The declaration of independence?

Question

If you were a colonist that time, would you be in favor of independence from Great Britain? If so, why?

Answer 1

It's terribly difficult to divorce ourselves from this day and age and put ourselves in the minds of people from two centuries ago.  That having been said, I think I would have been one of those who took up the call of Patriot and fought against the imposition of British taxation and the destruction of representative government in the colonies.  I would have been angry over the taxation, not simply because it was taking from me without my permission, but also because I and my neighbors had given freely and fought bravely alongside the British during the French and Indian War, and were now being treated as if we owed the British for their protection.  I would have further been outraged that the Canadians who had cooperated with the various tribes in attacking and sacking a number of New England towns, were being treated with kid gloves by my King.  I would also have been enraged by the passage of the Northwest Ordinance, which would have prohibited me and my family from claiming lands and settling in the rich Ohio valley, something which we had been hoping to do for many years, and had been prevented from doing by the French / Canadian presence and their alliance with the tribes.  The British arrogance of marching large bodies of soldiers into the countryside surrounding Boston and stealing the powder, cannon and muskets that we needed to defend ourselves against further Indian attacks or to maintain order would likely have been the last straw.

My ancestors, by the way, were split.  Some stayed Loyal, eventually fleeing to Canada with the end of the war.  Others fought for Independence, and some died in the Canadian expedition, or on prison ships in New York harbor.  Others served as Privateers, rading Loyalist and British shipping until the end of the war, and then continuing their same work, thus becoming pirates to be hunted by the country they had served.

Answer 2

If I were a colonist at that time I would be a loyalist because even with all of the taxes it would be cheaper than going into a war with Britain with a wicked navy and so many colonies. The british did not just unjustly tax the colonies.