in a single file line. Brilliantly, the Americans ran ahead of the retreating British and picked them off with their rifles. Almost defenseless to this American technique, the British lost many soldiers. The British hired German mercenaries, "Hessians," which proved to be an unreliable source of troops. Overall, the British did not win the war because the Americans knew how to fight effectively with their limited troops.With some foreign aid from France, the Americans found that they held an advantage in supplies. At one point in time, the Americans were using 90% provided French gunpowder. Also, the French provided a strong navy which protected the American coastline. France fought against the British because they wanted revenge, and they also wanted to reclaim some territory that they had lost in the Seven Years War. Fortunately, the Americans were supplied with French money, armies, and supplies, so I would have predicted an American win. One of the greater advantages that the Americans held was that the British underestimated them. Even before the war began, an anonymous British officer bragged that the Americans could be beaten by an "experienced sheep herder." This remark clearly shows that the British thought that the Americans were weak. In fact, the confident British did not push to accelerate the war in 1775 and 1776. The Americans won the war because Lord Howe, a British leader, and his troops did not fight to destroy, but rather fought to control. If Howe would have fought to destroy, the Americans could not have fought back. England did not win the war because they were unprepared and over confident.In my mind, the Americans cherished a moral advantage that came from their belief in seeking freedom. Even in defeat, the Americans optimistically looked forward to the next battle and planned their strategy. Many Americans held the idea that they were going to fight until they won independence, or they would di...
