The Declaration of Independence was signed on July, 4th 1776. With its signing The United States of America was created. Shortly after the country declared war on Great Britain. Unlike many other regimes that are overthrown America was not suffering from oppressive or genocidal rule. In fact, the main reason that some of the colonists had wanted to separate from Great Britain was because Great Britain tried to place taxes on things like stamps and tea. The reason that Great Britain thought these taxes was necessary was to help pay down the cost of the Seven Years War. Despite being told as children that all Americans wanted independence, approximately 20 % or about thirty thousand people were loyal to the crown, an unknown amount were seeking independence, but John Adams estimated the number to be at around 33%. The large majority of the colonists did not support either side or supported the winning side. In many cases families and communities were torn apart.
Between 1760-1775 America had become thirteen nearly independent colonies that still maintained political, economic and cultural ties to Great Britain. Many wealthy colonists like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin benefitted from their connections to Great Britain. This changed in 1760 when Great Britain began enforcing trade laws in the American colonies. These laws had existed for at least a hundred years before, but had never been enforced. In order to counteract smuggling the British government passed a law that enabled them to search and seize contraband. These search and seizure actions were not only limited to ships, but homes and places of business. The colonists were not fans of the British Army remaining in the colonies after The Seven Years War to protect them from uprisings from Native American tribes. This is because many colonists felt that the defeat of the French and the subsequent transfer of French territories into their hand meant that they could handle any possible uprisings themselves. Great Britain passed a law prohibiting colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, this angered many colonists because it forced some of them to have to give up their lands at the end of The Seven Years War. Many of the colonists felt that they had a right to continue expanding westward. Landowners were not able to sell land that they had brought in former French territory. Finally, the British government imposed a number of taxes on the colonists in 1763 in order the help pay for The Seven Years War (the British government had been taxing the people of Britain for a few years prior and it was common practice after a war)
Finally, I would have been a Loyalist. There are a few reasons for this decision (1) I am a strong believer in equality and Great Britain had ended slavery about 200 years before the Revolutionary War. In my opinion supporting Great Britain would have been the only way to guarantee the freedom of African American citizens and Great Britain had promised to prevent settlers from expanding westward into Native American territory (2). The Patriots were comprised mostly of wealthy white men who were not fighting for the benefit of all colonists, but for the benefit of their pocketbook. (3) Great Britain, America and a number of other countries had just finished fighting the Seven Years War. The Stamp Act, The Tea Act and other measures Great Britain took to tax the colonists were normal actions taken to help recoup losses from the war. (4) the decision to cede from Great Britain was not made by the people, but by an assembly of wealthy landowners whose only concern was the money and land they had lost for various reasons. As I prefer to approach conflict through non-violent means as much as possible. I would have tried to get to get the farmers to lay down their weapons because if the rich man wants independence for materialistic reasons they ought to be able to obtain it themselves.
References
"American History Series: How the Revolution Against Britain Divided Families and Friends." Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"Road to Revolution 1760 -1775." Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"Tea, Taxes, and The American Revolution: Crash Course World History #28." YouTube. YouTube, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
