Final answer:
British and colonial leaders had varying views during the Revolutionary War. Loyalists and some colonial leaders wished to remain under British rule (option c) , while Patriots sought independence. Initial hopes for reconciliation gave way to full-scale conflict, with eventual independence and the birth of a new nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Views of British and Colonial Leaders in the Revolutionary War
The views of British and colonial leaders during the Revolutionary War were complex and diverse. Many American colonists were divided in their loyalties during the Revolution. There were Loyalists who wished to remain under British rule due to fears of instability and mob rule. On the other hand, some colonial leaders and Patriots fought for independence from Britain and sought to create a new democratic society. The Second Continental Congress even moved towards drafting the Declaration of Independence as tensions increased.
Meanwhile, British leaders wanted to maintain control over the colonies and were frustrated by what they saw as colonial ingratitude after the French and Indian War. British General Thomas Gage made efforts to disarm the insurgents in Massachusetts as a way to restore order. However, there was an underlying hope on both sides for a peaceful solution or reconciliation that would preserve the colonial relationship, but these hopes faded as the conflict escalated into full-scale war.
Ultimately, British attempts to tighten control and colonists' resistance to taxes and trade restrictions led to growing protests and violence. These sentiments and actions converged into the revolution that sought independence and led to the creation of a new nation that influenced democratic norms around the world.