Advantages Of The British Army

11a. American and British Strengths and Weaknesses

The question remains: What factors led an undisciplined, unprepared, divided American nation to prevail over the world's largest empire?

July 7, 1777, Naval Engagement
Despite the supremacy of the British navy in the 18th century, the Colonial naval forces won many battles. This picture depicts the naval engagement of July 7, 1777, betwixt the American frigates Hancock, Boston, and HMS Fox, and the British frigates Flora and Rainbow.

British Strengths and American Weaknesses

The British seemed unbeatable. During the previous 100 years, the British had enjoyed triumph after triumph over nations equally powerful as France and Espana. At offset glance, the odds were conspicuously confronting the Americans. A closer expect provides insight into how the underdogs emerged victorious.

historic documents, declaration, constitution, more

Britain'southward armed services was the best in the earth. Their soldiers were well equipped, well disciplined, well paid, and well fed. The British navy dominated the seas. Funds were much more than easily raised by the Empire than by the Continental Congress.

Some of those funds were used to rent Hessian mercenaries to fight the Americans.


	... and the Hessians, who are immune to be the all-time of the German troops, are by no means equal to the British in whatsoever respect. I believe them steady, just their slowness is of the greatest disadvantage in a country almost covered with wood, and confronting an Enemy whose chief qualification is agility in running from contend to fence and thence keeping upwardly an irregular, only galling burn on troops who advance with the same stride as at their exercise. Light infantry accustomed to fight from tree to tree, or charge fifty-fifty in woods; and Grenadiers who after the first fire lose no fourth dimension in loading once again, but rush on, trusting entirely to that most decisive of weapons the bayonet, will ever exist superior to whatsoever troops the Rebels can bring confronting them. Such are the British, and such the method of fighting which has been attended with constant success .... – Lieutenant W. Unhurt, letter to unknown recipient (March 23, 1778)

The Americans had tremendous difficulty raising plenty funds to buy basic supplies for their troops, including shoes and blankets. The British had a winning tradition. Around one in five Americans openly favored the Crown, with well-nigh half of the population hoping to avoid the disharmonize altogether. Most Indian tribes sided with United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, who promised protection of tribal lands.

American Strengths and British Weaknesses

Although American troops may non accept had the military strength and economic base that their British rivals had, they did believe strongly in their fight for liberty and liberty. The Continental Congress adopted this "Stars and Stripes" equally its official flag on June 14, 1777.

On the other hand, the Americans had many intangible advantages.

The British fought a war far from home. Military orders, troops, and supplies sometimes took months to reach their destinations. The British had an extremely difficult objective. They had to persuade the Americans to give upward their claims of independence. Equally long every bit the state of war continued, the colonists' claim continued to gain validity. The geographic vastness of the colonies proved a hindrance to the British try. Despite occupying every major city, the British remained as at a disadvantage.

Americans had a grand cause: fighting for their rights, their independence and their liberty. This crusade is much more but than waging a war to deny independence. American military machine and political leaders were inexperienced, merely proved surprisingly competent.

The war was expensive and the British population debated its necessity. In Parliament, there were many American sympathizers. Finally, the alliance with the French gave Americans courage and a tangible threat that tipped the scales in America's favor.