The armed forces of the American colonists were small, poorly equipped, and often poorly led. How were those colonists able to defeat Great Britain, which ranked as one of the foremost military powers in the world at that time?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
A wide variety of factors contributed to the American victory. British lines of communication and supply stretched across the ocean, whereas the colonists were fighting in their own backyards. New recruits and supplies for the Americans were close at hand. Although the British won most of the battles, the colonists were able to win a few key victories, such as the battle at Saratoga, New York. That victory was important because it brought the French into the conflict on the Americans' side. Without the French, the Americans probably could not have won the war. The French supplied arms, powder, and cannon, in addition to many soldiers, advisers, and fleets of warships, which turned the tide against the British. Also significant was the debate within the British government and among the British public over the conduct of the war. The British received very little encouragement and much hindrance in their prosecution of the war. Finally, British indecision and ineptitude often made it difficult to pursue effective policies.