How did the colonists win the American Revolution?

There were several factors that helped the Americans win the Revolutionary War. One factor was the Americans were dedicated to the cause for which they were fighting. The Americans were fighting for their independence. There was something very tangible to be gained by winning the Revolutionary War. Some of the colonists were also fighting for their lives. If the colonists lost, some of the leaders could have been tried for treason and killed. Some of the British soldiers were hired soldiers. They didn’t have as much at stake in the outcome of the war.

George Washington was a brilliant leader, unlike some of the British generals. Washington helped to develop wise strategies and was able to adjust as needed. Washington knew the longer the war lasted, the less the people of Great Britain would support the war. Having the British chase the colonists around the countryside was a brilliant move as it allowed the war to last longer. The British generals, on the other hand, made many blunders. General Howe didn’t follow the plan for cutting New England off from the rest of the colonies. He went to Philadelphia instead. General Burgoyne moved so slowly because he carried so many luxury items that weren't needed for battle. Washington was able to adjust his plans to take advantage of opportunities. When he realized he could trap the British fleet at Yorktown, he adjusted his plans to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Americans were able to get help from France and Spain who were Britain’s rivals. The money, supplies, and training these countries provided to us were very helpful in leading us to victory.

There were many factors that help lead us to victory in the Revolutionary War.

How did the American colonists win the revolution according to A Patriot's History of the United States?

In A Patriot's History of the United States, Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen note that the American colonists won the Revolutionary War through a combination of good leadership under George Washington, willpower and commitment from the patriots, and obstacles for the British. Let's explore this in more detail.

George Washington, as the authors remark, "never equaled the great military tacticians of Europe," but he was an innovative leader who held the loyalty of his men and could get creative in his use of unusual militarily tactics and campaigns. Washington also had a knack for bouncing back from disasters and surviving the worst conditions alongside his men. Washington was a survivor who never gave up, and he taught his men to be the same. The colonial army, therefore, kept right on going after defeats, and eventually, they won their cause.

Not everyone in the American colonies was a patriot, of course, but those who were made a strong commitment to their cause, and they showed the will to fight and struggle and sacrifice in order to win. The men in charge of the new government also showed a firm determination to fight for their rights, which they expressed with clarity and elegance to encourage others in the struggle.

The authors also describe the obstacles the British faced in the fight against the colonists, obstacles that worked in the colonists' favor. For one thing, the British were fighting "almost exclusively in hostile territory." Also, British naval power, as grand as it was, could do little to help the British army in their interior campaigns. British forces also had a difficult time deploying troops, functioning in their usual style of warfare, and coordinating commanders. Finally, the French entered the fight on the side of the colonists, giving the British another headache.

All of these factors combined to help the Americans win the Revolutionary War and found their new nation.