Final answer:
The Rebels in New York were defending against British Forces during the American Revolutionary War. Option a) is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rebels in New York were defending against British Forces. After evacuating Boston in March 1776, the British had a strategy to end the American rebellion by taking control of New York City and planning to sever New England from the rest of the colonies. The British forces, under the command of Sir William Howe, eventually captured New York in 1776, which was a substantial setback for the Revolutionaries. Notably, foreign entities like France and Spain later joined the conflict against Great Britain, further complicating the American Revolutionary War for the British.