Final answer:
The brutality of the British troops in the South, including harsh treatment of captured soldiers and punitive measures against civilians, fueled resentment and support for the Patriot cause, contributing to the British defeat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brutality of the British troops in the South contributed to their defeat in several ways. The British strategy involved leveraging support from Loyalists, enslaved people, and Native American allies, but the heavy-handed tactics used by the British military often caused resentment among the local population. The harsh treatment of captured American soldiers, the punitive measures taken against civilians like burning villages suspected of pro-rebel sympathies, and the broader enforcement of allegiance to the crown often served to alienate and anger local residents, thereby fueling support for the Patriot cause.
By ignoring the realities of local resentment and racial tensions, and by imposing draconian measures on a population already divided by revolution, the British command helped create a fertile ground for guerrilla warfare and resistance which Nathanael Greene and other American commanders were able to exploit. The Southern strategy, although initially successful in capturing significant territories, became overwhelmed by the complications of a hostile populace and the resolve of the Continental Army, leading to the British defeat at Yorktown.