Occupying armies’ own plundering, not orders, derailed British pacification of New Jersey.

Evidence

In these New Jersey and Rhode Island campaigns as in others during 1776, the Howe brothers viewed their mission as defeating independence rather than crushing the Americans. Members of Parliament as well as military officers, the Howes had Whiggish leanings and supported colonists’ rights. “There are certainly those who do not agree to a taxation from hence, but who do not wish to sever themselves from the supremacy of this country,” General Howe wrote about the Americans. “This last set of men, I should hope, by their being relieved from the grievance, will most readily return to all due obedience.” Accordingly, he carried powers to pardon Americans who pledged loyalty to the Crown and authority to replace taxation without representation by voluntary contributions from restored colonies. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 311 (#qualifies-own, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The Howes sought to defeat sedition by pardons and conciliation, not military annihilation. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 311; Lived British abuses, not abstract declarations, drove New Jersey civilians to embrace independence. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 316