This historical assessment of British policy during the Philadelphia Campaign evaluates British policy and the policy's implementation within both civil society and the British military effort. During the American Revolution, the British faced a shortage of troops, which caused both civil and military leaders of Britain to proclaim the need for provincial units supporting the suppression of rebellion. The British military leaders in the colonies failed to translate their consistently stated support for the policy into actions designed to stimulate support and create effective units. When the British forces occupied Philadelphia, they alienated the population through plunder and adverse economic policies. Though the ability of the Loyalists in combat was proven during the campaign by units like the Queen's Rangers, the British failed to maximize and encourage the growth of similarly capable units. The British operational leadership lacked an understanding of the many influences on the Loyalists within the complex environment of the revolution. This lack of nuanced understanding prevented the formation of a coherent policy at the operational level to ensure the support of the Loyalists.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)