An American Revolution Question

TFSmith121

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Speaks volumes, doesn't it?

...The Dutch joined because the British leadership in this period was so bad that they went to war with their traditional ally on the grounds that taking on America, France, and Spain at once wasn't enough.

Speaks volumes, doesn't it?

Shades of the German decision-making in 1939-41.

Best,
 
Such a peace, while a good idea given the circumstances we are considering here, was less likely than we might assume today. In hindsight, compromise seems like such a logical option. But in the heat of the conflict, Americans had largely radicalized. Compromise was no longer their aim: independence was. The only way to "compromise" would be to give them what they had demanded in the first place:

Possibly, although if the Continental Congress was unable to supply its armies due to lack of funds I think they'd become much more amenable to compromise. Certainly there'd be die-hards who fought on to the bitter end, but most of the rebels would probably be unwilling to do so.
 
Possibly, although if the Continental Congress was unable to supply its armies due to lack of funds I think they'd become much more amenable to compromise. Certainly there'd be die-hards who fought on to the bitter end, but most of the rebels would probably be unwilling to do so.

Hrm.

In 1776, America's army was reduced to a few thousand men shivering across the Dwelaware River. They'd been routed from Manhattan; they'd been chased across New Jersey; what could save them? Then the die hards won.

I don't see how we can get around the difficulty of Britain conquering the thirteen colonies across an ocean and ruling through military force.
 
Spain had to be dragged in kicking and screaming, and only joined witht he promise of Gibraltar, Minorca, and the Floridas. The Dutch joined because the British leadership in this period was so bad that they went to war with their traditional ally on the grounds that taking on America, France, and Spain at once wasn't enough.

Why aren't those reasons good enough for Spain to get involved anyway?
 
Why aren't those reasons good enough for Spain to get involved anyway?

The fact that the Spain of 1780 is nowhere near the powerhouse that was Spain of 1520, and had more to lose in terms of a possible direct war with a long-time foe, especially when most European nations considered the New World to still be a backwater?
 
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