How come there were people who were neutral during the American Revolution? Wasn't it either you fight against the British or you don't?
2007-03-23 10:16:11 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Historians say about 1/3 of the colonists were rebels, 1/3 loyalists and 1/3 to whom it didn't matter. Many people want to live there lives and be left alone. As long as the British didn't overtax them, they didn't care.
The colonists who were doing the most business with the Mother Country generally supported the British. The colonists who were trying to do business without interference were the Revolutionaries. But the other third felt that it didn't make a difference to them on a local level as to who the over-all ruler was.
To their way of thinking, they knew they would be paying taxes to somebody. As long as it wasn't too much, did it really make a difference to whom?
2007-03-23 10:44:06 · answer #1 · answered by Kevin C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the country was neutral until they were either taxed on anything new or taxes were raised (even if fully justified).
That changed around the time of Common Sense by Paine thanks to manipulative half-true arguments swaying many of the neutrals. Basically though, the main supporters were the people who were looking to dodge taxes, or seize political power that was not allowed, or just military rank (George Washington definately fits this last one).
The wars in US history are not nearly as simple as we like to pretend, there is no bad guy in most of them, so there are always going to be neutrals that realize this.
2007-03-23 10:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by Showtunes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There were many that were neutral during the Revolutionary war. One group in particular was the Quakers were are and were pacifists. There are others that fit this category too
2007-03-23 13:25:15 · answer #3 · answered by scotishbob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Justin, This looks to me like you copied and pasted it from one or more web sites. I suggest that you think about why the loyalists wanted to remain part of of England. Then put it into your own words. 1. Why did the loyalists want to remain part of England? 2. What benefits did they believe they would lose if they became an independent country? 3. Did they actively support England, or was it just easier to stay part of England rather than fighting this very powerful country?
2016-03-29 01:19:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are neutrals in any war
2007-03-23 10:24:37 · answer #5 · answered by John L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋