"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

No kidding.

I have read Plain Truth. It does give good defense against what Paine wrote but much drier and harder to read than Paine's Common Sense. But the American Revolution was also a civil war.

Back in 975, I took a course in American Revolution. The 1/3 Patriot, 1/3 Loyalist, 1/3 Neutral concept was discussed. Very common opinion. I supported the position on the region theory as to how strong the neutral position was.Another interesting concept was the impact of religion on the sides families supported.
Anglican areas tended to support the Loyalist more.

Probably 10% committed revolutionaries, 5% equally committed Loyalists, 85% trying to be neutral. But events forced commitment.

It is a mistake to assume that Loyalists were content with how Britain was ruling its North American colonies in the years leading up to the AWI> Even among those who ultimately sided with the Crown there was opposition to the measures the British Government was taking. Some of those disgruntled but ultimately Loyalist Colonials may have broken over whether Independence was the correct solution; Others based on intra-colony issues; Others based on personal issues; Others based on brutal self interest. Then there were those who decided based on Britain's having been able to exercise effective control over the area where those disgruntled Colonials resided.

Actually, the latest research has it at 50% Patriot, 25% Loyalist and 25% Neutral. Anywhere you want to look at during the revolution, even in the South, Patriots were in the majority.

In 1776 maybe. Not by 1780.