Why were the Colonies succesful in defeating Great Britain in the American War of Independence ?

Question

I started getting interested in this subject by reading David McCullough's "1776 -America and Britain at War ",which I can recommend as a cracking good read

Answer 1

British failiure to commit to the war(the British people had the same hostility towards the war of the Revolution as many Americans had towards Vietnam.), The vast distance of the Atlantic Ocean(especially the fact that sail driven ships took 2 months to get across) British atrocities against civilians(which gave sympathy towards the rebels, especially when the British Regulars committed them against the Loyalists[aka, Tories]) and sheer dumb luck(because either British stopped in their moment of victory or because George Washington narrowly avoided capture).
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin probably did more than anyone else to see the war to a successful conclusion. George Washington through financing, training and organizing the Continental Army. Benjamin Franklin through Diplomacy in Great Britain(where he helped with the final peace negotiations) and France(where he was instrumental in gaining French assistance in the War effort) and did a lot of recruiting for foreign volunteers. Many of them responsible in assisting Washington in training an organizing the Army.

Answer 2

It is my understanding that there were two main factors in America's defeat of the British army which was superior in virtually every measurable way. First the British did not fight as hard as they could to keep America as a colony. They had other problems, because being the biggest empire in the world is not easy, and so they could not bring their full strength against America. Secondly, because it would weaken Britain to do so, the French joined the war on our side and this helped us a lot.
I'm not sure about these facts though because I haven't studied much American history for a while and so I can't promise it is right.

Answer 3

The colonies also came close to defeat several times. When the "Southern Campaign" witnessed Charleston's (Charles Town) fall, the patriots panicked.
The turning points were the British defeats at the Battles of Cowpens and Kings Mountain, Yorktown, and the French naval bombardment on the British at Yorktown (the French assisted the United States in its victory).
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Answer 4

The Colonies weren't successful in defeating Great Britain.

Great Britain realized it could not win militarily and sought another way to conquer us, which they succeeded at through infiltrating American government after the Constitution was established.

That's why so many of our Presidents have royal blood.

http://upload7.postimage.org/306343_952dd9d753a60088418eef51a45960e5/25Pa.jpg

Answer 5

Part of the success came from Americans fighting in guerilla fashion, where the British kept in tight formation, had rules and regualtions, and often did not return fire until told so by their commander. When the British soldiers arrived, they were housed in people's homes and businesses, and often found little or nothing in the way of food, blankets, firewood, water or an outhouse. (It was nothing for the Americans to take all that, including the wooden privy, to friends or family to keep.) They were unused to the weather, the temperatures, mosquitoes, diseases and food. And definitely not expecting to be attacked on a holiday.

Answer 6

The distances involved made it extremely difficult for Britain to deploy and maintain an army large enough to suppress the rebellion. If the British were confronted by any other conflict or the rebels (that is to say us) received direct aid from outside sources then difficult went to impossible.

Answer 7

Some of the bigger factors include the gurreilla tactics, and
the fact that the Continental Soldiers were from the local areas, whereas the British soldiers were thousands of miles away.

Answer 8

Because they believed that GOD would helped them. I suggest you read "Angel in the Whirlwind".

The weather and many situations were always favorable to the colonists. Brittish troops were seasoned soldiers but they were defeated by people who fought for priciple of right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.