rvg, some couple of years later?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Of course I do. And my point is that Britain *could* have choked the rebellion.

No it couldn't. It could have stopped the War if it had managed to decisively defeat Washington in the field and then offered the Colonists terms - primarily enhanced tax-raising powers for the provincial assemblies so they could pay the British Army directly.

Later, much worse things than what you Americans have done were done to Africans in an attempt to keep other Colonies, and they failed also.

That's a matter of opinion, and ours differ greatly.

Do you know why Napoleon lost?

When he entered a country it was his policy that his soldiers should take what they wanted, rape who they wanted, and destroy anything not able to be made French. Consequently, he was opposed everywhere he fought.

When Wellington invaded France it was his policy that everything should be paid for and that any soldier caught looting should be hanged immediately. That's the equivalent of rogue Marines in Afghanistan coming back to the base, boasting about the ragheads they killed, then being lined up and shot.

Wellington also had forgers in his army who forges francs with a higher silver content than Napoleon's so that his soldiers could pay for everything they needed with legal tended, and pay more than the French.

This is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of historical record.