Lakhasly

In 1776 the prospects for American victory seemed small.ColonialColonial eliteselites--large landholders and plantation masterslarge landholders and plantation masters--benefited most from American benefited most from American independence:independence: They continued to rule at home without outside interference.The pamphlet Common SenseCommon Sense by Anglo-American philosopher ThomaThomas Paines Paine presented powerful arguments opposing kings and supporting a pure republicopposing kings and supporting a pure republic.They fought on their own territory, and in order to win they did not have to defeat the British but only to and in order to win they did not have to defeat the British but only to convince the British that the colonists could not be defeatedconvince the British that the colonists could not be defeated.Britain had a population more than three times that of the colonies, and the British army was large, well-trained, and experienced.But Americans had powerful advantagespowerful advantages that in the end were decisive.

In 1776 the prospects for American victory seemed small. Britain had a population more than three
times that of the colonies, and the British army was large, well–trained, and experienced. The
Americans, on the other hand, had undisciplined militia undisciplined militia and only the beginnings of a regular army or
even a government. But Americans had powerful advantagespowerful advantages that in the end were decisive. They
fought on their own territory, and in order to win they did not have to defeat the British but only to and in order to win they did not have to defeat the British but only to
convince the British that the colonists could not be defeatedconvince the British that the colonists could not be defeated.
Through 1775 and into 1776, the Americans fought without agreeing on what the fight was about:
Many wanted independence, while others wanted to reconcile with the king but not with Parliament.
The pamphlet Common SenseCommon Sense by Anglo-American philosopher ThomaThomas Paines Paine presented powerful
arguments opposing kings and supporting a pure republicopposing kings and supporting a pure republic. It changed the minds of many colonists.It changed the minds of many colonists.
ColonialColonial eliteselites—large landholders and plantation masterslarge landholders and plantation masters—benefited most from American benefited most from American
independence:independence: They continued to rule at home without outside interference. Below them, propertyproperty–
holding white men who became full citizens of the American republic enjoyed the “life, liberty, and holding white men who became full citizens of the American republic enjoyed the “life, liberty, and
property” for which they had foughtproperty” for which they had fought. White women remained excluded from public lifeWhite women remained excluded from public life, as did mostas did most
white men without properwhite men without propertyty. But the Americans for whom the legacy of revolution proved disastrousof revolution proved disastrous—
or at best ambiguous—were Native Americans and African American slaves.Native Americans and African American slaves.