STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS

NAMES…..

-REBELS-PATRIOTS-YANKEES

-BRITISH-ENGLISH-LOYALISTS-LOBSTERBACKS-RED COATS

Colonists could mean either, but more often would be included on the rebel side. An estimated 1/3 of the colonists stay loyal to Britain during the war!

The Grand Union Flag was first used at sea, and then by Washington and is considered the first American Flag

British Flag

CAUSE…

Rebels –Fighting to protect life (Lifestyle)

British –Fight to keep economic resource (1600 miles away)

HELP!!!

REBELS –-France-Spain-Dutch

Britain – -Hessians (Hired Germans)

-Native Americans

Rebels often wore blue. They were called Yankees because of the song “Yankee Doodle”, which was created to poke fun at the colonists. It became a rallying cry for the colonists.

The British were very confident in their military forces. They were so sure of their training that they wore red because it would easily allow them to tell who was not on their side, and they felt their training was superior and would supersede any other factor, which was often the case.

Location …

Rebels – -Know the land

-Guerilla War-Close supplies

-Large Space (runaway!)

Britain –-Unfamiliar Land-Traditional Style Fighting-Further to Travel

How long will Britain want to fight for an economic resource 1600 miles away?

ARMY….

British –-great numbers -expert training-Great, Experienced Generals-The Best

Navy

Rebels –-few numbers(2.5 million people in population)

-poor training-Short terms

-No Navy

ARMY….British –-great numbers(9 million people in the population)

-expert training-Great, Experienced Generals-The Best

Navy

X – Factors…

Rebels –-Weak Govt.- Little Money-Women/Af.Am

- George Washington

British –-King to make decisions-loyalists (unorganized)

Washington lost more battles than he won during the revolution, but he never lost one that would be costly enough to end the war. He survived attempts to overthrown and even poison him. Still, he never abused his position, and continued to listen to the Continental Congress throughout, even when they doubted his ability and thought to take him out of the Commander of the Continental Armed Forces position.