Chapter 7: The American Revolution ??????????The War For Independence o???Introduction ???At the start of the war Britain had the best-equipped and most disciplined army, along with a navy that was unopposed in American waters ???Due to the native officer corps and considerable experience in colonial wars, the Patriot forces proved formidable ???Initially the British thought they could regain political control by having one military victory ???This strategy did not work due to the geography on eastern North America ???Patriots had the advantage of fighting on their own land and the popular support for the American cause o???The Patriot Forces ???Forces include: ??????????350,000 eligible men ??????????Over 200,000 saw action ??????????No more than 25,000 were engaged at one time