American Revolutionary War

conflict=American Revolutionary War

Combatants

Colonists

Colonists living in British North America were divided over which side to support in the war. About 40 to 45% of the population supported the struggle for independence, and were known as "Patriots" (or "Whigs"). About 15 to 20% supported the British Crown during the war, and were known as "Loyalists" (or "Tories"). Loyalists fielded perhaps 50,000 men during the war years in support of the British Empire.{{fn|1}}

Related Topics:
British North America - "Patriots" (or "Whigs") - "Loyalists" (or "Tories")

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When the war began, the American revolutionaries did not have a professional army (also known as a "regular" or "standing" army). Each colony instead provided for its own defenses through the use of local militia. Militiamen served for only a few weeks or months at a time, were generally reluctant to go very far from home, and would often come and go as they saw fit. Militia typically lacked the training and discipline of regular troops, but could be effective when led by talented officers.

Related Topics:
Army - Militia

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Seeking to coordinate Patriot military efforts, the Continental Congress established (on paper) a regular army?the Continental Army?in June of 1775, and appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief. The development of the Continental Army was always a work in progress, and Washington reluctantly augmented the regular troops with militia throughout the war. Although as many as 250,000 Patriots may have served as regulars or militiamen in the eight years of the war, there were never more than 90,000 total men under arms for the Patriots in any given year. Armies in North America were small by European standards of the era; the greatest number of men that Washington personally commanded in the field at any one time was fewer than 17,000.{{fn|2}}

Related Topics:
Continental Congress - Continental Army - George Washington

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European nations

Early in 1775, the British army consisted of about 36,000 men worldwide, but wartime recruitment steadily increased this number. Additionally, over the course of the war the British hired about 30,000 German mercenaries, popularly known in the colonies as "Hessians" because many of them came from Hesse. Germans would make up about 1/3 of the British troop strength in North America. By 1779, the number of British and German troops stationed in North America was over 60,000, though these were spread from Canada to Florida.{{fn|3}}

Related Topics:
German - Mercenaries - Hessians - Hesse - Canada - Florida

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France, the Netherlands and Spain entered the war against Great Britain in an attempt to dilute Britain's emerging superpower status. France officially entered the war in 1778 and soon sent troops, ships and military equipment to fight alongside the American Patriot army against the British for the remainder of the war. French military involvement in the war proved decisive, though disastrous for the French economy. France's standing army at the time is estimated to have been some 100,000. Spain entered the war in 1779, but did not recognize the new American nation and sent no troops, but medicines, provisions and weapons to aid the United States. On the other hand, the Spanish colonial forces from Louisiana were mobilized and took active part in combat under command of General Bernardo de Gálvez. The Netherlands entered the war late in 1780, but its navy and army was soon overwhelmed by the superior British Royal navy and army.

Related Topics:
France - Netherlands - Spain - Superpower - Louisiana - General Bernardo de Gálvez

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