When the Revolution began, the Americans were already in a weak position. They had scrambled to put together an army (albeit not well-trained) and a tiny, ineffective navy. While strengths were hard to find, their weaknesses were obvious.
The 13 Colonies:
First and foremost, the colonists lacked a stable government or even a written constitution. The Articles of Confederation, the first government of the United States, was not adopted until 1781, almost five years into war. As a result, the colonies were not well organized and were often in disagreement on what decisions to make; the Continental Congress debated often but were very slow to take action even in moments of dire need. General Washington often complained to Congress on its inability to provide a regular fighting force. To make matters worse, this inexperienced fighting force rarely had the supplies needed to fight. Inadequate firearms, gunpowder, and clothing plagued the army wherever it traveled. During the winter of 1777-78, Washington would comment on the pathetic state of his Continental Army and their lack of shoes when he said his soldiers could be tracked there by "following the blood in the snow."
The American Revolution:
While faced with a host of weaknesses, it was not all bad news for the colonists. One powerful strength they possessed was the will and spirit of the American people. The desire to give their lives to defend their homes, support a just cause, and thrust off the chains of oppression inspired a weak fighting force to continue when things looked grim. Second, the colonists had George Washington, arguably the greatest general in the entire war. Washington was a brilliant strategist, was popular among his soldiers, and the knowledge he gained as a general in the British ranks would prove essential in this war. Third, the colonists had the home-field advantage. They knew the hills, valleys, and the overall lay of the land; this knowledge would favor them in a war. Finally, Washington's admiration of young general Alexander Hamilton led to some very effective methods, such as using spies throughout New York City when the British occupied the area.
The British Empire:
When war began in 1776, Great Britain held a supreme advantage in a variety of areas. While it fluctuated throughout the war, the British army was usually around four times the size of the Continental army; this should be of no surprise, considering the colonists had little time to create an organized fighting force. Second, the British army was a professional army, unlike the colonists who had a citizens army (the British soldiers were trained to fight, whereas the Continental Army was made up of farmers who were fighting "in their free time"). Too, the British maintained an experienced navy, something the colonists could not match when the war began. Lastly, the wealthy British empire had a seemingly endless supply of weapons and gear to ensure their soldiers were well-fed, well-equipped, and well-prepared.
This is not to say that Great Britain was untouchable; they just faced a different set of problems than the colonies. In the late-18th century, Great Britain’s claim in North America was just one of many places in the world that required their attention. As a result, the British were pulled in many directions at once. Second, the British often relied on outdated information since messages were slow to relay from London. Third, Britain would fight over 3,000 miles from home -- it is very difficult to keep the people at home interested in winning a war that they see no attachment with. Finally, even though soldiers have been in the colonies since the French and Indian War, the colonists hold the advantage since this is their home turf; it is very difficult to win a war when you are on enemy soil.
a) True or False: The Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1776.
True
False
b) Who was considered the greatest general in the American Revolution?
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
Benedict Arnold
c) The British army was usually around how many times the size of the Continental army?
Twice
Four times
Half the size
Equal in size
d) What was one significant advantage the colonists had in the American Revolution?
An experienced navy
A professional army
Home-field advantage
Lack of knowledge about the land