation from Great Britain. “This was the completion stage of the political American Revolution whereas the colonists had denied the rights of the Parliament of Great Britain in governing them without any representation,” ("American Revolutionary War."). The Revolutionary War consisted of many different bloody battles on American soil. The war resulted in an American victory because of many historical reasons. The factors that contributed to an American victory of the Revolutionary War are British debt, distance between America and Great Britain, war tactics, French involvement, and important battles.
...he fact that they had no political power and were controlled by a country that was thousands of miles away from them. The American Revolution began as a conflict over political and social change, but soon developed into a dispute over personal rights and political liberty. A decade of conflicts between the British government and the Americans, starting with the Stamp Act in 1765 that eventually led to war in 1775, along with The Declaration of Independence in 1776. Americans united as one and knew that they wanted to be an independent country, have their own laws, rights, and not be colony of the Great Britain. They fought hard for their independence and people lost their lives in the process of it but in the end they succeeded. Never give up, keep fighting till the mission is accomplished just like the Americans did when they were fighting for their independence.