Transcript
8 October 2018
What Caused the British To Ultimately Lose in the American Revolution
The American Revolution of 1776-1783 began solely as a war for independence, but quickly evolved into a civil war between American loyalists and patriots - along with their Indian allies - and a world war that included various ‘allied’, or joined, European nations. The Americans may have lost the majority of the battles fought during the Revolutionary war, but they did, however, outlive the British, which required Britain to grant the United States of American with their independence at last. The United States’ victory was shocking to say the least. Since Great Britain was one of the strongest, most vigorous countries known to man at the time of the Revolution, it came as a huge surprise when America – still in the process of becoming a country – conquered the war against a country far more superior. Though Great Britain was amongst the wealthiest, most powerful kingdoms in the world, they faced several challenges during the Revolution regarding their military, which utimately resulted in their defeat.
To battle in the Revolution, the British had to send about 35,000 soldiers – along with half of their enormous navy – roughly 3,000 miles through the Atlantic. It took each ship anywhere from two to three months to complete each crossing of the Atlantic. Since the Revolution took place in the thirteen colonies, the Americans were familiar with the landscape. However, the British had to travel away from their homeland and had a difficult time adapting to the territory in the colonies. The British did not accurately account for the amount of food and resources they would need for their soldiers and horses, instead, they just assumed that there would be enough for each of them in America; when, in actuality, the majority of their supplies were supposed to come with them from Britain. Another major challenge the British faced – which was brought upon by themselves – was that they did not feel the need to strategize and plan out their intentions of the battle for when they arrived. Their initial focus was to blockade the seaports in New England, so they could cut off American trade, thus compelling the rebels to surrender. After that failed, the leaders attempted to ruin George Washington’s Continental army in New York. Though they succeeded in driving Americans out of the town, the generals were not successful in completing the withdrawal of the Continental army. Their next attempt was to cause anger or a disagreement between England and New York, thus driving a wedge between the two and tearing them apart. That attempt, much like the others, also failed, which brought them to their last venture: relocating to the southern colonies where the intended to gather Loyalists to drive away the Revolutionaries.
Though Britain was almost always successful in any ordinary battle with America, their choice not to compose an overall strategy to conquer the Patriot cause is what ultimately resulted in them losing their chance of winning the war. If they would have taken the time to plan out their actions prior to the battle, they would have had a better chance of defeating America. Instead, they allowed their egotistical assumptions to cloud their thinking. The British underestimated the colonies will and patriotism to fight for a common cause. The outcome could have been completely different if it was not for America’s desire to ultimately stand and fight together to defeat a much larger, better trained, and well-equipped Military.
