The American Revolution- Disadvantages and Advantages on both sides?

Question

What factors allowed the British to enter the war confident that they'd defeat the American colonists? What advantages did the British have? How about the Americans? I have some of the answers but i'd like some of ur guys's input!

Britain: Population favored Britain, Superior monetary advantage and best navy in the world, Britain possessed a 50,000 man professional army

America: Outstanding leadership, Economic aid from France, Moral advantage from belief in a just cause, geographical advantage- knew land better than Britsh

So basically what i really need help with is the first question- basically: What factors allowed the British to enter the war confident that they could beat the American colonists?

Also, what conditions and circumstances helped the Americans to neutralize many of Britain's advantages?

Answer 1

Wow, I've always wondered what they thought about the Revolution in the UK. Yeah, America really shouldn't have won, but we did have:
1) Superior knowledge of terrain
2) the will to fight, as it was our homeland we were fighting for.

The British were fighting for money and pride, yes? The Americans were fighting for their freedom and homes. Sure, we ran a lot and got the French to fight, but that's part of our charm. ;-) At least back then, we always knew what fights to give to other people. And as for your question, I think the British entered the war thinking they could win because they'd never lost. who'da thunk that a rag-tag army of farmers could beat the best fighting force in the world?

Answer 2

the truth of the matter was that the large majority of americans were not interested in becoming independant,it was the rich ,as they had the most to gain,the rich landowners demonized king george but in fact he was a good king,the rich new that slavery will be abolished by the british,and also the british planned to give back huge tracts of land to the native americans,that didn't sit well with washington and his cronies,dont be fooled by all the retoric about making america free from oppresion as it was more oppresed after the revolution,and to take things further washington and his cronies were in fact traitors,a lot of americans fled to canada where they knew that things would be better,and still are today,

Answer 3

Please note

1) We British probably believed at the time that our cause was just because you guys were traitors in our eyes. (Try and see it from our point of view).

2) Americas strong leadership adopted the excellent policies of

a) Running away a lot of the time
b) Getting the French to do a lot of their fighting for them

3) The British were a little preoccupied between 1789 and 1815 fighting Napoleon and Revolutionary France in Europe. France is 21 miles from Britain. America is slightly more remote so we may have had to prioritise a bit.

4) Some of the greatest Americans were, I believe, British in the first instance.