The British hoped to accomplish To weaken colonial resistance by splitting the colonies.

During the American Revolutionary War, the British sought to undermine colonial resistance by dividing the colonies. This tactic, commonly known as "divide and conquer," aimed to foster divisions among the colonies, thereby complicating their efforts to unite against British authority. By isolating specific areas and promoting allegiance to the Crown, the British intended to weaken the colonies' overall strength and their capacity to mount a coordinated resistance. This strategy was designed to reestablish control and reduce the likelihood of rebellion, representing a calculated maneuver in the larger struggle for supremacy in North America.