Paper Summary:

This paper looks at why the relatively poorly trained and manned colonial forces were able to defeat the British forces in the American War of Independence. The paper shows how the British lacked effective war-winning strategies, their generals made multiple fatal mistakes, and their interaction with the local populace, particularly in the southern colonies, was disastrous for the British war effort.

From the Paper:

"The American War of Independence provides an excellent example of a grossly inferior colonial force waging a successful war against an imperial super power. The question of 'how the North American colonies were able to defeat the British Empire?' is one that has been answered in several different ways. Some, such as Captain Joachim Merlant, have argued that the main reason for the colonial victory was the French entrance into the conflict. Others, such as Walter Edgar have focused more on the campaign in the South and the decisive factors there, that led to the overall defeat of the British. This paper will center itself on factors more involving the British efforts during the war."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allison T., Grey J. and Valentine J. American Military History: A Survey from Colonial Times to the Present, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2006.
• Edgar W. Partisans and Redcoats: The Southern Conflict that Turned the Tide of the American Revolution, William Morrow, New York, 2001.
• Holmes R. 'The American War of Independence: The Rebels and the Redcoats', in BBC History, May 2003, viewed on 18 Mar 2009, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/rebels_redcoats_06.shtml>.
• Mackesy P. (repr. ed.) The War for America 1775-1783, Nebraska Press, Lincoln, 1992.
• Marston D. The American Revolution 1774-1783, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2002.

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