Patriots Notes --- the numbering is off -- I can't seem to fix it... sorry.
PATRIOTS
Below is information that will help you think like a Patriot. Feel free to use this information when planning your key debate ideas from a Patriot’s perspective.
Below is information that will help you think like a Patriot. Feel free to use this information when planning your key debate ideas from a Patriot’s perspective.
- People have rights government canʼt take away, like property.
- As John Locke, the respected British philosopher wrote and was wildly accepted by British citizens. What are the rest of peoples’ natural rights? What should people do if government intrudes on those rights? Just there and take it?
- England has refused us our God-given rights.
- They've made arrests based on their own wishes instead of laws.
- They've limited our rights to freedom of speech, of press, and of assembly.
- They've taken away our rights to property by making us quarter and house troops.
- No one should have to pay a tax unless they choose the representative who helps determine that tax.
- Colonists donʼt have voice in Parliament, so England shouldnʼt tax colonies (No taxation without representation).
- Taxation takes away property from citizens (i.e. - money and goods).
- 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.
- There’s no way colonies could ever be represented in Parliament because it is too far away.
- Colonists have been living by their own rules for over a century (Mayflower Compact for example).
- The politicians in England are only concerned with England. They do not care about the colonies best interests.
- Many colonists fought in the French & Indian War (weʼve done our part).
- British personnel (soldiers) are causing violence, riots, and death (Boston Massacre).
- Britain has passed laws that harm the colonies and are not in our best interest.
- They have taxed us without representation.
- They have stopped us from spreading further west (Proclamation of 1763).
- They haven't helped us with our Indian problems.
- They have forced us to keep British soldiers in our own homes.
- They refuse to let us have a trial in front of our peers. Instead, we are taken directly to the Admiralty Courts for trial.
- The monarchy system is corrupt.
- King George III is incompetent.
- Bribery and corruption is everywhere.
- The government pays no attention to its people.
- Seats in Parliament are bought and sold.
- The British mainland considers us crude and uneducated -- does not respect us.
- Morally, we are better than England. We know the difference between right and wrong (trial of British soldiers for the Boston Massacre).
- Britain controls all trade in the colonies, when the colonies would be better off on their own, trading goods with whichever land and country they want.
- They have hurt our economy by taking control of our trade and not allowing us to trade directly with other countries.
- We aren’t allowed to trade with Britain’s enemies.
Neutralists Questions
NEUTRALISTS
Often overlooked are the fence-sitters who made up the largest group. With so many Americans undecided, the war became in great measure a battle to win popular support. If the Patriots could succeed in selling their ideas of revolution to the public, then popular support might follow and the British would be doomed. The Loyalists were equally concerned about getting support for their cause. What would it take to convince you to join either of their side?
Often overlooked are the fence-sitters who made up the largest group. With so many Americans undecided, the war became in great measure a battle to win popular support. If the Patriots could succeed in selling their ideas of revolution to the public, then popular support might follow and the British would be doomed. The Loyalists were equally concerned about getting support for their cause. What would it take to convince you to join either of their side?
- What would be the benefits of independence? How do we know, if we could actually earn it, that it would be worth it?
- What are the benefits of remaining under Britain’s control?
- What are the downfalls of becoming independent from Britain? Why shouldn’t I want to be free of British control?
- Why is it so bad to remain subjects of the British king?
- What kind of government would replace the monarchy? How could it fairly represent all 13 colonies with so many different religions, populations, economies, and interests?
- Where would they get the money/supplies to fight a war with a vastly superior and better trained standing army of soldiers?
- The king and Parliament aren’t giving us a voice in the laws we must follow (no representation). We’ve let it be known that we want a voice in our government. Unified complaints have been sent to the king with no reply. How can we gain our rights guaranteed as British citizens without resorting to violence? What else can be done?
- How can a small island nation be justified in controlling a section of a continent that is more than 10 times its size?
- I’m a successful businessmen that depends upon trade. How would remaining under British control hurt my business?
- How could my business in trade be hurt by independence?
- The Patriots have behaved illegally (Boston Tea Party), so what should Britain have done to deal with them?
Loyalist Notes -- the numbering is off... can't seem to edit it.
LOYALISTS
Below is information that will help you to think like a Loyalist. Feel free to use this information when planning your key debate ideas from a Loyalist's perspective.
Below is information that will help you to think like a Loyalist. Feel free to use this information when planning your key debate ideas from a Loyalist's perspective.
- King George III is doing the best he can with a difficult situation.
- He is not a cruel or unjust ruler.
- Colonies are too far way from England to have representation in Parliament, it’s just not practical.
- Since the colonies are separate from one another, they are not capable of governing themselves.
- The colonies all have different interests (religions, populations, economies.), so how could they join together and function as one nation?
- The Patriots are hypocrites.
- They object to taxes so they don't have to pay them.
- If they really wanted equality and freedom, they would have established it in their own colonies first. Are things equal in the colonies?
- They just want to keep the lower class down and kick the British out.
- 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. England has provided us these opportunities and deserves our loyalty.
- Taxes are due to pay for the French & Indian War which was fought to protect the colonies.
- Taxes are terrible, but name a nation without taxes, and furthermore how would the new American gov’t operate without taxation? How would the new gov’t fund an army to fight the British without taxation?
- Colonists are British subjects and should obey British law.
- England and the colonies all have the same roots. A war against England is like having a war against our own family. We all share the same games, traditions, religion, literature, dress, educational system, and language.
- A strong unified British Empire is good for all, keeping us the most powerful nation in Europe.
- 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.
- American colonies would be weak without Britain. We would be vulnerable to invasions from other nations. The powerful British navy keeps us safe.
- We do not have the power to fight against England. They are one of the most powerful nations in the world.
- The British soldiers are professional -- well-trained and well-supplied.
- A war would drain the youth out of the colonies and put them onto a battlefield against a larger superior army. Many would die and that would not be in the interests of the colonies.
- In order to win the war we would have to have help from Spain and France. What's to keep these countries from trying to take over after the war?
- We must have a way to control the mobs. The revolutionary leaders don't follow the laws. They injure people and destroy property.
- Boston Tea Party
- They’ve harassed law-abiding citizens with threats and intimidations.
- They’ve attacked tax collectors that are just doing their job -- tarring and feathering them to humiliate them, and this scars them for life.
- Can we trust them to set up a new government?
- England has been fair. The trade acts do more good than harm.
- Colonies profit from trade with England.
- A war would interrupt trade with England, a major source of revenue. How would we sustain ourselves by cutting off one of our major purchasers of products?