Exploring the nations paving the way for the future of AI
The American Revolutionary War was fought between American Patriots of the 13 colonies and the British colonial government under the rule of King George III. The conflict broke out in 1775, and ended in 1783 with the defeat of the British and the independence of the United States resulting. But what if things had gone the other way? What if the British had won the war?
In this gallery, we explore hypothetical scenarios and speculate on what could have happened if the British had won the the American Revolutionary War. Click on for a big eye-opener!
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.
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!
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.
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.
The British could also just take land, as they did with the Scottish in the Jacobite rising of 1745.
American colonists could have seen their lands being seized by the British and having to pay rent to the Crown.
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.
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.
George Washington representing the American colonists in Parliament would have been a possible move to keep the peace, and control, of 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.
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."
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.
The North American colonies had great resources and huge economic potential. Tobacco and cotton are two good examples.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The French Revolution then drew inspiration from the American Revolutionary War. After all, they both revolved around a king, an unequal system, and taxes.
So much so that the French 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens was inspired by the Declaration of Independence.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Assuming America would continue under British rule, the current political landscape of America would be much different than it is today.
Historically, constitutional monarchies tend to be more stable, democratic, and egalitarian.
Sources: (Grunge) (BBC)
See also:
Tragic incidents of wartime friendly fire in history
What if Britain had won the American Revolutionary War?
What would America look like if George Washington had lost the War of Independence?
LIFESTYLE Counterfactual history
The American Revolutionary War was fought between American Patriots of the 13 colonies and the British colonial government under the rule of King George III. The conflict broke out in 1775, and ended in 1783 with the defeat of the British and the independence of the United States resulting. But what if things had gone the other way? What if the British had won the war?
In this gallery, we explore hypothetical scenarios and speculate on what could have happened if the British had won the the American Revolutionary War. Click on for a big eye-opener!