Final answer:
The key location for British operations during most of the American Revolutionary War was New York City, which served as the main base following the British evacuation of Boston in 1776 and remained so until the end of the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American Revolutionary War, which spanned from 1775 to 1783, saw various cities serving as pivotal operational bases for the British forces. The question posed asks which city was the primary base for British operations throughout most of the war. The correct answer is B. New York.
After evacuating Boston in March 1776 following the Siege of Boston, British troops led by General William Howe took control of New York City in September of that year. New York's strategic location, with its excellent harbors and access to rivers, made it a crucial base for the British navy and army. It enabled them to launch military operations throughout the colonies, as well as to maintain communication with Great Britain across the Atlantic. New York remained under British control and served as their main military and political base of operations in North America until the end of the war.
Philadelphia and Boston were significant during the war, but neither served as the primary base for most of it. Philadelphia was occupied by the British for about a year from 1777 to 1778, and Boston was a focal point early in the war. Saratoga, while not a base, was the site of a critical battle considered a turning point of the war because it resulted in the French alliance with the American forces.
Therefore, when discussing the location that served as the main base for British operations during the American Revolutionary War, the answer is definitively New York.