Hail Britannia
A Timeline by Zoidberg12
Chapter One: The American Rebellion (1775-1778)
Prelude:
From “The American Rebellion”, by Reginald Allan McGuiness, New Boston Historical Press, 1890
“As a result of her victory in the Seven Years War (1756-1763) the British Empire, under the reign of King George II, and later in the war, under King George III, had her status assured as the dominant world power in North America, India and elsewhere around the globe. [….] She had annexed most of France’s possessions in the New World, Bengal in India, and Florida from Spain. [….] Surely it had seemed as if nothing could go wrong for Great Britain and her new Empire.
However, things would go indeed go wrong for Great Britain. [….] Britain had taxed the colonists during the 1760’s in an effort to pay off her increasing war debts. [….] These acts included the Stamp Acts, the Townsend Acts, and the Intolerable Acts. [….] Many American believed that these taxations were illegal as they had only virtual representation in Parliament. [….] In response to the rejection by local governments of the Committees of Correspondence, the First Continental Congress meets in 1774. [….] The British would shut down the local government. [….] The American Rebellion officially began on 19 April 1775, after the Battles of Lexington and Concord [1]. [….]”
The Battles of Saratoga; a turning point:
From “The Wars of the British Empire”, by Professor Sebastian Reynaldo, Madrid Historical Press, 1903
“The majority of historians agree that the turning point and single most pivotal battle of the Rebellion was none other than the Battle of Saratoga. [….] The Battles of Saratoga lasted from 19 September 1777 to 12 October 1777.
[….] For quite some time, many major European powers, France in particular, had been sympathetic to the colonist’s plight. This was mainly because of the want for revenge against the British Empire. [….] France’s defeat in the Seven Years War was humiliating to say the least. [….] For two years before the battle, France had been secretly supporting the American Rebels. [….] Other nations sympathetic, and in many cases assistive of the Rebels were Kingdom of Spain, the Dutch Republic and the Russian Empire. [….]
[….] The rebels had suffered a demoralizing string of defeats at New York City, Albany and Philadelphia [2]. [….] Another demoralizing event was the joint deaths of Generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold during the Battle of Quebec. [….] General Arnold participated in the Siege of Quebec on New Year’s Eve of 1775, and died only days after as a result of a fatal shot to the chest during the siege [3].
[….] At Saratoga, British General John Burgoyne (1722-1792), nicknamed “Gentlemen Johnny”, defeated the rebel army under General Horatio Gates [4]. [….] At the Second Battle of Saratoga, known as the Battle of Bemis Heights, General Gates was reluctant to attack the British Army, which included soldiers from the German states of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Hesse-Hanau, directly. Thus the American Army remained on the offensive [5]. [….] This would prove a grave mistake, as it would give the British Army the upper hand in the battle.
[….] Burgoyne, along with Lord Balcarres and Hessian Heinrich von Breymann, attacked the fortified American Army at Bemis Heights on 10 October, after reinforcements arrived north from General Henry Clinton [6].[….] Gates men were left surprised by the attack. [….] The ensuing counter-attack was a disaster for the Americans. [….] General Enoch Poor’s Brigade, in General Benjamin Lincoln’s division on the left of the American line, came under fire from the British grenadier battalion of the British center. [….] Although the British grenadier battalion was broken by the Americans, the British Army continued to advance. [….] Ebenezer Learned was fighting alongside Daniel Morgan and Enoch Poor. [….] The center of the British Army was held by Hessian troops. [….] The Hessians were barely able to break the enemy lines [6]. General Daniel Morgan’s Virginia sharpshooters got the British light infantry trapped in crossfire between themselves and Henry Dearborn's regiment. [….] British troops were rallied by General Simon Fraser and managed to successfully repel the Americans [7]. [….] Saratoga was a victory for the British. [….] Eventually, the American Army was forced to retreat, and General Gates surrendered his army to General Burgoyne at Saratoga on 12 October, 1777.
General John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne, the Hero of Saratoga
As a result of Britain’s victory at Saratoga, European powers such as France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Russia, knew it would be foolish at this point to assist the colonists in their rebellion against British rule. [….] Although these powers continued to support, supply, and/or trade with the rebels, it would do little to assist them in the long run. [….] It had become more than clear to these European Powers that what would become known as “The American Rebellion” was but a lost cause.
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[1] This is the same as OTL.
[2] See above.
[3] The POD. IOTL Arnold had his leg shattered.
[4] As a result of the POD. More on this below.
[5] IOTL Arnold charged against the British in defiance of Gate's orders.
[6] IOTL Burgoyne attacked on the 7th, too late for Clinton's reinforcements to arrive. IITL, he waits for the reinforcements, knowing Gates will not attack.
[7] IOTL Arnold came onto the field and encouraged Learned's men. Both men then led a joint charge on the Hessian positions. Without Arnold's encouragement, the Hessians are able to successfully attack.
[8] IOTL Fraser encouraged his men to hold fire when Benedict Arnold arrived. Without reinforcements, and without Arnold, the attack is successful.
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I'll just be posting sub-chpaters separately, as otherwise the post may be too long. 
