The Division of Opinions in Britain and America

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The American Revolution is interesting to analyze for so many reasons. One is the social dynamic of those involved. In the War, categorically, there included (likely not an exhaustive list):

-British in Great Britain whom supported a war
-British in Great Britain whom wanted to see the colonies treated more fairly
-Loyalists in America whom supported a war
-Colonial citizens whom wanted to remain neutral
-Colonial citizens whom supported independence
-Native Americans whom supported Britain
-Native Americans whom supported the Colonists
-Slaves whom supported the British cause
-Slaves whom supported the Colonial Cause

As in any socio-poitical environment, the personal opinions of these folks would have profound influences on the history of their current time period and for centuries later.

For example, one might see British Loyalists in the colonies fighting against family whom chose to fight in the colonial army. Essentially, family fighting on different sides of the same war. One prominent example of this is Ben Franklin and his son William. For much of the time leading up to the war, Ben wanted to resolve things amicably with the Crown. He felt himself a loyal subject and believed there was common ground on which the colonies could establish working relations with Great Britain. Only after many inexcusable actions by the Crown did he firmly plant his opinion supporting colonial Independence. In parallel, his son was a servant of the crown, as the Royal Governor of New Jersey. Their relationship would become very rocky, and never in their lives would they reconcile fully after the war. It’s eye opening to consider one of the most prominent Founding Fathers would see this division of British and American opinions so close to his own family.

There are likely so many examples of this, are you familiar with another or have thoughts on the division of opinions of those involved in the war?

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