Lesson 8 - Why did the British lose the American War?
When war broke out between Britain and the American colonists in 1775, most people thought Britain would win easily. It was the most powerful country in the world, with a strong army and navy. Many colonists still supported the British. However, things did not go as expected. A mix of military struggles, foreign help, new ideas, and the strengths and weaknesses of important leaders all played a role in Britain’s defeat. The British made mistakes, and the Americans fought harder than anyone expected, leading to the birth of a new nation.
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At the start, Britain seemed in control. They had professional soldiers, a massive navy, and many loyal supporters in the colonies. Meanwhile, the Americans were divided, poorly trained, and had no real army. However, the British underestimated the colonists and struggled with the challenges of fighting a war across the Atlantic. One of the first major battles, Bunker Hill in June 1775, showed how determined the Americans were. The British won, but they suffered heavy losses. It became clear that this would not be an easy war. In 1775, George Washington took charge of the American army. At first, his troops were undisciplined and inexperienced. But Washington worked hard to turn them into an effective fighting force. He also knew when to take risks. |
Bunker Hill
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On the other hand, British General William Howe, despite being an experienced leader, was too cautious. After defeating Washington in New York, he failed to finish off the American army. This gave Washington time to rebuild his forces, keeping the revolution alive. In March 1776 he began to bombard the city with cannon fire. American troops now surrounded Boston and Howe realised that he could not hold out. On the night of 17 March the British troops left Boston.
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Even though the war had started, many Americans were still unsure about breaking away from Britain. This changed in early 1776 when Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a pamphlet that argued for full independence. Using simple and powerful language, Paine explained why Americans should rule themselves and become a republic. Over 150,000 copies of Common Sense were sold and it had a huge impact on the Patriots. His ideas spread quickly, convincing many people that it was time to break free.
A few months later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued. Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson and inspired by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, it declared that all people had rights and that governments should only exist with the people’s approval, the consent of the governed. It said that a person has certain rights given to him/her from God and that to protect these rights, people form governments. If governments fail to protect these rights then the people have a right to form a new government. It claimed that King George had failed to protect the rights of the American people and stated that: 'A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be a ruler of a Free People.' Jefferson is saying that the British government, by behaving as it did, had lost the confidence of the American people. Therefore a new government should be formed in its place: |
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'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of those ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government.' Declaration of Independence 1776
In September 1776, the British captured New York, which became the British base for the rest of the war. Washington, fearing that his cause would inevitably collapse as short-term enlistment into the Continental Army expired, launched a risky attack on the little town of Trenton, held by a brigade of Hessians (German troops in British service) on Boxing Day 1776. He won this battle, and although the victory was small in tactical terms, it had a wider strategic impact, showing that the patriots were still in the fight.
In 1777, British General John Burgoyne tried to cut off New England by leading his army south from Canada. But his plan failed, and the Americans won a major victory at Saratoga in October. This battle changed everything. It convinced France that the Americans could actually win. In 1778, King Louis XVI officially joined the war against Britain. French support was a turning point. Their navy disrupted British supply lines, and their troops provided crucial reinforcements. The war was no longer just between Britain and the colonies—it had become an international conflict, making things much harder for the British.
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Despite the victory at Saratoga, the American army suffered through a terrible winter at Valley Forge. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778.
The soldiers had little food, warm clothing, or medical supplies. More than 2,500 died, and many others deserted. Washington found it hard to keep his army together. Unlike the British, who had full-time soldiers, his army was made up of ordinary men who joined up for six months at a time. Many of them were farmers and when their six months was up, they often went home to look after the farm But Washington stayed with his men, earning their respect and loyalty. Things improved when a Prussian officer, Baron von Steuben, arrived to train the troops. By spring, the American army was stronger and better organized than ever before. |
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Britain then changed its strategy, focusing on the southern colonies, where they believed more people were still loyal to the Crown. At first, this seemed to work, with victories in Savannah and Charleston. However, they underestimated American resistance. Local fighters used guerrilla tactics, launching surprise attacks and wearing the British down. American generals like Nathanael Greene used smart strategies to exhaust British forces. The British kept winning battles, but they could not control the territory.
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One of the most important foreign supporters of the revolution was the Marquis de Lafayette, a young French nobleman who had joined Washington’s army in 1777. Lafayette not only helped with military planning but also played a huge role in securing more aid from France. His leadership in key battles, including Yorktown, made a big difference in the war’s final outcome.
By 1781, Britain was stretched thin. They were fighting not just in America but also in the Caribbean, India, and Europe. General Cornwallis, believing he would receive support from the British navy, positioned his army at Yorktown, Virginia. However, the French navy, led by Admiral de Grasse, blocked British ships from reaching him, while Washington and Lafayette’s troops surrounded him on land. |
Outnumbered and trapped, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. When British Prime Minister Lord North heard the news, he reportedly cried out, "Oh God! It is all over!" The war was effectively won, and Britain soon began negotiating peace.
The British lost the War of Independence for several reasons. They failed to adapt to the challenges of fighting so far from home and underestimated the impact of France’s involvement. At the same time, the ideas of the Enlightenment inspired the Americans to fight for their own government. Strong leaders like Washington and Lafayette kept the revolution alive, while British mistakes gave the Patriots time to regroup. In the end, the war was not just won by the Americans alone, but through a mix of determination, strategy, and help from abroad. Despite being the world’s greatest power, Britain could not defeat a people determined to fight for their freedom.
The British lost the War of Independence for several reasons. They failed to adapt to the challenges of fighting so far from home and underestimated the impact of France’s involvement. At the same time, the ideas of the Enlightenment inspired the Americans to fight for their own government. Strong leaders like Washington and Lafayette kept the revolution alive, while British mistakes gave the Patriots time to regroup. In the end, the war was not just won by the Americans alone, but through a mix of determination, strategy, and help from abroad. Despite being the world’s greatest power, Britain could not defeat a people determined to fight for their freedom.
How to write a history essay (again).
The first thing a good history essay must do is avoid telling the story. Looking back on the past as a series of events unfolding, it might be tempting to write a 'chronicle' about the past as simply 'one thing after another'. My account of the American War of independence above is a bit like that, it tells the story of some of the important events in the American War. It begins at Bunker Hill and ends at Yorktown, but it does not directly address the question of why the British lost. To answer the question you have to dig around a bit. That's the point, in a good essay the author will have done the digging for you. A good essay will have found all the important bits, put them into labelled boxes, brushed away the loose soil and made a nice cup of tea.
In contrast to my account above, a good history essay must explain why the British lost through a series of big points (the labelled boxes), each of which addresses the question. The hardest thing when writing an essay can be to decide what your big points are going to be. Big points are not examples, but rather they are 'factors' that address the question that can be illustrated by a number of examples. Big points require you put similar examples together. For example, I have just decided there are three reasons why the British lost:
The first thing a good history essay must do is avoid telling the story. Looking back on the past as a series of events unfolding, it might be tempting to write a 'chronicle' about the past as simply 'one thing after another'. My account of the American War of independence above is a bit like that, it tells the story of some of the important events in the American War. It begins at Bunker Hill and ends at Yorktown, but it does not directly address the question of why the British lost. To answer the question you have to dig around a bit. That's the point, in a good essay the author will have done the digging for you. A good essay will have found all the important bits, put them into labelled boxes, brushed away the loose soil and made a nice cup of tea.
In contrast to my account above, a good history essay must explain why the British lost through a series of big points (the labelled boxes), each of which addresses the question. The hardest thing when writing an essay can be to decide what your big points are going to be. Big points are not examples, but rather they are 'factors' that address the question that can be illustrated by a number of examples. Big points require you put similar examples together. For example, I have just decided there are three reasons why the British lost:
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■ Military reasons, battles, leadership and foreign support.
■ Cultural reasons and the inspiration of Enlightenment ideas. ■ The importance of individuals. For each of these 'big points' I can think of a number of examples I might use to support each point. Use this podcast I made to help you identify the examples. The first seven minutes especially outline what to look out for. Activity
1. Copy the text 'Why did the British lose the American War? You can download a copy here. 2. Put the examples of military, cultural and individuals in different colours. Remember you are looking for examples that can be used to support your essay points. e.g. do not change the colour of an example of British military success. 3. Using your colour coded examples, complete this essay plan with examples for each of the three big points we are making. 4. Write an introduction and a conclusion. When completed upload your essay plan to your OneNote. |
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