What Were Two Disadvantages The Colonies Faced In Starting A War With England?

Recently one of our regular readers, name Rebecca questioned us that what were the two main disadvantages the 13 colonies of North America faced in starting a war with England.

In general, there were hundreds of disadvantages to starting this war.

But if we talk about two main, then they were primarily:

• Firstly, the lack of money, and other necessary pieces of equipment.
• Secondly, the lack of strong organizations.

Let’s discuss two of them briefly.

1. Lack of Money And Other Necessary Pieces of Equipment

The first problem was the lack of money to carry forward the war in a powerful way.

Due to lack of funds, revolutionaries often faced difficulties in gathering their necessary pieces of equipment; such as guns, canons, navy ships, clothes, and food for militias, etc.

Even the condition was so bad that sometimes in the winter season, continental militias had to fight battles without shoes and warm clothes.

But contrary to their situation, at that time, Great Britain had the most powerful military in the world.

Their Red Coats were well-equipped with much better training and a better experience.

It seemed almost impossible to win the conflict at the beginning part without money against the powerful enemy.

For example: In the first phase of the armed conflict in 1776, American colonies had only 27 naval ships against the British’s 270. Till 1778, colonies’ ships reduced to 20, and British’s increased to 500.

On the other hand, many American militias had to lose lives in British Red Coats’ firing, due to they had lack of weapons (guns).

Later, Continental Congress decided to bear up loans from other countries to fulfill the necessities. Even later the 13 colonies’ economy had to sink into full debt due to these loans.

However, whatever happened, but in the end, with the help of big countries like France, Spain, and the Netherlands, patriots managed to win the Revolutionary War.

[Interesting Fact: Did You Know? Sometimes Due To Having No Food, American Militias Had To Steal And Rob Foods From Local Farmers]

2. The Lack of Strong Organizations

The second core disadvantage was the lack of strong organizations to lead the Revolutionary War punctually.

We must agree that many great leaders like George Washington, Charles Lee led this war and they were the main reasons why 13 colonies managed to win it. 

But there was still a shortage of organizations at the primary level to organize it more thoroughly as needed.

Due to this reason, many people who wanted to voluntarily participate in it remained without participating.

On the other hand, the way the American militias should have been trained did not become possible.

As result, many soldiers remained unskilled and had to lose life in front of well-trained British Red Coats.

So, this was the second major disadvantage of starting a war with England.

[Interesting Fact: Did You Know? Guerilla Warfare Remained As A Significant Character of The American Revolutionary War. Continental Militias Widely Used This Technique Against British Forces. In The Battle of Lexington And Concord, They Used This Method And Succeeded Achieving Strategic Victory Over The British Red Coats]

Why External Powers Entered Into The Revolutionary War Against Britain? 

Primarily support from three European nations came to the American revolutionaries against Great Britain.

They are France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Let’s find out why they entered the war from the American side.

1. France: The Empire of France was the strongest and biggest enemy of Great Britain.

From 1756 to 1763, these two powers fought the Seven Years’ War, where the French Empire had to face heavy defeat.

For this reason, they wanted to take revenge on England. Therefore, when in 1775, the Revolutionary War broke out, they got a golden opportunity to enter it from the American side.

However, they formally entered the war in 1778.

2. Spain: Spanish didn’t directly involve in armed conflicts against British forces, but they helped the revolutionaries by providing money, gunpowder, clothes, and other necessary supplies.

Spain wondered to gain their old territories, which they lost to Britain in previous conflicts.

3. The Netherlands: The Dutch authority remained neutral, but their merchants and shippers helped revolutionaries by providing huge amounts of gunpowders, arms, and other necessary goods.

Mostly, merchants from Amsterdam were involved in it.