Britain rejected the Declaration of Independence outright. Official proclamations and military correspondence show that British leaders viewed the Declaration as rebellion, not negotiation. Independence escalated the conflict rather than ending it.
British forces increased military efforts, aiming to regain control of the colonies. The war intensified, affecting civilians and soldiers alike. Independence clarified stakes: compromise was no longer possible.
This response reminds us that declaring independence was not a conclusion, but a beginning. It committed the colonies to a long and difficult struggle for recognition and survival.
