Advantages & Disadvantages of the American Revolution

Experienced & well-trained soldiers

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Had the wealth of a world empire

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Had the strongest navy in the world

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Army was mostly citizen soldiers with no experience

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Lacked food, clothing, and weapons with no real way to buy supplies

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

About 1/5 or 20% of the population were potential spies/informants

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Had less than 30 navy ships and had to rely on privately owned ships (privateers)

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Information and supplies took months to send and receive

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Troops consisted of over 30,000 mercenaries from Germany – called Hessians

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage

Public support for the war was very low

• British Advantage

• British Disadvantage

• American Advantage

• American Disadvantage