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Revolutionary Ideas: Patriots vs. Loyalists

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Revolutionary Ideas: Patriots vs. Loyalists
In early America, there were three factions that developed within the colonies- Loyalists, Patriots, and fence-sitters (neutral). This melting pot of different ideas, goals, and outlooks is what made pre-Revolutionary War America so volatile. These three factions seem easy to identify, Patriots wanted freedom from the crown all together, Loyalists want to stay British, and fence-sitters want to stay out of the political battle all together. However, it goes much farther than that, many different backgrounds and goals drove these people forward. Many did not take up the title of Loyalist or Patriot unless the struggles affected them directly, many more only took sides when it was profitably to …show more content…

Not because they believed in their cause but it was a way to save their financial wealth.
In the years before the war for independence, a majority of the colonies were supporters of our union with the British Empire. The dangers to a young colony were numerous, and without the vast resources of the British, it is doubtful the colonies would have survived. As the years progress, the colonies developed a stronger economy, increased food productions, and developed local governments that reduced the need for a guardian empire. As the British government tried to increase its control over the colonies, a group of colonials started to think about life out from under British controls. This group eventually came to be known as the “Patriots.”
The reasons for the rise of the Patriots were as many as there were Patriots. The decision to affiliate with a group is a personal decision, so we cannot cover all of them but we will discuss some of the major motivators for the push towards independence.
In the beginning, the colonies depended on Britain to defend them against the Native Americans. The colonists took lands that belonged to the Natives and due to the conflicts that erupted, colonists felt they needed British protection. “The determination of most farmers to give their prime allegiance to their homes and locality had

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