American Strengths and
Weaknesses
Redcoats’ Advantages
Britain had the most
powerful navy in the
world.
They had well-trained
soldiers.
They had the money
to hire German
mercenaries.
 Mercenaries are
soldiers paid to
fight for another
country.
Redcoats’ Disadvantages
The war was
unpopular in Britain.
Many British citizens
did not want to pay
taxes to support the
war.
It was slow and
expensive for Britain
to fight a war
thousands of miles
away across the
Atlantic Ocean.
Continentals’ Advantages
Continental soldiers
were defending their
homes.
They had a stronger
will to fight.
They knew the land.
They had the strong
leadership of George
Washington.
Continentals’ Disadvantages
They entered the war
without an army or a
navy.
It was difficult to get
men to serve in the
Continental army.
Many soldiers quit
because they often
went without pay,
food, uniforms, and
weapons.
Washington Leads the Army
Washington was in charge of getting an
untrained army ready to fight against
Britain’s powerful army. He joined in
colonial protests against the British.
Martha Washington, George Washington’s
wife, helped with paperwork and by
sewing socks and cooking soup for the
soldiers.
Support for the Soldiers
Mary Ludwig Hayes, known as “Molly
Pitcher,” carried water for the soldiers
at the battle of Monmouth.
Margaret Corbin took over her
husband’s cannon when he was killed
in the attack on Fort Washington. She
fought until she was wounded.
Deborah Sampson disguised herself
as a man and fought as a soldier.
Ester DeBerdt Reed formed a
committee of women who went doorto-door collecting donations for the
soldiers.
African-American Soldiers
At first, George Washington agreed not to
let enslaved Africans join the army, but he
later changed his mind.
At this time, many northern colonies
decided that if African-Americans were
willing to fight and die for the freedom of
all Americans, they should be freed.
Patriot Spies
Washington was very clever when it came to
spying.
Instead of codes names, he used code numbers
in his messages.
Haym Solomon, a member of one of the Patriots’
spy rings, used his knowledge of many
languages to urge German soldiers to leave the
British army. He was captured by the British, but
escaped. He also helped to support the war
financially.