Could the American Revolution have ended in a draw?

What I mean by that is, is there any way that that war could have ended with some of the 13 colonies becoming independent from Britain, but also with at least one of the original 13 staying with Britain afterwards?
 
What I mean by that is, is there any way that that war could have ended with some of the 13 colonies becoming independent from Britain, but also with at least one of the original 13 staying with Britain afterwards?

I guess it's possible the war could drag on long enough that Britain's willing to concede US independence just to end the war, though they have enough of a postion left that they can call for a plebicite in all 13 colonies.

They'd win some too, Georgia for example comes to mind. Perhaps some of New England as well.
 

Typo

Banned
umm New England no, this isn't 1812, New England was where anti-British sentiments ran the highest back then.
 
Plebiscites are without precedent at that point in history. No chance of that in any peace settlement.
 
The British could have hold onto the South. OTL they held onto Canada, so you could argue that's a "draw". I think the South would have to rebel but then get put down for it to be considered a draw since Canada didn't rebel.
 

elder.wyrm

Banned
The British could have hold onto the South. OTL they held onto Canada, so you could argue that's a "draw". I think the South would have to rebel but then get put down for it to be considered a draw since Canada didn't rebel.

The thing is, the South was put down, several times, but always just rebelled again.

The two places where it's concievable for the British to hold on indefinitely are lower New York (the old Dutch colony part) and New Jersey.

A continuing British possession of a territory stretching from Philadelphia north through New Jersey along to New York City and upwards along the Hudson a bit would have fascinating butterflies on the early history of the US.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
The British could have hold onto the South. OTL they held onto Canada, so you could argue that's a "draw". I think the South would have to rebel but then get put down for it to be considered a draw since Canada didn't rebel.

Parts of Canada did, we don't remember them because it was put down and the bought off and because it hurts the national legend of how Canadian identity was founded. I feel Benedict Arnold is partly to blame for it; plus some of the largest british garrisons ended up being in Canada. Ultimately, one thing this failed thing did in Canada was kickstart the local liberal movement and introducing the kind of political culture that led to the 1837 uprising in both Canadas: what the US had offered to the Canadians was now the rallying cry of an armed uprising and two political parties. They also managed to raise two volunteer regiments in a matter of months, not exactly shabby for a population the historians keep painting as staunchly loyalist; 4% of the adult men of the colony in arms when they don't even control half of it and the main city is a garrison town under martial law? That's better than some of the states.

Also, it might lead to a very different map of North America and a potentially weaker position of the british in India.
 
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