Brian Sharrock wrote:

"Stephen Harding" wrote in message

snip

In fact, most all Americans at the time considered themselves British,
with British rights, and came around rather slowly to the concept of
independence from British rule.

Which was _precisely_ the point the "OP" (me) was making
in responding to a posting that claimed 'the Loyalists sided
with the British'. As you, quite rightly comment "most all
Americans at the time considered themselves British,with
British rights" and it was a _minority_ of rebels that started
an armed insurrection for their own purposes.

Most all the farmers in militias at the Lexington-Concord fight
regarded themselves as British. Just like both sides of the
English civil war never doubted they were British.

Just because you have two sides to a conflict doesn't mean one side
as declared itself a new nationality.

For a long time, American colonists made the assumptions that good
King George III would straighten out his ministers and policies once
the American colonial displeasure at their perceived loss of rights
was made known to him.

The fact that these policies did not change, and in fact grew more
dominating is what eventually led to the change in attitude about
being part of the British Empire. Not a small group of bandito
types manipulating the public for their own financial gain.

Of course they then got to write the history and control the
curriculum in all the schools of their colonies and subsequent
possessions ....
and eventually produce screen plays such as "The Patriot".

"The Patriot" was actually based on a lot of historical fact in the
fighting in the southern states during the later stages of the war.

Of course liberties were taken as is typical in Hollywood. Instead
of the British Army doing all the "war crimes" depicted in the movie,
it would actually have been loyalist bands doing the deeds.

But in fairness to the movie, it did show that British soldiers under
the ruthless antagonist didn't like his vicious orders, and the high
command didn't like it either. Thus the need to be given Ohio
territory after the war, since he could never return to Britain with
honor.


SMH