John Laurens' willingness to enlist slaves in the Continental army, and his reasons for that willingness, demonstrate the belief in freedom that drove him to give his life in the American Revolution. However, many Americans who fought in the war did not share as deeply his idea of freedom. Nonetheless, American politicians strategically used that spirit both to recruit Americans for their cause as well as to craft multi-national military alliances that were instrumental in their victory in the American Revolution. Through these actions, Americans won the Revolution. But in the same vein, through their inability to recognize the significance of these actions, the British lost a colonial war for independence.
The first battle of the American Revolution occurred at Lexington, Massachusetts on 19 April 1775 (Abbott 169). Initially, the British forces significantly outnumbered the American militia. But the Americans were supported by approximately 4,000 other Americans who shot at the British as they pressed from Lexington to Concord. Eventually, the British were forced to retreat, after having sustained much higher casualties than the Americans (Abbot 169). What this demonstrates is that American military forces had stronger support than the British had anticipated. This would be an instrumental element behind the Americans' success.
Another significant factor in their success was how quickly they organized, as a centralized government and military, after that initial battle. The Continental Congress quickly established the Continental Army and placed George Washington at its helm (Abbott 170). Washington was a solid and well-respected military commander. However, the Congress also chose him for geo-political reasons. They believed that Washington's popularity in his home state of Virginia could help in recruiting soldiers from the most populous colony (Abbott 170). The Congress also sought to discuss the events with George III, sugg...