The previous post was accurate.  If we are looking for advantages that the Colonists had under the British, I would say that the sense of being part of the "parent nation" held an incredible amount of persuasion with the Colonists.  The idea of being loyal to England was not something that was felt on the part of some of the Colonists.  It actually carried some distinct advantages, such as knowing that they were always going to be protected by the British in the event of attack or coming under siege.  Another advantage was that England represented a guaranteed trading partner that had access to other markets with control of more colonies.  Yet, herein lay some of the disadvantages, in the form of being manipulated to British advantage and Colonial disadvantage.  The other disadvantage was that the British held a rather static world view, in that they would continue to be the source and location of all power and control.  This was in contrast to the Colonist world view, more dynamic in its conception of possessing their own autonomy and control over their political economic destinies.