If it was so "close" why were British efforts to recruit Tories to fight alongside them such an utter failure? Why did so few Tories speak up in colonial legislatures? Not a single colonial legislature came even close to backing the Tory clause.
The British DID manage to raise a significant force of loyalists in the South, and one major battle they fought was at Kings Mountain, a critical turning point in favor of the Patriot cause in the South.
"Kings Mountain is a unique battle for several reasons. It was one of the few major battles of the war fought entirely between Americans: no British troops served here [not correct - Major Ferguson was a British regular -- SJB.]. In the South, many people were divided. When the war started, some fought for independence, others for loyalty to England."
http://www.nps.gov/kimo/moreintroinfo.htm
Even up north, the British General Burgoyne had success in recruiting a significant element of colonial loyalist troops into his forces, and they were for example part of the force that lost in the Battle of Bennington.
Mob justice like that meted out by the Sons of Liberty is one reason. This is well worth exploring but we should find another thread or forum.
Because the great British army and its condescending and imperial commanders were so contempuous of all things colonial.
The few colonist that did agree to fight with the British troops were so mistreated that few more ever agreed to fight.
The British were very skeptial that those colonists who appeared to be on their side actually were on their side. There was much distrust by the British troops. When every other person wants to see you dead, there is 50-50 chance that any colonist the British trusted would turn out to be a major blunder.
Please take your history discussion off-line.