ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

1. ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

2. How did an undisciplined, unprepared, American nation defeat the world’s largest and strongest empire?

3. War Aims Location Government Military Transportation Economy

4. British Americans • British were fighting a war from home. • Military orders, troops, and supplies sometimes took months to get to the colonies. • America = HUGE LAND MASS! • Strong supply lines and were familiar with the geography Location

5. Americans British • Americans were fighting for INDEPENDENCE! • Were defending homeland • Britain had to maintain a faraway colony and convince them to remain dependent on the “Mother Country” War Aims

6. Americans British • Lack of ships meant using poor road system • Ships could transport troops/supplies Transportation

7. British Americans • Britain had the best military in the world! • British soldiers were well equipped, well disciplined, well paid, and well fed. • British navy dominated the seas. • 50,000 professionally trained troops, 30,000 mercenaries (Hessians) • No established army/navy • Fewer soldiers, poorly trained and inexperienced. Military

8. British Americans • Funds were much more easily raised by the British treasury than by the Continental Congress • Funds used to aide war and hire mercenaries (Hessians) • Treasury problems • Lack of government = no power to tax (gain $$) Economy

9. British Americans • Established system of government (King and Parliament) • Power to tax and generate funds • Young government (Continental Congress) • Had few established powers • Tax? Government