What would have happened if the British Empire had crushed the revolt in the 13 colonies?

Question

I was just wondering how this could have changed the course of history if the colonists had been defeated in 1776, and America gained it's independence from Britain through legal means similar to Australia, rather than an illegal armed insurrection and ensuing guerilla style warfare they employed.

Answer 1

Why do people think we lost the colonies in 1776. The Surrender of British Forces in the colonies did not happen until 1784. The declaration of independance was made in 1776!
But anyway, the pacification of the colonies in the 1770's would have led to maybe 10 - 50 years of possible co operation between the Parliment of the UK and the Colonial Goverments, but ultimatley if Parliment had carried on with its demands for increased revenue to cover the problems caused by the wars being fought, bailing out the East India Company and paying for the loss of earnings and taxes at home due to the 1790 - 1810 recession then the Colonial Administration may well have risen up again.
However if Parliment had heeded Pitt the Elders advise and calmed the taxation and negotiated the problems the colonies had, then I suspect that the North American Colony would have been a lot different than what it is today, possibly split into 3 or 4 different countries, the Native American wars would not have happened unless they became a real threat to the colony and even then they would not have been destroyed. The ethnic mix of America would have been a lot less than what it is now as the immigration of many of the European and Slavic race would not have been allowed. The Civil War would not have happened as slavery would have been abandoned at the same time as the rest of the Empire and the Southern States (those not incorporated into the British Sphere) would have found themselves blockaded by the Royal navy and any slave ships confiscated, just like the rest of the world. The Colonies would have been involved in the two World Wars from the start with all the industrial might they could give.
The Colonies no doubt would have been given Dominion Status maybe in the late 1880's but definatley by 1900 the same as the other 'White' based colonies (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa) still under overall rule of the Monarch but independant in governing body.
The question really should be what would have happened to New France, Mexican Empire, the Spanish Colonies of Florida, California and the Phillapines. After all the Americans brought, conquered and overrun all these areas for its own Imperialistic requirements.

Answer 2

Most people will say taxation,but it wasn't just that,people needed a license to buy certain products,the tarrifs were unimaginable.The colonies were represented to a small extent,but not enough. The fact was that the majority of the PEOPLE werre not satisfied with the UK even if the small minority loyalists were. But really how it all started was that King George believed that the US would soon revolt, he made the first move by sending troops over,he was paranoid. The physical fighting began soon after starting with the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Answer 3

I doubt the British Empire would have allowed independence through leagal means. There was too much profit to be had and too much tax money to be gained in keeping the colonies.

It would have come to war just as it did with the Boers, the Irish, the Faulklands, Spanish, Zulu, French, Afghanastan, Chinese......

In fact I think the British are the most waring imperalistic nation on the globe. The British Empire says it all... you have invaded and occupied and colonized nation after nation all through history and have the audacity to think we fought a "dirty war".

No, your army fought a stupid one.

And furthermore:

The British people before WWII were proud hard working people. They took on the Nazi war machine single handedly. Did they ask for help? Hell no! They were too proud. Now today all you hear from the British people is whining that they went it alone in 1940 and America didn't come help. Your fathers would have it no other way. Now we see a generation that complain and want the world to come to their aid. What happened to you people?

I think the German bombing did more than scare your people and destroy your cities... it destroyed your national pride.


g-day!

Answer 4

Not really a question is it?

Your hidden question is asking the difference between an "illegal armed insurrection, and guerrilla warfare" by American colonists in 1776 and what's happening in certain other places in the World now.

Best of luck with this.

Answer 5

The British were against expansion beyond the colonies so it is likley that Mexico would cover California and Texas

BUT if America not been allowed to form as it had and hd been a much smaller entity it could not have had the impact it did in world war 1 and more importantly world war 2

Without America as a major power in world war 2 Europe may look very different today

Answer 6

They would have remained English colonies. However, had they won I believe the English would of had their hands full with the French and Spanish over the rest of the New World. Inevitably another war would have taken place.

Answer 7

King george gave the colonies away anyway, even if the british won america would have been given it's independance anyway.

Answer 8

There is a great science-fiction novel, "The Two Georges", which takes place in a world where the English and the Colonists reconciled their differences.

Answer 9

You should read The Two Georges by Richard Dryfuss and Harry Turtledove. It is on this very topic.

Answer 10

It is idle to speculate on hypothetical questions. Was George Best a better footballer than....? What if the cow hadn't jumped over the moon- would the plate have even thought about eloping with the spoon?