Final answer:
The British focus on India tightened after losing the 13 American colonies, leading to deindustrialization and economic exploitation to supplement British interests. India's textile industry suffered due to policies favoring British goods, and infrastructure was developed primarily for the colonial power's benefit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of the British Losing the 13 American Colonies on India:
After the British lost the 13 American colonies, they refocused their imperialistic goals towards expanding their control in India. The British East India Company's dominance in India was solidified with victories against regional powers and the French, marking a pivotal expansion of British influence in India. An unintentional consequence of America's independence was the acceleration of British exploitation in India.
The empire sought to prevent its remaining colonies, like India, from becoming economic rivals. This led to a process of deindustrialization, whereby India's once-thriving textile industry was systematically dismantled to favor British industrial interests.
High taxes and enforced cultivation of cash crops like cotton and tea shifted India's economy to support Britain. Indian weavers found it more expensive to sell their textiles than the British imports due to high excise taxes. Infrastructure such as railroads and telegraph lines were built in India primarily to serve British economic interests, facilitating the export of cash crops and the import of British goods.
The loss of the American colonies also led to a tighter grip on India by the British, who were determined not to repeat the same mistakes that led to the loss of the colonies. The resulting policies further entrenched colonial exploitation and had long-lasting impacts on India's economy and social fabric.