Losing America Securing an Empire

<p> The American Revolution is seen as a colossal defeat of the powerful British Empire by colonial rebels. Yet the British emerged from the conflict in better shape than the newly independent United States. After the revolution became a global conflict with the entry of France Spain and later the Netherlands on the American side Britain's desire to maintain prestige in Europe through dominance of her many colonies--particularly the West Indies and India--was the driving force behind British strategy. Military victories late in the war along with retention of the rest of the empire allowed Britain to remain a significant power. This history explores the view that Great Britain did not really lose the Revolutionary War.</p>