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How Did Geography Affect The American Revolution

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Geography and Its Vital Effects during the American Revolution

What is the most important factor to winning a war? Is it the army, the country, or the leader? No, it’s actually none of those. It’s geography that is the most important! The side with the better geographical features usually ends up winning. Geography has proven important in each of the battles throughout the American Revolutionary War. The various rivers the Americans had to cross are the reason behind their defeat in the Battle of Quebec. Whereas, the highland and marshy grounds that the British had to navigate through helped the Americans win the Battle of Cowpens. For the British, the lowland river that the British had to traverse made them lose the Battle of Lexington and …show more content…

In the Battle of Quebec, Americans mainly lost because of the St. Charles and the St. Lawrence rivers and the Plains of Abraham they had to cross to get to Quebec. In the Battle of Cowpens, the Americans won because of the highlands they captured and the marshy swamps the British had to cross. In the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the British lost because they had to cross a lowland bridge in which the Americans can view them from above. As shown in these battles, geography can have a great effect on their outcome. This has affected all wars, modern and ancient, in a way that different armies will force the opposing side to go through different obstacles such as mountains or rivers in order to exhaust the opponent and make them win the battle …show more content…

“Battle of Quebec (1775).” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-quebec-1775.

“Battle of Quebec 1775” British Battles, www.britishbattles.com/war-of-the-revolution-1775-to-1783/battle-of-quebec-1775/.

Burton, James. “Battle of Quebec - The American Revolutionary War.” WorldAtlas, 6 Jan. 2016, www.worldatlas.com/articles/battle-of-quebec-the-american-revolutionary-war.html.

“Battle of Cowpens.” British Battles, www.britishbattles.com/war-of-the-revolution-1775-to-1783/battle-of-cowpens/.

“Battle of Cowpens.” Ducksters Educational Site, www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/battle_of_cowpens.php.

“Cowpens.” Civil War Trust, Civil War Trust, www.civilwar.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/cowpens.

“The Battle of Cowpens: The Battle Geography.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/cowp/learn/education/classrooms/the-battle-of-cowpens-the-battle-geography.htm.

“United States History.” Battle of Lexington and Concord, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h654.html.

History.com Staff. “Battles of Lexington and Concord.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009,

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