Great Britain misjudged the Patriots. In 1775, British soldiers under Lord William Howe won the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston, but later they were forced to abandon the city. Patriot persistence owed much to the leadership of George Washington.

George Washington was a man of extraordinary charisma and talent for leadership. The populace admired and respected him; his fellow soliders and officials did, too; he had dealings with outstanding people of his time who stood higher than he did intellectually level. Nevertheless, he was the leader.

According to a paper by reverend Richard C. Stazesky for the George Washington Club (2000) in Delaware, Washington's leadership style shows the following characteristics:

- he had a vision of the cause that comprised ideas and goals that would not be changed no matter the circumstances;

- he was skillful in designing and creating an organizational culture that made possible the achievement of the leader's vision and ideas;

- he was successful in gaining others for the cause by persuading them and by instilling in them his ideas, beliefs and values of his vision.

- as any other successful leader, he effectively combined in himself different roles to be played for the cause.

General William Howe is named the between time president of the British armed force in America on October 1, 1775, supplanting Lieutenant General Thomas Gage. General Howe's first significant fights against his American partner, General George Washington, including the Bunker Hill Battle, came during the Patriot attack of Boston.

He was for all time named to the post in April 1776. Howe was cleared of any bad behavior by the examination and proceeded to turn into the legislative head of Berwick.