The American colonists had a very special relationship with England since many of them originated from this country. As the days were passing by, the colonists enjoyed a “salutary neglect.” They were far from the English monarch who enjoyed in turn the bounties of his colonies. The trade on which the colonists and the king relied was of benefit to all of them. Not only did they feel free but also they were loyal to their English king. By the mid 1760’s, the understanding between the American colonies and the mother country was crumbling. The harmony which had existed turned into discord when the English Parliament decided to tax the American colonies because of the high cost of the French and Indian War (1754-1763), and thus all the colonies were thrown into turmoil. The more the colonists rose up against Britain, the more troops the British sent to enforce the laws. From skirmishes to attempts to settle matters, the relations between the two countries were so strained that they could break up at any time.
The war the Continental Congress intended to wage would require money, men and the experience of soldiers skilled in the art form of warfare such as it was waged in the 18^th century. The American resistance to power got organized with great difficulty but how could the American colonists hope to defeat the English in the art of war?