Assess both Patriot and British strengths and weaknesses when the Revolution began. How did the United States win the War against such a powerful adversary?

Question

200 words or less

Answer 1

The British were probably the most powerful military force in the world at that time. The Amirican rebels were poorly trained and few in number. They were made up of local militia that tended to fade away when fighting got slow, winter harsh or when the crops needed to be harvested. However they had some advantages. First they didn’t have to win the war they just had to hold off the British. If they could wear them down the British might quit. They didn’t need to conquer London.
They were fighting a defensive war on their own land which they knew. While they weren’t well trained they did have skills. Most were good shots from all the hunting they did for food. They were good at harassing the British by hiding behind trees and fighting like they had learned from the Indians during the French and Indian War. They also believed they were fighting for their liberty. People will fight hard for what they believe is right. The British Soldier did not have this motivation. They fought because they had to. Most did it as a job. Some had been forced into the army by press gangs and still others were accused of a petty crime. Their heart was not in it. In addition the British hired Hessian mercenaries to fill out the ranks. They were only there for the paycheck and the excitement.
General Washington never won a major battle. But what is important is that he always kept an Army in the field. For seven years the British chased the Americans around and were not able to make them surrender. When the Americans finally won a battle at Saratoga under General Gates it help convince the French to come into the war. Eventually Britain would be at war not just with the Colonies but with France, Spain and the Netherlands. It was because of the French navy as well as French troops that the British had to surrender at Yorktown. The French navy kept the British navy from resupplying Cornwallis. Cornwallis was penned in by Washington who was receiving reinforcements from the French army every day.
The Americans didn’t win so much as make it too costly to continue. Parliament decided this as well and ceased hostilities.

Answer 2

There are several key factors which lead to the American rebels winning the American Revolution; however, it's important to access those victories by seeing the British and American war strategies.
Firstly, American had no naval power, nor a standing Army as such until the Continental Congress appropriated the Militia following the Siege of Boston in 1775, and turned it into what became a unified fighting force known as the Continental Army. Still, this rag-tag army  suffered desertion rates throughout its campaigns, particularly after the initial rage militaire wore off, and  was not especially threatening, nor well equipped or disciplined -- much to General Washington's disappointment. Still, Washington had war experience, given his dealings in the French and Indian War. However, the might of the undefeatable British Navy and its military was world renowned and worrisome. Thus, in the Northern campaign, Washington employed his famous Fabian Strategy which was employed to wear down the British rather than fight them since Washington had neither sufficient enlistees nor weaponry. Washington knew that the British's Hudson Highland strategy could be defeated, but not by using standard pitched battles.
Secondly, with the public entrance of the French (they'd been secretly supplying American arms from the time of the British invasion at Long Island,) and their navy following the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 -- a decisive American victory was all but assured. The British southern campaign, meanwhile, was rapidly disintegrating with Cornwallis and his army being lured into a maddening chase of Danial Morgan following the battle of Cowpens in 1781. Morgan managed to lure Cornwallis eventually to Yorktown, Virginia into an inescapable trap. There, Cornwallis found himself surrounded and outgunned by both American and French forces where he famously surrendered.

Answer 3

Do not look at the Revolutionary War in isolation of the broader world war that Britain was involved with against France and others.  They had alot on their hands and could not be too concerned with colonies several thousands of miles away.  France as an ally to the colonies was pivotal especially at Yorktown.  British soldiers were not all that motivated to fight in such distant lands for a King they did not feel was that concerned with them.  The British also resorted to German mercenaries and soldiers fighting for money usually are not motivated.  I would say geography and alliances were the key to victory.