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Many would have suffered repercussions -

Common folk would probably face the consequences of a British victory. Those suspected of holding a rebel stance against the Crown would likely be targeted by British troops.

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Many would have suffered repercussions -

George III’s 1775 Proclamation of Rebellion mentions punishment of “Authors, Perpetrators and Abettors.” So any suspected rebel would probably have a hard time under British rule!

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There could have been an economic crisis -

The colonies could have faced difficult economic times. Losing colonists in general due to the war was bad enough, but Britain being in debt was not good news for colonists either.

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There could have been an economic crisis -

It is estimated that Britain had a heavy debt of some £250 million (which accumulated from the Seven Years’ War). So they would likely tax colonists even more to try and recover the losses. This, in turn, would put great pressure on the local economy.

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Colonists could have lost their land -

The British could also just take land, as they did with the Scottish in the Jacobite rising of 1745.

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Colonists could have lost their land -

American colonists could have seen their lands being seized by the British and having to pay rent to the Crown.

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A food shortage could have been a reality -

Hunger could have spread in post-war colonial America, as food crops would be sold off or shipped to Britain. Indeed, a widespread famine could have happened.

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George Washington would have been executed -

George Washington and his men would have likely gone to the gallows. This would possibly help deter any future revolutions. There is, however, the possibility that George III would have shown mercy as a political move to gain sympathy among colonists.

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George Washington could have survived -

George Washington representing the American colonists in Parliament would have been a possible move to keep the peace, and control, of the colonies.

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Lots of German mercenaries might have settled in the colonies -

There were quite a few Germans in the colonies by the time of the war, especially in Pennsylvania. And then, during the war, the British contracted German mercenaries called Hessians.

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Lots of German mercenaries might have settled in the colonies -

This really ruffled Thomas Jefferson’s feathers. Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that George III "is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to [complete] the works of death, desolation, and tyranny."

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Lots of German mercenaries might have settled in the colonies -

A proclamation issued in April 1778 said that defected Hessians could expect to get 50 acres of land. It is estimated that some 6,000 Hessians stayed in North America after the war. Though despite the American promises, if the British had won the war, probably more Hessians would have settled in the colonies.

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Colonial America would still be very powerful -

The North American colonies had great resources and huge economic potential. Tobacco and cotton are two good examples.

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Colonial America would still be very powerful -

Colonists were making a lot of money, compared to those back in Britain. Their annual income was around £13.85, whereas in Britain people were taking £10-12 home.

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Colonial America would still be very powerful -

Tax rates were also a lot lower in the colonies, at 1-1.5%, when compared to Britain at 5-7%. North America was definitely a big player in the British economy, and if the Brits had won the war, the Empire would have gotten a lot wealthier.

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Slavery may have been abolished earlier -

The British actively recruited black people, whereas in the beginning they were not even allowed to join the Continental Army. While this changed later, captured black soldiers and civilians were more likely to be resold into slavery by the colonists.

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Slavery may have been abolished earlier -

Under British rule, the American South (and its many slaves) would not be as important in the grand scheme of the British Empire. So chances are that abolishing slavery wouldn’t be as prejudicial for the British in such a scenario.

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There could have been no French Revolution - The colonists had the help of the French in defeating the British. The French contributed with men, weapons, and money.

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There could have been no French Revolution -

The French Revolution then drew inspiration from the American Revolutionary War. After all, they both revolved around a king, an unequal system, and taxes.

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There could have been no French Revolution -

So much so that the French 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens was inspired by the Declaration of Independence.

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Expansion into Natives’ territory -

According to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, any territory west of the Appalachian Mountains could not be occupied by colonists. This was because it was reserved for local indigenous peoples.

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Expansion into Natives’ territory -

When the American Revolution took effect, the peace treaty between both nations ceded land south of Canada and east of the Mississippi to the US, disregarding any input from indigenous populations. If the British had won the war, perhaps this expansion wouldn’t have happened.

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Expansion into Natives’ territory -

The Comanche, for instance, expanded substantially, had lots of territory, and could have become a very powerful player in North America. However, it's hard to tell for sure if indigenous peoples would have had a better outcome with the British in charge.

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WWI might never had happened - A stable, strong, and wealthy British Empire with American colonies could have prevented one of the most devastating conflicts in history.

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WWI might never had happened -

In such a scenario, German emperor and Prussian king Wilhelm II, aka Kaiser Wilhelm, would probably be put off by such a dominant European force.

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A modern colonial government could be more stable -

Assuming America would continue under British rule, the current political landscape of America would be much different than it is today.

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A modern colonial government could be more stable -

Historically, constitutional monarchies tend to be more stable, democratic, and egalitarian.

Sources: (Grunge) (BBC)

See also: Tragic incidents of wartime friendly fire in history

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