A major weakness for the Continental Army was manpower; they were always short of qualified and capable men. General George Washington routinely had no more than 20,000 troops at one time and place.

What were some strengths and weaknesses of the Continental Army?

Terms in this set (4)

  • Continental Army Strengths. 1) French was on their side. 2) Guerilla Warfare.
  • British Army Strengths. 1) They were well trained. 2) They had bayonets.
  • Continental Army Weaknesses. 1) They didn’t have a lot of men.
  • British Army Weaknesses. 1) They weren’t familiar with the land.


What disadvantages did the American Continental Army have?

There were poor roads, the people in charge of delivering the supplies were not always honest, and ships had difficulties getting around British blockades. Army supplies, such as clothing and blankets, arrived late or not at all and food was often spoiled or damaged.

What are two problems faced by the Continental Army?

The army was ragtag, barely trained, half-starving, and woefully unequipped. The group was also hardly united for too much of the war and led by generals often squabbling, undermining, or fighting with each other.

What were weaknesses of the British army?

The British army was also trained while the Continental army was not. The British armies weakness was that they had to travel all the way to the colonies to fight and the distance was far. Another weakness was that they were not used to the land they were fighting on and that they did not have the strive to fight.

What was one huge weakness of the Continental Congress?

With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.

What is one weakness of the Continental Congress?

Congress could not act directly upon the states or upon individuals. Under such circumstances foreign nations doubted the value of a treaty with the new Republic. Furthermore, Congress had no authority to regulate foreign or interstate commerce.

What was the problem with Continentals?

Continentals refers to paper currency issued by the Continental Congress in 1775 to help fund the American Revolutionary War. Continentals quickly lost value, partly because they were not backed by a physical asset like gold or silver, but also due to the fact that too many bills were printed.

What were three problems the Continental Army faced at Valley Forge?

A lack of organization, food and money shortages plagued the Continental Army throughout the first half of the seven-year-long revolution. These problems exacerbated the harsh living conditions at Valley Forge in the third year of the war.

What are 3 weaknesses of the British army?

Weaknesses in the British Army During the Revolutionary War

  • 3,000 Miles of Ocean. However the British had weaknesses that were not apparent at first glance.
  • Fighting with Mercenaries.
  • A Dangerous and Unfamiliar Terrain.
  • A Fighting Rabble.



What was a problem that the Continental Army had in the winter of 1776?

It has been estimated that a third of Washington’s army at Valley Forge lacked viable footwear. Washington ordered his soldiers to build wooden huts for themselves and search the countryside for straw to use as bedding. He hoped this would keep them warm since there were not enough blankets for everyone.

Why did the Continental Army not have enough money?

The Continental soldiers were not paid, or were only paid a fraction of what they were owed. Many held out for the promise of what Congress owed them, only to fall victim to speculators and soaring prices. Some were even forced into outright rebellion when they could no longer afford the very land they fought for.

Was the Continental Army poorly trained?

At the time of the Continental Army’s establishment, Soldiers were untrained and lacked standards, equipment and discipline. Troops were often poorly dressed in tattered scraps of clothing and subsisted on scarce and often rotten rations.

What were 3 strengths of the Continental Army?



They had more than 42,000 troops at all times. They were well trained in European military strategies. They excelled in battle fighting against large troops on open ground. The British soldiers had more experience in firing artillery.

What were some advantages of the Continental Army?

Their biggest advantage was that they were fighting for a grand cause, their independence and freedom, which was a very motivating factor.

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the North and the South?

Despite the North’s greater population, however, the South had an army almost equal in size during the first year of the war. The North had an enormous industrial advantage as well. At the beginning of the war, the Confederacy had only one-ninth the industrial capacity of the Union. But that statistic was misleading.

What were 3 successes of the Continental Congress?

“The delegates wasted no time deliberating the nature or extent of their authority; instead, they convened in the spirit of a council of war,” says Irvin. The Continental Congress established an army, a navy and a post office, and issued currency.

What was the Continental Congress greatest failure Why?

If the Franco-American alliance was one of Congress’s greatest successes, funding and supplying the war were among its worst failures. Lacking a pre-existing infrastructure, Congress struggled throughout the war to provide the Continental Army with adequate supplies and provisions.

What was the biggest problem the Continental Congress faced?



One of the most serious weaknesses the colonists faced at the outset of their war with Britain was the lack of a central government. Individual colonies (soon to become states) were fortunate in having a long tradition of local government rooted in the supremacy of the locally elected legislature.