During 1776 The British Army was close to winning the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Army held few victories and was continually on the run. On October 12, 1777 the Americans were able to defeat the British in the battle of Saratoga. With this battle the British lost New England. More importantly, it convinced the French that the Americans could indeed win the war and France signed a formal alliance with America. In September 1781, the French fleet stopped …showed first 75 words of 753 total…

…showed last 75 words of 753 total…Americans were fighting at home, while the British had to bring troops and supplies from across a wide ocean. British officers made mistakes, especially General Howe. His slowness to take action at the start of the war made it possible for the Americans to survive during two difficult winters. Finally and possibly why the peace treaty was signed in Paris, the French aid to the Americans condemned the British to failure more than anything else.