Reasons Americans won the Revolutionary War

Loyalists/Tories comprise 1/3 of population
- They were a majority of the population in NY, NJ, and Georgia, they were strong in the Carolinas and Pennsylvania.
-Their leaders came from the ranks of Anglican ministers, royal officials, and conservative families of the upper class (except for Virginia and New England merchants)
- They feared separation from England and the rising democracy (the mob)
- Few were put to death by the Patriots, but many wre imprisoned, tarred and feathered and had their property confiscated.
- Tens of thousands flee to Canada or England after the war.


1/3 of the population was neutral

1/3 were Radicals or Patriots
-They were mainly from the middle and lower classes (except NE , Virginia and Maryland)
-Leadership was mostly young merchants (NE) and planters (Virginia and Maryland)

The British Army had an advantage over the Continental Army because
1. it was numerically superior
2. it was better disciplined
3. it was better trained and supplied
4. it was supplemented by foreign mercenaries (German Hessians)

British disadvantages
1. 3,000 miles from England
2. it had to fight on unfamiliar terrain
3. the rebels were scattered over a large area
4. it underestimated the American forces
5. A large group in Parliament opposed the war
6. the soldiers were unenthusiastic
7. the army was poorly led

The Continental Army
1. had inadequate supplies
2. but the leadership of Washington was key
3. French support was vital