American Strengths and American Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

Redcoats’ AdvantagesRedcoats’ AdvantagesBritain had the most Britain had the most powerful navy in the powerful navy in the world.world.

They had well-trained They had well-trained soldiers.soldiers.

They had the money They had the money to hire German to hire German mercenaries.mercenaries. Mercenaries are Mercenaries are

soldiers paid to soldiers paid to fight for another fight for another country.country.

Redcoats’ DisadvantagesRedcoats’ DisadvantagesThe war was The war was unpopular in Britain.unpopular in Britain.

Many British citizens Many British citizens did not want to pay did not want to pay taxes to support the taxes to support the war.war.

It was slow and It was slow and expensive for Britain expensive for Britain to fight a war to fight a war thousands of miles thousands of miles away across the away across the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Ocean.

Continentals’ AdvantagesContinentals’ Advantages

Continental soldiers Continental soldiers were defending their were defending their homes.homes.

They had a stronger They had a stronger will to fight.will to fight.

They knew the land.They knew the land.

They had the strong They had the strong leadership of George leadership of George Washington.Washington.

Continentals’ DisadvantagesContinentals’ Disadvantages

They entered the war They entered the war without an army or a without an army or a navy.navy.It was difficult to get It was difficult to get men to serve in the men to serve in the Continental army.Continental army.Many soldiers quit Many soldiers quit because they often because they often went without pay, went without pay, food, uniforms, and food, uniforms, and weapons.weapons.

Washington Leads the ArmyWashington Leads the Army

WashingtonWashington was in charge of getting an was in charge of getting an untrained army ready to fight against untrained army ready to fight against Britain’s powerful army. He joined in Britain’s powerful army. He joined in colonial protests against the British.colonial protests against the British.

Martha WashingtonMartha Washington, George Washington’s , George Washington’s wife, helped with paperwork and by wife, helped with paperwork and by sewing socks and cooking soup for the sewing socks and cooking soup for the soldiers.soldiers.

Support for the SoldiersSupport for the SoldiersMary Ludwig HayesMary Ludwig Hayes, known as “Molly , known as “Molly Pitcher,” carried water for the soldiers Pitcher,” carried water for the soldiers at the battle of Monmouth.at the battle of Monmouth.Margaret CorbinMargaret Corbin took over her took over her husband’s cannon when he was killed husband’s cannon when he was killed in the attack on Fort Washington. She in the attack on Fort Washington. She fought until she was wounded.fought until she was wounded.Deborah SampsonDeborah Sampson disguised herself disguised herself as a man and fought as a soldier.as a man and fought as a soldier.Ester DeBerdt ReedEster DeBerdt Reed formed a formed a committee of women who went door-committee of women who went door-to-door collecting donations for the to-door collecting donations for the soldiers.soldiers.

African-American SoldiersAfrican-American Soldiers

At first, George Washington agreed not to At first, George Washington agreed not to let enslaved Africans join the army, but he let enslaved Africans join the army, but he later changed his mind.later changed his mind.

At this time, many northern colonies At this time, many northern colonies decided that if African-Americans were decided that if African-Americans were willing to fight and die for the freedom of willing to fight and die for the freedom of all Americans, they should be freed.all Americans, they should be freed.

Patriot SpiesPatriot Spies

Washington was very clever when it came to Washington was very clever when it came to spying.spying.

Instead of codes names, he used code numbers Instead of codes names, he used code numbers in his messages.in his messages.

Haym SolomonHaym Solomon, a member of one of the Patriots’ , a member of one of the Patriots’ spy rings, used his knowledge of many spy rings, used his knowledge of many languages to urge German soldiers to leave the languages to urge German soldiers to leave the British army. He was captured by the British, but British army. He was captured by the British, but escaped. He also helped to support the war escaped. He also helped to support the war financially.financially.