The American Revolution was principally caused by colonial opposition to British attempts to impose greater control over the colonies and to make them repay the crown for its defense of them during the French and Indian War (1754–63). Learn about the Boston Tea Party, the colonists’ radical response to a tax on tea.

the Treaty of Paris

Declaration of Independence: 1776.

Some Loyalists didn’t fight because they were not dissatisfied. They may have been wealthy or simply believed that Great Britain was justified in its actions. Patriots would insult Loyalists and mistrusted them because they did not believe in the Patriots’ cause.

Being well trained and having a disciplined force was a big advantage for the British. It gave the soldiers the mind set of not running from anything or towards anything. They listened to their head general and they followed the orders of what they were supposed to do.

The main disadvantage most believe is that they were fighting against an idea. They didn’t have a real drive to win. Even though the Loyalists were committed to keeping things how they were under British rule, they didn’t have as strong a reason to be on that side as the Patriots did.

British citizens living in England paid more taxes than the American colonists. The colonists who agreed with Parliament’s point of view were called Loyalists. They supported the taxes since the money was going to help the British government and help pay for their own defense.

On the other hand, the Americans had many intangible advantages. The British fought a war far from home. Military orders, troops, and supplies sometimes took months to reach their destinations. The British had an extremely difficult objective.