That only works if you have a very powerful ally that is determined to have their revenge against that particular king . France provided 90 percent of gun powder for Americans and they went after the Brits like never before . Without the massive French support Americans would have been crushed after the first month or so . The war basically became an obsession to French and even helped a lot in bankrupting France . <| sep |> Thanksgiving was a regional holiday in New England prior to the war . It was basically created as the Puritan alternative to Christmas which they thought too pagan and commercial even back into the 1600 s . It wouldn ' t truly be a national holiday until the 1920 s or 1930 s . <| sep |> You ' re probably right , I guess I underestimate the ~~ stupidity ~~ irrationality of some players .