Answer: Though there were several elements that contributed to American victory during the Revolutionary War, the colonists wouldn’t have become victorious if not for their enormous spirit and bigger than life attitude in a fight for their own independence. The soldiers of the Continental army were more than deeply committed to the cause of independence, as they were fighting for their homes and for their families.This alone became a rather clear advantage for the colonist rebels, in comparison to the spirit of one who fights out of loyalty to a royal crown or merely for currency. It was within the energy of Marquis de Lafayette when he was said to believe so fervently in the American cause that he left his home to join General George Washington’s staff, sold his possessions, and donated his money to the American army. It was the beginning of the American spirit, blossoming in the colonists' hearts as they continued to push through December's cold, many shoeless or coatless, yet nowhere near the brink of giving up. It was the spirit of Nathan Hale when he expressed “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”. And it was in this same spirit of vast commitment that immensely contributed to the fierce victory within the colonies. A second element that contributed to the young colony's victory was the leadership abilities of George Washington. George Washington was often described as someone who had full possession of himself, under his command the stakes were considerably greater for the Americans. Washington understood the war as a struggle against tyranny and actively embraced the rebel cause in a magnificent revolt for human rights and liberties. George Washington was a bold General, he remarkably showed his leadership as he overcame each difficulty one by one, including shortages of equipment and food within his army. George Washington also had the drive to bring a once foreign unity among a tremendously diverse group of people and continuously inspire them to rise up as one in a fight for their common cause. Last, but not least, General Washington ordered the men of the Continental army to be inoculated against smallpox in early 1777, along with every recruit to join within the nearing future. Historians believe that this decision alone was vital to the eventual American victory in the Revolutionary War. A third element that came into play towards American victory was something so simply overlooked as Geography. The Geological location of America is more than four thousand nine hundred miles away from Europe. The British and their allies had to ship everything from men to basic supplies, such as munition, food, and clothing, all the way across the Atlantic ocean. This occasionally could take up the time of nearly half a year. To make matters worse, travel was not permitted during the winter, offering the men of the Redcoats a very limited time gap to receive essential supplies. Frequently, these same British ships failed to even reach their destination. While some would be blown off course by the force of storms, others would be met by privateers, which were private vessels licensed by the Continental Congress that attacked the British vessels found among the Atlantic. The British and British allied men who did make it into the colonies experienced the disadvantages of being increasingly unfamiliar with the physical terrain of America and the lack of much-needed supplies from the mother country. However, the downfall of the Redcoats was ultimately due to their inconsistency in shipping their men and supplies across the Atlantic Ocean, as the following setbacks began to ripple. The final element that greatly contributed to American victory was a more than helpful amount of foreign assistance. As George Washington faced shortages of food, clothing, and ammunition for his army, he rightfully petitioned Congress for more money. However, the American government required the consent of all thirteen states to send any funds or even supplies. In this manner, it was often that the colonies failed to act. Secret fundings were said to be gathered for the Patriot’s cause from the Spanish to the Netherlands. Benjamin Franklin collected some of these secret funds and helped persuade France to assist the Americans in the Revolutionary War. In February of 1778, after the victory at Saratoga, the French government signed a Treaty of Alliance with the United States of America. France finally recognized the colonies as a new nation and provided funding, as well as military aid. France’s support of the United States not only helped with extra weapons, arms, and ammunition but also proved to be crucial towards the American victory in the Revolutionary War. Perhaps there wouldn’t have been an American victory at all, if not for this contributing element.