Unlikely, but is it possible? After Washington & co. declare the colonies independent, what could cause the Brits to just give up, and head home? Or is this ASB?
The British plan to infect America with smallpox and wipe out their armies is revealed after the epidemic is launched when somebody gets mugged. The letters are read in a coffee house near Parliament and the handwritin is recognised and publically attested to.
ALL the Americans and Canadian Tories change sides and go after the British army units and ships in harbor. North Americans were less likely to have been exposed to smallpox and are susceptible to infection.
The British navy is attacked by the French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish navies, all at the same time. They are upset by the spreading of the smallpox epidemic to their colonies.
A new government is formed and sues for peace. The old government is sent to the Tower of London.
Unlikely, but is it possible? After Washington & co. declare the colonies independent, what could cause the Brits to just give up, and head home? Or is this ASB?
Have Britain be involved in a war in Europe and in Asia in the mid-to-late 1770s. Just ramp up that war to the point were they can't put up a credable field army in North America, so they have to let go the American colonies.This is exactly what did happen.
This also sets the stage for a later war with US, so that Britain can avenge their humiliation over losing America.
And the war outside North America was so large that it made the necessity of giving up the American Colonies seem self evident. Thus there was no need for a re-match.