Final answer:
The timeline suggests that the British initially viewed the possibility of American success as unlikely, while the Americans grew increasingly confident in their potential for success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The timeline suggests that the British initially viewed the possibility of success as unlikely for the American colonists. In the introduction, it is mentioned that Great Britain ruled a vast empire and believed that the colonies would not be able to wage a successful war for independence. However, as the Revolutionary War dragged on, the colonists ultimately prevailed against the British, indicating that the Americans had a growing belief in their potential for success.