Answer:
Patriots
One of the difficulties in studying any time period is the inherent lack of contemporary perspective. In
today’s America, the choice to separate ourselves from England and form our own country seems like
an obvious one. However, for many residents of the colonies, the decision between being a patriot or
a loyalist was not at all obvious or easy.
Despite mounting grievances, it is important to note that many Patriots considered themselves
subjects of the King until the brink of war, and were often proud of being British. Britain had won the
French and Indian War just a decade previously, and colonists were still experiencing national pride
as a result of the important victory. In addition, Britain was widely perceived as one of the more
progressive governments in the world. Interestingly, the emphasis on individual liberty that colonists
so cherished as Britons added fuel to Patriot rhetoric – how could a government that proclaimed
individual rights and due process for their mainland citizens ignore the will of their colonists?
Explanation:
