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American Revolution
AdvantagesAnd
Disadvantages
AdvantagesAnd
Disadvantages
British AdvantagesBritish Advantages
Well-developed and prospering economy, broad range of manufacturing capabilities
World power, controlled many colonies worldwide, standard currency
Strongest Navy in the world
Well-developed and prospering economy, broad range of manufacturing capabilities
World power, controlled many colonies worldwide, standard currency
Strongest Navy in the world
British AdvantagesBritish Advantages
Large, experienced, well-equipped and well-trained army was an advantage during open-field battles
Experienced military leaders and members of the upper class who purchased commissions
Large, experienced, well-equipped and well-trained army was an advantage during open-field battles
Experienced military leaders and members of the upper class who purchased commissions
British AdvantagesBritish Advantages
Cleaner camps resulting in fewer losses due to disease.
Hired mercenaries, greater support from Native Americans
Cleaner camps resulting in fewer losses due to disease.
Hired mercenaries, greater support from Native Americans
American AdvantagesAmerican Advantages
No single strategic center; able to fight on as British seized major cities.
Ability to encourage, sustain or coerce loyalty to the Patriot cause through actions of local governments and militias. Kept British from winning the battle for hearts and mind.
No single strategic center; able to fight on as British seized major cities.
Ability to encourage, sustain or coerce loyalty to the Patriot cause through actions of local governments and militias. Kept British from winning the battle for hearts and mind.
American AdvantagesAmerican Advantages
Local forces, more familiar with geography.
Increasingly successful using conventional 18th century battle tactics. Occasional “guerrilla” warfare.
Dedication to a powerful ideology of American Rights.
Local forces, more familiar with geography.
Increasingly successful using conventional 18th century battle tactics. Occasional “guerrilla” warfare.
Dedication to a powerful ideology of American Rights.
American AdvantagesAmerican Advantages
Fighting for homes and families. Foreign military, naval, financial and
diplomatic intervention A small but important cadre of
excellent officers. Washington’s perseverance and leadership was key.
Relative ease of replacing troops locally.
Fighting for homes and families. Foreign military, naval, financial and
diplomatic intervention A small but important cadre of
excellent officers. Washington’s perseverance and leadership was key.
Relative ease of replacing troops locally.
British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages
Difficulty recruiting and replacing troops. Limited lifetime enlistments to the duration of the war to increase recruits.
Criminals pardoned in exchange for enlistment. Transporting new recruits took weeks.
Needed to conquer the continent and subdue the population, not just a few fixed points. Didn’t have sufficient resources for this task
Difficulty recruiting and replacing troops. Limited lifetime enlistments to the duration of the war to increase recruits.
Criminals pardoned in exchange for enlistment. Transporting new recruits took weeks.
Needed to conquer the continent and subdue the population, not just a few fixed points. Didn’t have sufficient resources for this task
British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages
Diplomatic isolation in Europe; no allies to pressure France, Spain and the Netherlands to remain uninvolved.
Distance between Britain and America tangled communications, frustrated battle planning and coordination and delayed reinforcements.
Diplomatic isolation in Europe; no allies to pressure France, Spain and the Netherlands to remain uninvolved.
Distance between Britain and America tangled communications, frustrated battle planning and coordination and delayed reinforcements.
British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages
Geography of America unfamiliar, confusing military planning.
Coordination among government leaders in Britain ineffective. Turnover among key military leaders in the colonies. Some didn’t want to fight against “Englishmen,” others didn’t see it as advantageous for their careers.
Geography of America unfamiliar, confusing military planning.
Coordination among government leaders in Britain ineffective. Turnover among key military leaders in the colonies. Some didn’t want to fight against “Englishmen,” others didn’t see it as advantageous for their careers.
British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages
Confusion about war aims. Was the goal to police New England, destroy the Continental Army or occupy all the colonies?
Difficulty in comprehending the importance of using the British army to support Loyalists.
Confusion about war aims. Was the goal to police New England, destroy the Continental Army or occupy all the colonies?
Difficulty in comprehending the importance of using the British army to support Loyalists.
American DisadvantagesAmerican Disadvantages
Primarily exported raw materials and imported finished goods. Little manufacturing capacity. Far fewer resources than Britain.
No standard currency. Lack of sufficient bullion. Paper currency constantly depreciated in value. The U.S. did not have sufficient monetary resources to finance the war entirely by itself.
Primarily exported raw materials and imported finished goods. Little manufacturing capacity. Far fewer resources than Britain.
No standard currency. Lack of sufficient bullion. Paper currency constantly depreciated in value. The U.S. did not have sufficient monetary resources to finance the war entirely by itself.
American DisadvantagesAmerican Disadvantages
Small navy incapable of contesting British control of the seas. Privateers hurt British commerce.
Paid and volunteer soldiers of many ages, little or no battle experience, inconsistent training, poorly equipped and diciplined.
Small navy incapable of contesting British control of the seas. Privateers hurt British commerce.
Paid and volunteer soldiers of many ages, little or no battle experience, inconsistent training, poorly equipped and diciplined.
American DisadvantagesAmerican Disadvantages
Weapons and manufactured munitions were limited.
Local supplies difficult to obtain due to shortages and lack of funds.
Lack of experience among many military leaders.
Disease in unsanitary camps.
Weapons and manufactured munitions were limited.
Local supplies difficult to obtain due to shortages and lack of funds.
Lack of experience among many military leaders.
Disease in unsanitary camps.
Possible Test QuestionsPossible Test Questions
Compare the militaries of the British and the Americans.
What advantages propelled the Americans to victory in the Revolution?
Compare the militaries of the British and the Americans.
What advantages propelled the Americans to victory in the Revolution?
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