What was the most important reason for the Patriots' defeat of the British?
1 Answer
Home field advantage.
Explanation:
Sounds like something you would hear about a football game but it works here too.
It is human nature to fight harder for what you own. Once the revolution began, Americans were fighting on their homeland and for their homeland.
London is approximately 3,269 miles from Boston and in colonial times, it might have been the moon. On average, it took 50 days to travel from London to Boston, or the reverse. This put the British at a distinct disadvantage. Hostilities between the two countries that started was not known in London until some time in late June. Then they had to consider what to do and return their answer. This means that General Gage, commander of British troops in America did not know London's desires until late August at the earliest.
Except for Bunker Hill, strangely, neither side did very little until the following year, and after the Declaration of Independence was released until Gen. Howe attacked New York.
For the Americans, the siege of Boston successfully ran the entire British navy out of its harbors and off to Nova Scotia.
Britain was at a distinct disadvantage because of the logistics nightmare it faced in ferrying supplies and ammunition and soldiers to its commanders in America. An emergency in July by the British was not responded to until September.
The only advantage the British held for the entire war was the training of its soldiers and marines as well as the excellence of its leadership compared to that of the Americans.
The British also greatly underestimated the resolve of the Americans and their will to fight.
