"Big Idea: Opposition to Independence" Topic

"Not every colonist supported independence from Great Britain. Resistance to independence was present throughout the colonies and the decision to separate was not a certainty even as the Second Continental Congress prepared to vote on it. Revolutionaries who supported Independence from Britain had never achieved a majority and there were still many colonists who attempted to remain neutral on the matter. Loyalists were firmly opposed to independence and wished to remain part of the Empire. They outnumbered Revolutionaries in several areas and supported the crown for a variety of reasons. Some of them had spent years criticizing the Empire's treatment of the colonies, but ultimately disagreed with separation. The complexity of colonial resistance to independence shows an American community that was often fiercely divided, with the topic of independence being argued about throughout British North America…"

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Armand

Good idea. The whole revolution idea was a mistake in my hindsight opinion, when you look at the big picture without sentimentalism. Nothing going on that couldn't have been resolved with good faith and negotiations and cool tempers on all sides.

I mean to say, look at things now -- we could be part of a Greater Canada! Or British North America, or whatever it might be named. I have no shame in saying today that we (the USA) could have done better. (Maybe this will be more or less relevant after November 2024, wait and see.)

It is the natural rights philosophy of the Declaration that makes US exceptional.

Agreed Piper, the more I read about the war the more I think it wasn't the best idea. It was a very bloody civil war as much as a revolution.

As ever, the country was split into thirds, and the middle third who just wanted to be left alone couldn't escape the mayhem.

Intriguing thoughts as to how things might have gone differently – Sobel's book For Want of A Nail explores this – and there are a number of others as well

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Thanks

Armand