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The Revolutionary War marked the birth of the United States as an independent nation, but what if the British had emerged victorious? This scenario explores an alternate history where the American colonies remained under British control. Key revolutionary leaders like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson might have been executed for treason, while the colonies could have continued under British governance, delaying or even preventing the development of democratic institutions. Slavery might have ended earlier, avoiding the Civil War, as Britain abolished slavery in the early 19th century. Economically, the colonies could have faced harsher taxes and restricted trade under British mercantilist policies, stifling growth. Westward expansion might have been delayed or limited, drastically altering the geographic and political landscape of North America. This thought experiment reveals how different the world might be today if the United States had never gained its independence. References

1. YouTube Video: The Revolutionary War - A British Victory | Alternate History by Historical Revisions. Published on July 4, 2020.
2. Book: What Ifs? of American History edited by Robert Cowley. Published in 2003.
3. Article: "The Consequences of a British Victory in the American War of Independence" by History Today. Published in February 2018.
4. Documentary: The Revolution That Wasn't - Exploring a British Victory by National History Channel. Released in 2019.
5. YouTube Video: Alternate History - What If Britain Won the Revolutionary War? by History Scope. Published on March 12, 2021.