Strengths and Weaknesses of the British and Colonists on the Eve of the Revolutionary War free essay sample

During the 1700s in the New World, the desire for independence and freedom emerged dramatically within the American colonies. As the tensions between Great Britain and the colonies reached their highpoint, the Colonists decided to revolt against Britain, triggering the start of the American Revolution. As the Colonists and the British prepared to engage in battle on the eve of the revolution, they both showed distinct strengths and weaknesses. The British seemed unbeatable. During the previous 100 years, the British had enjoyed triumph after triumph over nations as powerful as France and Spain. Britain had access to more money than colonists and therefore had more money to fund more troops. Their military was the best in the world. Their soldiers were well equipped, well disciplined, well paid, and well fed. The British navy dominated the seas. Funds were much more easily raised by the Empire than by the Continental Congress, and some of those funds were used to hire Hessian mercenaries to fight the Colonists. We will write a custom essay sample on Strengths and Weaknesses of the British and Colonists on the Eve of the Revolutionary War or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On the other hand, the Colonists had tremendous difficulty raising enough funds to purchase basic supplies for their troops, including shoes and blankets. The British had a winning tradition. Around one in five Colonists, called Tories, openly favored the Crown, with about half of the population hoping to avoid the conflict altogether. Most Indian tribes sided with Britain, who promised protection of tribal lands. At first glance, the odds were clearly against the Colonists, but they had many hidden advantages. On the other hand, the Colonists 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, and their morale was low. They had no real reasons to continue fighting anymore, and they had to persuade the Colonists to give up their claims of independence. As long as the war continued, the colonists claim continued to gain validity. The geographic vastness of the colonies proved a hindrance to the British effort. Despite occupying every major city, the British remained as at a disadvantage. Colonists had a grand cause: fighting for their rights, their independence and their liberty. This cause was much more just than waging a war to deny independence. American military and political leaders were inexperienced, but proved surprisingly skilled, as compared to the poor leadership performance of Howe and Clinton with Britain. The war was expensive and the British population debated its necessity. In Parliament, there were many American supporters. Finally, the alliance with Spain and France gave Colonists courage and a tangible threat that tipped the scales in Americas favor. As the Colonists and the British prepared to engage in battle on the eve of the revolution, they both showed distinct strengths and weaknesses.