Fortunately, a group of colonial representatives wrote down all of the reasons why in one document: the appropriately named Declaration of Independence. They moved toward the assertion of independence reluctantly and hesitatingly. Why Patriots Really Fought the American Revolution Justin Taylor | September 26, 2019 In 1843, a 21-year-old Dartmouth student named Mellen Chamberlain was doing research on the American War for Independence. "The folks who made the long-term commitment," says James Kirby Martin, a professor of history at the University of Houston and coauthor of A Respectable Army: The Military Origins of the Republic, 1763 - 1789, "were the folks who didn't have another alternative.". British colonists want independence from Britain in the New World. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Be ready to deal with both sides putting pressure on you to join their side. Why did the Patriots want to go to war? They also had help from the French who were former enemies of the British. Geography heavily favoured the Americans, because the 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of water that lay between them and the British Isles imposed a great supply problem on the British and made communication between the British officers in the field and their superiors in London slow and uncertain. The proximate cause of the Souths secession was the election of Abraham Lincoln with a Republican majority in 1860. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This was known as the culper spy ring ran by George Washington, it was one of the ways they won the war. So why would the "Americans" And whos downfall will it be? Their rebellion was based on the social and political philosophy of republicanism, which rejected the ideas of a monarchy and aristocracy essentially, inherited power. Overall, this shows that in The Patriot, the military part(s) of the movie were true/valid, as the American militia did use guerrilla warfare, and the British army did fight neat and, Essay On Why The Patriots Win The Revolutionary War. Why did the Patriots risk their lives for independence? The proponents of US independence, mobilized against the British and the colonial loyalists during the 1760's and 1770's. This was the era when America was witnessing fundamental revolution, especially in its political life. Patriots articulated the basis of opposition to British colonial rule and ultimately organized patriot militias, giving rise to the American Revolution, the issuance of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, and formalizing and escalating the American Revolutionary War between patriot forces, placed under the command of George Washington in 1775 and British military forces seeking to maintain the colonies as part of the British Empire. They had sufficient basic wealth to carry on a long struggle, although they had difficulty in putting that wealth to military use, as American cash and credit were not plentiful. In March 1755, Washington rejoined the British Army, this time as an unpaid aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock. They usually share the following wanted to gain their freedom from Great Britain. of the king and british army. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Men who were alienated by physical attacks on Royal officials took the Loyalist position, while those who were offended by heavy-handed British response to actions such as the Boston Tea Party became Patriots. The American colonists, whose army was led by George Washington, Moreover, perhaps no more than half the Americans were firm patriots, one-fourth of them being neutral and another one-fourth being adherents of the British government. The Patriots wanted freedom from British rule because they didn't think they were treated well. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. This, in popular memory, is how the Revolutionary War was wonby a devoted band of middle-class farmers and militiamen who took up arms to defeat a professional army. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Here were no concessions to the Americans. A third group of people in the colony were a group considered to be neutral- meaning they did not agree with being ruled by a Royal government, but feared the thought of trying to rebel against one of the most powerful countries in the world. The loyalists believed that the patriots were in fact traitors to the Crown since they were rebelling against Great Britain . "No taxation without representation" was their slogan, referring to the lack of representation in the British Parliament. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. They were interrupted by the Colonists mid-trip though. What was the difference between the loyalists and the Patriots? Why did the American Revolution want independence? You can share 5 more gift articles this month.. Both of these selected quotes support the claim. ( Library of . The militias would supplement this core of increasingly professional soldiers throughout the war, but the Army would never again look the way it did on the road to Boston. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Loyalists were older, better established, and more likely to resist innovation than the Patriots. Soon cries for "liberty" were being heard throughout the colonies. Taxation without representation, no religious freedom, and The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Still, some of them, including Joseph Plumb Martin, were proud of what they had done. Why did people become patriots? The Patriots wanted freedom from British rule because they didnt think they were treated well. The movie, The Patriot, is a fictional movie that shows us a couple of the battles and the life of colonials, focusing on Benjamin Martin, in South Carolina during the American Revolution. The Patriots wanted freedom from British rule because they didn't think they were 3.Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutral to Revolution - Students of History Author: www.studentsofhistory.com Post date: 4 yesterday Rating: 3 (222 reviews) Highest rating: 3 Low rated: 3 He says the colonists say that they have the protection of Britain, when Britains main motive was interest in the new land, not to attach to it. Fischer makes it very clear that Revere alarmed colonists that night but not by saying that The British are coming instead of word British Revere used Regulars, Redcoats, the Kings men or Ministerial troops. Patriots did not want to be ruled by the British any longer. They called the. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Boston was the home for many patriots and supports of the American cause. They fought the British because of unfair taxes. What are the benefits of being a patriot? Some people were forced to fight because of the death of their family members, caused by the opponent, whereas others did not fight because they did not want to risk their families even though both of the kind of people were patriots. When the British received the First Continental Congresses demands, they did not fulfill the forced requests. We will write a custom Essay on American History: the Patriots Movement in the 1760-1770 specifically for you. Historians say the main reason the colonists were angry was because Britain had rejected the idea of no taxation without representation. 4 What did the loyalists think of the Patriots? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. "No Troops were ever better provided or higher paid, yet their Backwardness to inlist for another Year is amazing," Washington wrote. What would have happened if the Continental Army had blockaded the colonies? "Appearance patriotism", as it has manifested in the US, basically means "wave the damn flag, stand for the anthem, and never question our greatness". They instead brought troops to the Colonies to recast abolish their power there. 3 Why did the Patriots feel they should declare independence? are like the almanacs of the last year." The consequence of the U.S. Revolution was that England lost control of 13 colonies on the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean, and the first independent state with a republican system: the United States. What were the Patriots mad about? The Continental Army wasn't even overwhelmingly English: Pension records show the ranks were filled with hard-luck cases and the working class, from Irish immigrants and former Hessian prisoners to "liquor enlistees," who had been plied with booze and persuaded to sign up. Patriots, also known as Whigs, were the colonists who rebelled against British monarchial control. The colonists fought the British because they wanted to be free from Britain. Can employers see when you use health insurance? When did the US declare independence from the UK? Word that the colonies had been declared to be in a state of rebellion in August 1775 had its effect, and news of the passage of the Prohibitory Act of November 1775, which withdrew the kings protection from the colonies and declared them under naval blockade, had a profound impact. The result was a disaster. They wanted to be free and independent. "We have so many national myths that are built on this idea," says Maj. Jason Palmer, an assistant professor of history at the United States Military Academy at West Point. 1 Why did the Patriots risk their lives for independence? [3], Historians have explored the motivations that pulled men to one side or the other. The Patriots wanted freedom from British rule because they didn't think they were treated well. Loyalists were cautious and afraid of anarchy or tyranny that might come from mob rule; Patriots made a systematic effort to take a stand against the British government. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It was wrong of Britain to fight them about it, they were their own people. Most Patriots supported independence because they felt that recent British laws on the American Colonies violated their rights as British citizens (e.g. In fact, they had been running their own affairs since the period of "salutary neglect" before the French and Indian War. "I might as well endeavor to get as much for my skin as I could," he wrote. They were opposed, in turn, by the Loyalists, who supported continued British rule over the colonies. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Joseph Plumb Martin, a 15-year-old Connecticut farm laborerand one of the few enlisted men to record his experiencewalked away from the Army after a short-term enlistment in 1776. Why did people become patriots? 2) The colonies were not allowed to send representatives to Parliament. They called the. On the eve of independence, however, what would become the United States was comprised of thirteen separate colonies. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Britain possessed important advantages even in the sort of war that it waged after 1775. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team. The Patriots wanted freedom from British rule because they didn't think they were treated well. There are some people who did not really care about anything but being a patriot such as Colonel Harry Burwell. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I have no doubt some of them were good at what they did. Englishmen (See rights of Englishmen)Britain used their powerful They wanted England to let go of their control and to view them as independent and their own country. Some Loyalists, according to Labaree, were "procrastinators" who believed that independence was bound to come some day, but wanted to "postpone the moment", while the Patriots wanted to "seize the moment". He and his comrades may not have rallied to the flag as willingly as popular history remembers, but when Martin died in 1850, his tombstone celebrated his service, describing him simply as "Joseph P. Martin, A Soldier of the Revolution." And whereas the British are fighting to challenge the colonists claim to independence, the Patriots are fighting for a new life. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When their contracts expired, they went home. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Five reasons American colonists separated from Britain are as follows. It was also because Britain has "Life, for my Country and the Cause of Freedom," wrote Nathaniel Niles, a pastor in Norwich, Conn., in 1775, "Is but a Trifle for a Worm to part with. One of the biggest reasons the colonists were victorious was that they had the French on their side. 2 What were the main reasons the colonists wanted to break free from Britain? Below are some of the key causes of the American Revolution in the order they occurred. What did the Patriots argue in the declaration of Independence? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Patriots often seized the property of Tories to help pay for the war. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. They wanted to create their own laws and to form the United States of America. Patriots, or Whigs were angry at Great Britain because they felt that Parliament, with the approval of King George and his ministers, was violating their rights as English subjects. Many Patriots were active before 1775 in groups such as the Sons of Liberty, and the most prominent leaders are referred to today by Americans as the Founding Fathers. 8 How did the Patriots feel about taxes and limitations? . Patriots, also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs, were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rejected British rule over the colonies. The British marched on to Concord, where they met another small group of Minutemen. Even those patriots who were quick to bear arms during the early years of the War were not fighting for independencethey were fighting for their rights as Englishmen within the British Empire. Second, the American Revolution established a . The colonists felt increasingly exploited by taxes and limitations on economic freedom. 3 Why did the United States secede from the Union? Patriots: The American colonists who openly rebelled and fought the political and economic authority of the British Government. In creating the new government, revolutionary Americans reached their greatest achievement. He finds eight characteristics that differentiated the two groups. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The U.S. declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1776 was a momentous event, but why did the 13 colonies declare independence? Other members of Congress were amenable but thought some colonies not quite ready. Who said it Patriots or Loyalists? During the Revolution, these persons became known primarily as Loyalists. Colonists identified with their own home colonies and with Mother England. They were being taxed without any say or representation in the British government. Patriots wanted the Thirteen colonies to gain independence from Britain. Also, France was supplying troops that helped to fight the war along with the other patriots. want to stay as British people? Britain possessed important advantages even in the sort of war that it waged after 1775. At the village green of Lexington, on April the 19th, 1775, a shot rang out from an unknown shooter on an unknown side. Have you ever heard of the New England Patriots? British colonists want independence from Britain in the New World. The Colonists were able to win the Revolutionary War because they became allies with France which meant that they would no longer need to have supreme military power and would be better able to cope with the challenges of the war they were facing. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Suddenly, a gun fired. The colonists joined together to fight Britain and gain independence. Many felt this violated their rights as British citizens. Why does an iron rod become a magnet when current is passed through a coil of wire wrapped around the rod? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The French fought with us because they were rivals with the English. [2] The great majority of the Loyalists remained in America, while the minority went to Canada, Britain, Florida, or the West Indies. ", The truth is, historians say, after the first year of fighting, the nascent Continental Army was forced to leave its now mythic origins behind. When Paul Revere saw them marching towards him, he made his famous ride to warn the Minutemen. They won and lost many of battles. Some colonists refused to buy British Products. What did the loyalists think of the Patriots? From behind trees and stone fences, men with muskets attacked the British all the way back to Boston. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Colonists believed they did not have self-government. In The Patriot there a few scenes showing the Britain lining up into different squads all neat, orderly, and marching, then the colonists start jumping up and out of trees, bushes, and grass; therefore, surprising the British, giving the colonists an advantage for a little while. Give this Article . 167306, See also N. E. H. Hull, Peter C. Hoffer and Steven L. Allen, "Choosing Sides: A Quantitative Study of the Personality Determinants of Loyalist and Revolutionary Political Affiliation in New York,", International Alliance of Libertarian Parties, International Federation of Liberal Youth, Benjamin H. Irvin, "Tar and Feathers in Revolutionary America," (2003), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patriot_(American_Revolution)&oldid=1140580051, 1768 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies, 1787 disestablishments in the United States, Tarring and feathering in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Philosophically, many of the Patriots were opposed to hereditary monarchy and aristocracy, and wanted to establish a republic in which people were elected by universal suffrage on the basis of merit rather than parentage. 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