A criminal would call it his/hers mistakes, and their adversary would call them clues or breakthroughs.
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Because the poor semi united clonists were completely united in the vision of being free from the most powerful nation in the world. Perhaps, more importantly, the most powerful nation in the world made the most powerful mistake that can be made - never underestimate your adversary. Underestimation of the abilities of the other has been the downfall of every empire since the dawn of time, and may I add, quite a few over confident fellows as well.
The new lands in the western US were often rugged and the physical conditions difficult to survive, so that early settlers often seemed to be battling nature as a foe or enemy. There were no prepared dwellings in the newly settled lands, and few natural features that offered protection from the elements. The pioneers and settlers faced harsh weather such as rains, floods, winds, dust storms, and extremes of heat and cold. The trails they used needed to be cleared of rocks and trees, and they had to ford rivers and cross mountains. These hardships tested the abilities of the frontiersmen and settlers, who in some cases adopted the methods of the native Indians.