What would have happened if the british had granted the colonies independence sooner?
It's impossible to say. What might you suppose. Each colony was independent of the others, owing no allegiance to each other, only to Great Britain. Might they have become independent nations (Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, etc.) instead of the United States? The 13 colonies only "united" to fight for independence, not to form a nation at first. What do YOU think?
This whole thing is really confusing and I'm really depressed so its very hard to concentrate so I guess maybe some lives would have been spared and I'm not even sure. I just have a project and I'm trying to find out what would have happened and I dont know how to word this type of stuff.
@Reed ^
Sorry for the delay. I think you are right that a lot of people would not have died in the Revolutionary War if Great Britain had just granted independence to the colonies. That much is very certain. Fighting a war is also very expensive, so all that the colonies and Great Britain spent fighting would have been available to spend elsewhere or not at all.
You're not a disappointment
To explore the question of what would have happened if the British had granted the colonies independence sooner, we need to consider various factors and potential outcomes. While it's impossible to predict with certainty what would have transpired, we can examine some possibilities based on historical context.
1. Revolutionary Momentum: The American colonies had been growing increasingly frustrated with British rule due to matters such as taxes and lack of representation. If independence had been granted earlier, say in the aftermath of the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the colonists might have experienced a surge of enthusiasm and cooperation, leading to a stronger sense of unity in the face of external threats.
2. Disputes and Conflicts: Granting independence earlier might have avoided armed conflict or lessened its intensity. The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) resulted in significant casualties and destruction. By settling disputes peacefully and giving the colonies greater autonomy sooner, violence could have been averted or minimized.
3. Diplomatic Relations: An earlier independence might have affected the colonies' relations with other powers, such as France and Spain. During the Revolutionary War, these powers provided support to the American cause in hopes of weakening their rival, Britain. If independence had been granted earlier, this dynamic might have been altered, potentially changing the alliances and outcomes of subsequent conflicts.
4. Governance and Institutional Development: An earlier independence might have meant the colonists had to establish their systems of governance sooner, leading to different political structures. This could have influenced the subsequent development of American democracy and affected the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
It's important to remember that granting independence earlier would have required a major shift in British policy and outlook, as they considered the colonies a valuable source of revenue and resources. Additionally, the interests and ambitions of colonial leaders and their ability to negotiate terms would have played a significant role.
In this hypothetical scenario, the alternatives to the Revolutionary War and subsequent independence would have reshaped the course of American history in countless ways.