If the British had really wanted to hold on to the US, could they have done?

Question

From a non-biased point of view, how keen were the British to hold onto control of the US? I was talking to someone about it and he claimed that the British weren't particularly bothered about losing control of it. Obviously, while the British would have liked to have kept control, they weren't prepaired to send their whole military to do the job.

So, basically the British sent a token number of troops, and the result was they were greatly outnumbered. He claimed if the British had really wanted to keep the US under their control they could have sent loads more troops and wiped the floor with them.

Opinions?

Answer 1

You're right but, as stated, the British were fighting 3 wars simultaneously and the least important in a strategic sense was the US.



What they could have done (in retrospect) was to simply win hearts and minds... Britain has won small wars against overwhelming odds before, but H & M policy relies on total discretion, so the neutrals are kept on side, which didn't happen did it?

Answer 2

In this case, the British were preoccupied with fighting a war with France and Spain and holding onto their other possessions around the globe. I think they underestimated the potential of the the colonies. They lost primarily because the French were fighting a war with them.



I'm American, so I dont' know the British point of view.

Answer 3

The British were much more powerful than the American colonies. They could have squashed us like a bug. They had a lot of enemies though and one of those enemies, the French, helped us out as well and they thought they had more important battles. The British lost quite an asset. America the Beautiful.

Answer 4

The British continued to control the US culturally and economically for 100 - 150 years after independence. The political control was irrelevant. The US only became a world power in the 20th century, especially after WW2.



When Britain lost the US, their empire still continued to expand in other directions (e.g. India) reaching its peak around 1900.

Answer 5

Great Britain had more problems closer to home to deal with France and Spain.

Of course losing the colonies was a bad step.



But you are right, if they had sent their whole militray over there. They would have been vunerable from attack from other european nations.



But years later during the US civil war, low and behold The South were begging Great Britain to help them.

One wonders what would have happened if the British did indeed help. I assume some of your states would be saying God save the Queen.

Answer 6

I agree with that opinion. The British troops were often tied up fighting the French in Europe.

Answer 7

The Brit's believed that there were other colonies more important than America to keep hold of.

Answer 8

Same with the US and Vietnam, so shut your traps.