During the Revolutionary War, Britain, having the world’s most powerful army, had many advantages while America suffered through considerable disadvantages. However, the American did have some advantages that the British did not predict. According to the textbook, the Americans should have lost the war. Britain had one of the greatest armies in the world, and their 9 million population more than tripled the American colonists. In addition to this, they had one of the world’s greatest navy while the colonists did not even have one. Perhaps the two greatest advantages that Britain had were their clear and established central government, and their “access to the resources of an empire” (p. 137). Britain, unlike America, had already established
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Most importantly, Britain’s central government had authority. They could collect taxes, build an army, and make laws that the whole country would follow. America’s form of government, their new congress did not have much authority. They could not charge taxes, and had to rely heavily on the states in order to form an army. Although America had vast natural resources, they did not have a lot of money to finance a war and had to rely on allies, especially France, for firepower. In addition to this, the struggling new nation was multitasking trying to create an army, form a government, and finance a war all at once. Britain already had an established nation backing them up on the war. Britain provided for their army financially, through fire and men power. In contrast to their former country with experienced soldiers and war commanders, the colonies were new. England had been around for …show more content…
However, the American’s did have a few that were unforeseen by the British. America had been and outlet for creativity and new ideas. Men with incredible minds such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine were supporters of the Revolution. America also had people from many different cultures, forming Boston’s ‘melting pot’. With all these people with different backgrounds, it is very clear why they did not want to be part of England. Unexpected by the British, the American army actually had some leverage in the war. The American army, led by George Washington, was fighting on its own ground. The soldiers had grown up in this land and mapmakers knew every bit of the topography. Although the American army did not have many resources, the few they had were readily available or at most a day or two away. In contrast, the British army was fighting in a new territory, and was thousands of miles away from their resources. It took about three months for a ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean to get from England to Boston. Although America struggled to find firepower, they had substantial help from other great nations. The war did not become only a fight for freedom, but almost a contest between Britain and other great nations that were helping the colonists, most importantly France. France greatly aided the colonists
Most importantly, Britain’s central government had authority. They could collect taxes, build an army, and make laws that the whole country would follow. America’s form of government, their new congress did not have much authority. They could not charge taxes, and had to rely heavily on the states in order to form an army. Although America had vast natural resources, they did not have a lot of money to finance a war and had to rely on allies, especially France, for firepower. In addition to this, the struggling new nation was multitasking trying to create an army, form a government, and finance a war all at once. Britain already had an established nation backing them up on the war. Britain provided for their army financially, through fire and men power. In contrast to their former country with experienced soldiers and war commanders, the colonies were new. England had been around for …show more content…
However, the American’s did have a few that were unforeseen by the British. America had been and outlet for creativity and new ideas. Men with incredible minds such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine were supporters of the Revolution. America also had people from many different cultures, forming Boston’s ‘melting pot’. With all these people with different backgrounds, it is very clear why they did not want to be part of England. Unexpected by the British, the American army actually had some leverage in the war. The American army, led by George Washington, was fighting on its own ground. The soldiers had grown up in this land and mapmakers knew every bit of the topography. Although the American army did not have many resources, the few they had were readily available or at most a day or two away. In contrast, the British army was fighting in a new territory, and was thousands of miles away from their resources. It took about three months for a ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean to get from England to Boston. Although America struggled to find firepower, they had substantial help from other great nations. The war did not become only a fight for freedom, but almost a contest between Britain and other great nations that were helping the colonists, most importantly France. France greatly aided the colonists