Question

What should the outcome of the Revolutionary War be? Who should win and how should the losing side be handled?

a) The Patriots should win, and the British should peacefully withdraw.
b) The British should win, and the Patriots should be punished.
c) The war should end in a ceasefire with both sides agreeing to new terms.
d) The outcome should be determined through diplomatic negotiations.

Answer 1

The Revolutionary War's outcome was that the Patriots won, with the British withdrawing peacefully as per the Treaty of Paris. Loyalists were treated with varying degrees of fairness, many relocated to other British territories. The war brought significant social upheaval and led to the establishment of a new nation that influenced future democracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the desired outcome of the Revolutionary War. Considering historical facts, the Treaty of Paris in 1783 dictated the actual outcome, which was that the Patriots won, and the British forces withdrew peacefully. This treaty marked the end of the war, with Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. The British Parliament had voted to end the war following the American victory at Yorktown, and hostilities ceased when British forces began to evacuate in 1782. George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief, a gesture illustrating a return to civilian control over the military rather than seizing power.

The treatment of the Loyalists after the war varied, with some 80,000 opting to leave with the British, who funded their relocation to other British territories like Canada. Although the terms of the Treaty of Paris called for fair treatment and the return of confiscated property to Loyalists, many states did not adhere to this suggestion. Ultimately, although some Loyalists were compensated by the British government, their reintegration into American society was complex and often problematic.

The Revolutionary War was not solely a military conflict; it was also a period of significant social upheaval. It affected diverse groups, including Loyalists, Patriots, women, enslaved and free Black people, Native Americans, and the neutral majority who did not side decisively with either the Patriots or the Loyalists. The war's outcome led to the founding of a new democratic nation with a significant impact on the global stage in the centuries to come, influencing future diplomacy and the concept of national democracy.