A Change of Character: The Failed Rebellions of the American Colonies

I am at awe, and quite intimidated by the depth of knowledge and time commitment many posters have put into these timelines. Please expect only broad brushstrokes for my first attempt.

But I would certainly appreciate any insights.

A Change of Character: The Failed Rebellions of the American Colonies and the American British Empire

1775 – 1780: First War of American Independence

POD: Changes in the distribution of courage, ingenuity, and intellect between American and British generals.

1776: Based on his deep faith in country, king, and the unified national character, General Howe is relentless in pursuing the fragmented Continental Army in New York. Blessed with fair weather conditions, Howe's army defeats the majority of the Continental Army in Long Island. George Washington and some remnants escape, but are badly discouraged. British and Hessian troops reinforce Boston and take New York.

Faced with such a defeat, George Washington falls into a melancholy. His vision and resolve waiver, and his compatriots are dismayed. The army continues to retreat, ceding New Jersey and New York to the British.

1777: A coordinated attack from Canada by John Burgoyne and General Howe push back the remaining Continental Army forces. The forces of George Washington are surrounded. Discouraged, and resigned to his fate, George Washington surrenders, and most of his men flee. The remainder are captured and sent to terrible prison camps and ships. Philadelphia is captured and the Continental Congress flees.

France watches the revolt with interest from a distance, but sees the disastrous early victories as a poor sign. They lend moral support, but wait before directly engaging Britain in an international conflict. The tide of battle never turns, and the French never lend military aid.

Guerilla war-fare by local revolutionary militias in New England is slowly overwhelmed by British forces. The encircled Continental Congress in York, Pennsylvania attempts to flee through Maryland to Virginia. A small Loyalist militia is tipped by an informer, and notifies nearby British forces. The troops rush to intercept the Congress, and miraculously capture all their members on July 7th, 1777. They are sent to reprehensible conditions on British prison ships in New York.

The Suffering of the Sevens becomes a underground legend in local folklore. It becomes a song set in minor key, with the following lyrics [in modern spelling]:

O rebel souls did rear their heads to toss against a king,
Declare their life, their love, the home, for all eternity.
But drawn like sheep until the fold-- weep thou here with me!--
That when the Suffering Sevens fall, so falls our liberty.

By the 1880s, children played a game known as Suffering Sevens, where a group on one side would be blindfolded, while a smaller group tried to flee. When found, the hunted would be forced to perform a humiliating act, to the amusement of the victors.

By 1780, an emboldened British and Hessian force engages in a Southern Campaign. Although revolutionary sentiment is still dominant, Loyalist militias are somewhat stronger, and the combined forces are able to destroy the last substantial armies of the American Revolt. Scattered militia forces engage in guerillas warfare until 1782, when the last significant resistance is crushed in the Appalachian foothills by a joint force of Native American and British forces.

Next: The Butterflies of the Failed First Rebellion of the American Colonies
 
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The First Rebellion of the American Colonies -- Additional Edits

The First Rebellion of the American Colonies -- Additional Edits

As British forces battle the remaining armies in rebellion in the southern colonies, African slaves are increasingly recruited into the conflict. John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore and colonial governor of Virginia had promised freedom in 1775 to all bondsmen, black or white, who join in their military campaign.

Lord Dunmore's "Ethiopian Regiment" fights in some small skirmishes in the northern campaign, with limited success. After the victory of General Howe in the north, a previously unknown soldier and former slave in this regiment, known only as "Captain" James is radically inspired by the victory of Loyalist forces. He holds no official military title, but becomes an evangelist for the Loyalist cause.

His irregular company, lead by British officers, volunteers for the the Southern campaign. The natural rhetorical skills of Captain James find an outlet he had never before experienced. Hundreds of escaped slaves are inspired to join the regiment, which splits into three separate companies. Their uniforms are inscribed with the words, "Liberty for Slaves" and "Victory or Death"

As the Southern campaign of the British continues, of thousands slaves their masters, almost a third of the slave population of some colonies. Thousands join the Loyalist cause. Most never see battle, but serve as servants and supportive roles. The ranks of the "Black Company of Captain James" nominally under the direction of British generals, swells to over a thousand. At a key point in one of the final battles of the Southern Campaign, the inspired (even fanatical) courage of the Black Company breaks a counter-attack of the American forces in rebellion. Captain James is wounded in the action, but ignores his wounds and presses the charge to victory.

The image of a bloody "Black Captain Jim" rallying the former slaves is an image that is burned into the memory of Loyalist forces.

A possibly apocryphal source quotes the speech of Black Captain Jim as he rallied the troops before the charge:

"Brothers! What color is your blood?
Brothers! I asked you what color is your blood!
Because you have been told that the blood of a slave is black.
Is it so? I said, is it so!
I do not know about you, but my blood is red! Do you hear?
My blood is red! It is red like a fire! It is red like a rose in bloom!
And why is my blood red? Because I was slave, but no more.
Why is my blood red? Because it burns with the heat of battle.

My blood is red, and I will pour it on the ground rather than admit defeat.
So Brothers! What fear is there of death?
If you shed your blood, your blood is as red as a freedman, and your blood flows free!"
 
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Chapter II: Consequences of the First Rebellion of the American Colonies

Chapter II: The Consolidation of the American Colonies

After the success of the British in the First Rebellion of the American Colonies, the rebels face several consequences. Select members of the Continental Congress were executed, including John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Most others were spared, although they were imprisoned for some time and had some of their property seized. Key generals, including George Washington and Benedict Arnold, are also executed. The rank and file prisoners of war are granted leniency and many return to their homes.

Loyalist militia leaders are granted many favors, including appointments into local positions under the local provincial governors.

The King also grants favors to the Loyalist Indian tribes who helped to participate in pacifying the rebellion, and creates a modified Proclamation of 1783 which enforces the prohibition against colonial settlement west of the Appalachian mountains. The Quebec Act of 1774 is extended with some modifications, granting much of Ohio Country and the Great Lakes region to the Province of Quebec. A wide strip of land is granted as a reservation to the Loyalist tribes.

The French-speaking population remains a heavy majority throughout the Province of Quebec, although the British retain control of the region. Settlement in Ohio Country remains sparse.

The formerly enslaved black Loyalists who assisted the British cause are granted their freedom. Loyalist sentiment among free black subjects vastly increases. Many Black Loyalists attempt to return to their home area as freemen, however, many are re-enslaved or murdered upon their return. The British retain control over Florida, and grant land to all former slaves who assisted the Loyalist cause. Over 20,000 men, women, and children ultimately migrate to the area.

The Virginia House of Burgesses and other local assemblies were banned between 1780 and 1782, and governors appointed by the King given legislative and executive power for the each individual colony. However, after realizing the scope of involvement required for day to day management, the governors relented and allowed the local houses to meet. However, the governor retained a veto, making the councils more of a means for debate and advice.

To assuage some of the concerns that lead to the revolution, the King repealed much offensive legislation and also granted tax making authority to local governors.

After defeat in the First Rebellion of the American Colonies creates discouragement amongst the population about the practicality and goals of the Revolution. The undecideds are won over the status quo after the defeat. But a significant, substantial, and motivated minority are still radically committed to the cause of American Independence.

The Anglican Church, mostly Loyalist in the North, but split from the monarchy in the revolutionary south, is consolidated and reconciled with the monarchy for most official leadership. A minority group splits to form the Independent American Episcopal Church, which is never recognized by the local governors.
 
Sounds like the failed rebelling in Ireland of 1789.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Rebellion_of_1798
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You could have the French fleet being damaged by a storm at sea and returning to France like happened in Ireland in 1996.
Having more Loyalist spies among the Americas would be a nice touch.
Some of the Scottish highland regiments who fought on the British side would be good too.
and Thomas Paine is hanged as traitor after watching his books being burnt.
Only loyal colonists are allowed to bear arms.
Coffee is banned in the colonies and Americans must drink tea.

Aborted invasion (1796)
Tone's efforts succeeded with the dispatch of the Expédition d'Irlande, and he accompanied a force of 14,000 French veteran troops under General Hoche which arrived off the coast of Ireland at Bantry Bay in December 1796 after eluding the Royal Navy; however, unremitting storms, indecisiveness of leaders and poor seamanship all combined to prevent a landing. The despairing Wolfe Tone remarked; "England has had its luckiest escape since the Armada."[7] The French fleet was forced to return home and the veteran army intended to spearhead the invasion of Ireland split up and was sent to fight in other theatres of the French Revolutionary Wars.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Rebellion_of_1798

The American form the Society of United States of America fashioned after the allied
Society of United Irishmen and Society of the United Scotsmen as a secret oath bond society to work for an independent republican USA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_United_Irishmen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_the_United_Scotsmen
 
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