PATRIOTS VS LOYALISTS

 The colonists should help pay Great Britain for the French and Indian war debt.  “No Taxation without Representation” is a false argument.  The colonists should have total control over who taxes them (colonial assemblies or Parliament).  The colonists should have total control over how tax money is spent.

 The colonists can defeat Great Britain because they have home-ground advantage.  The colonists cannot win a war with Great Britain because the British have the most powerful army and navy in the world.  Should the colonists win a war with Great Britain, they will not have the capacity to defend themselves against France and Spain in North America.  The colonists do not have the money to form and maintain a national army and navy.

 Being part of the British empire gives the colonists access to goods from all over the world.  Should the colonists win a war with Great Britain, it will be difficult to develop international trade relations and thus the economy will suffer.  The colonists have a secure market in Great Britain for their goods and raw materials.

 An increase in control by the British government should not alone justify going to war.  An imperfect situation is better than the unknown.  If the war is lost, some of the most intelligent, respected leaders in the colonies will be hanged.

 The colonist’s rights as English subjects are limited by the English bill of rights.  The Patriots have exaggerated problems with Great Britain.  The colonists have repeatedly petitioned the King and Parliament to hear their grievances, but were either ignored or answered with more British control.

 As John Locke stated, government is a contract. The king has failed to uphold his end of the contract as the protector of the colonies.  Britain has allowed the colonists more rights and privileges than any other nation on earth. The Patriots act like spoiled children expecting more and giving less than those in Great Britain.  The King is chosen by God. Treason against the King is treason against God.  The colonists basic rights are being eroded. They are no longer guaranteed trials at the place of the crime and troops are being quartered in their homes.

Patriots vs. Loyalists: Who said it? 1.King George III is doing the best he can with a difficult situation. He is not a cruel or unjust ruler. 2.No one should have to pay a tax unless they choose the representative who helps determine that tax. 3.England has refused us our God-given rights. 4.Since England does not have the right to tax us, then they also do not have the right to make other laws that affect us. 5.We should pay our fair share to England. We have wealth, religious freedom, and opportunity for all. We are far better off than other countries. 6.We need the protection that England can give us. They protected us in the French and Indian war. They can also protect us in future conflicts. 7.England and the colonies all have the same roots. A war against England is like having a war against our own family. 8.Morally, we are better than England. We know the difference between right and wrong. England's government is corrupt.

What is the issue? PATRIOT Britain controls trade - colonies should have be able to trade with whoever they wanted to and what they wanted. LOYALIST The colonies profited with protected markets making the need to trade with other countries almost non-existent. PATRIOT taxed them without their consent. Parliament had no right to make laws for them because they were not represented in making them TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. LOYALIST Colonists did have representation. First, any white, male landowner over twenty-one could bring his idea to his local colonial legislature. The colonial legislature would give that idea to the royal governor who would send the idea to British Parliament where it could be debated and voted on.

What is the issue? PATRIOT “All men are created equal. We have the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. LOYALIST If all men are created equal where were Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the slaves? PATRIOT If we are English subjects, why don’t we have the same rights LOYALIST You have even better rights. You are taxed less your trade is protected, and the British army protects you from the French, Spanish and Indians.

Loyalist Argument - Common Heritage and Culture with England - Benefit from the trans-Atlantic trade - Many were first generation or had close relatives in England - Strong sense of duty to British Crown - Farms and Farm products could be greatly reduced in value - Separate government could degenerate into anarchy - Actions taken by revolutionary committees were “illegal”, and a symptom internal tyranny Patriot Argument - Individual liberty threatened by greater government - A series of acts and laws passed by the British Government were oppressive and indicative of a decline in colonial rights. - No representation in British Parliament - The Quartering of British troops - Closing of the Port of Boston - British control of trade

Patriot or Loyalist ?

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