Britain angered America after Parliament imposed corrupt taxes on American goods, which led to citizen resistance. The American people were full of enthusiasm and anger against Great Britain, their intense spirit helping them in their war for freedom. In 1776, many men readily joined local militias and, conversely, very few joined General George Washington's Continental Army. The Continental Army required longer terms and harsher discipline, which led to the militia's overwhelming popularity. Because of these difficulties, Congress stepped in and required each state to provide a larger share of men for longer periods. To make enlisting more attractive, they also added a signing bonus and the promise of free land after the war. These military policies were invoked to complete the Continental Army, but its attempt was never completely successful. Congress authorized an army of 75,000 men, and Washington's forces never had more than about 18,000 men, even at peak. Unfortunately, only men with few other options in life chose to join the military due to the terms of the'