How the Environment Decided the American Revolutionary War

This article details the suffering endured by British and Hessian soldiers during the American Revolutionary War due to the harsh environment. Extreme heat, swamps, mosquitoes, alligators, venomous snakes, and diseases like malaria and yellow fever resulted in a massive loss of life far exceeding battlefield casualties. Using soldier journals and letters, the author vividly portrays their fear and despair in the face of the American wilderness and the devastating impact on their physical and mental health. In contrast, American rebels portrayed America as a land of plenty and opportunity. The article highlights the decisive role of the environment in the war and the drastically different perceptions of it between opposing sides.