The proximity of each other deterred an all out war in both the colonies and the European continent. Even in the eighteenth century, the Royal British Navy's might was something to consider when planning a war with them. In the early parts of the American Revolution or the American War for Independence, France had a nominal role of providing supplies for the American soldiers. They did not want to invest in a war that seemed unwinnable and would blow back on them by the British turning their sights onto French territories. From 1775 to 1777 the American army had some wins but nothing that ultimately shook the British at their core. That would finally happen at Saratoga when the American's captured General Burgoyne's army of several thousand and caused the British to lose a foothold in the area. When news of the capture reached France and Spain, which seems a lot of people forget, they then made the decision to join the war with the Americans. Spain would join in 1779, a year after the French.

Attacking the territorial colonies such as the Indies, Caribbean, India, and some European holds seemed the best suit of action. It would spread the British military thin and strain the logistics. Not to mention the Seven Years War still appeared fresh in the French minds. The continental campaigns did not go well for them. The French war ministers planned naval attacks to be the main course of action. The Anglo-French War of 1778 begun, a theatre of war in the American War of Independence. Just a small aside, but there has been discussions to think of the Seven Years War as the first world war. I would argue that the American War of Independence might be another considering how in the world it spread in some someways.

The British did anticipate a French home invasion and reacted by raising new regiments as means of home defense. Mostly militia or Scottish fencible units. The British army still had regiments stationed with the kingdom ready for deployment at the notice. Included guard regiments, the horse regiments, and several line infantry regiments. While it may not have been possible for the French to follow through an invasion of Great Britain, the war office took it very serious. The British also did not wish to commit to invading France either. Having sent thousands of troops to America and raising many in America already had taxed the war office. In addition, by 1779 Britain started to raise regiments to be sent to the other territories in defense. While the Anglo- French and Anglo-Spanish theatres comprised of mostly naval attacks, the war office did mobilize some infantry regiments to station at key points. To emphasize how far spread the British empire was, not only did the war office send soldiers to America and Gibraltar but also the West and East Indies, India, Louisiana, and even towards Kentucky. To make matters worse the Second Anglo-Mysore war broke out in late 1779.

A European theatre did occur in the war starting with naval attacks against the British in the later half of 1778. The French attempted to land in Jersey in 1779 but failed to land any troops after British land forces repelled them. The French would attack Jersey again 1781 but still did not gain hold of the island. The biggest land attack happened at Gibraltar. A siege which last from June of 1779 to the early months of 1783. The French and Spanish committed a large amount of resources and mobilized their military for its capture. After the end of the American War, the regiments that did come back to Britain either found themselves well below fighting strength and had to raise new recruits or had to face reductions in their numbers. Some soldiers did draft or transfer to other regiments that would see action in Gibraltar.

Neither side would find a ground war on the continent preferable in comparison to fighting in the colonies or territories.