Comparing The Differences Between The British Soldiers And American Soldiers During The American Revolution

Great Britain, at the time of the American revolution, was the largest empire in the world. The British controlled land all over the globe, as the old saying goes. All of this land had been acquired by the British through their enormous military (particularly their navy).

British soldiers were well-trained. They were able perform precise drills under intense fire even in battle. They were efficient and obedient and very proficient with muskets. A British soldier can fire 14 rounds per minute under ideal conditions.

The British army could be divided into three types: infantry or cavalry, artillery, or both. The largest branch of the British army was the infantry. It consisted ten companies with 475 soldiers. They suffered many hardships but were more adept at combat than the two other military branches. They were nevertheless diligent, conscientious and well-trained. 231 horse-mounted soldiers made up the cavalry. They were more educated than other military groups and had a higher rank. The saber was a special cavalry sword that had a curved blade. Only two out of England’s 18 cavalry units served in America during World War I: The 16th and 17th. The Royal Regiment of Artillery, an independent arm of the army, was one of the most important branches. It was composed of four battalions and eight companies. The total branch numbered 2,256. Each company had 18 highly skilled gunners as well as seventy-three gunners’ companions (or matrosses). At the start of World War II, the British Royal Navy had 340 ships. 27 of these were in American waters. The number of ships increased to 70 by war’s end. Although the navy was mostly made up of debtors and ruffians, criminals, beggars, and other foreigners, it was made up of skilled officers who made them skilled crews. They had the most powerful warships anywhere, with ships carrying between twenty and over 100 guns. These ships were capable of holding the line in sea battles, or scouting for merchant ships. From carronades with twenty-four-pound cannons to large cannons capable of firing thirty-two pound shots, the guns were varied.

On June 14, 1775 the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army, naming George Washington its commander-in-chief. Although originally enlistments were for three years, Washington convinced Congress in 1777 that he could allow enlistments to last the entire war. Although the majority of those involved in the conflict were local militia members, they were usually untrained as well as undisciplined. The American victory was largely due to the Continental Army. Although a smaller force, it contained more men who were well-suited for the brutal war. The average Continental soldier, although more reliable than militiamen, was still young, unskilled, and ill-fit. These men were easy to recruit officers. They were subject to sickness, exhaustion and starvation. They were also confronted with the most powerful and powerful military in the entire world. An average soldier from the Continental army could fire off four rounds of musket ammunition per minute, while an average soldier from Britain could fire off fourteen. They were outnumbered, untrained, and outgunned.

What factors contributed America’s surprising victory?