A secretary of state devoted to America reflected how heavily the colonies weighed in British and French strategic thinking. The colonies' economy was predominantly agricultural, while fisheries and the fur trade in colonies Britain retained were among its more valuable immediate assets. Rejecting claims that losing the thirteen colonies would collapse British trade or deprive the Royal Navy of sailors does not mean America was unimportant. American advocates magnified the colonies' importance to win influence and foreign support, while France and Spain saw the rebellion as an opportunity to weaken Britain and pursue their own interests.
Notable Point · 4:48-10:37
Why America mattered beyond its immediate economic value
The separate American Department reflected the colonies' political weight, even though their immediate economic and naval value in the 1770s was smaller than contemporary claims suggested.