British prime minister [[William Pitt the elder]] decided that it was necessary to win the war against France at all costs. In previous wars America had been a side-show to Europe; now it was an important arena, though still not as important as central Europe. Militia and volunteers from the [[Thirteen Colonies]] became the main source of British manpower, augmented by British regiments and under the command of british professional soldiers. Most of the Americans were young and poor; many were indentured servants who won freedom from their labor contracts by going to war. | British prime minister [[William Pitt the elder]] decided that it was necessary to win the war against France at all costs. In previous wars America had been a side-show to Europe; now it was an important arena, though still not as important as central Europe. Militia and volunteers from the [[Thirteen Colonies]] became the main source of British manpower, augmented by British regiments and under the command of british professional soldiers. Most of the Americans were young and poor; many were indentured servants who won freedom from their labor contracts by going to war. |