give or take, most people were neutral and didnt want to get involved
An exact total of the colonist that remain loyal to the crown is not available. There are documentation to support that as many as one third of the colonist were loyalist.
Loyalists, who were people still loyal to the British, were afraid of change. They felt America would fail with out Britain to political and economical support them.
Paine's persuade colonists to support independence in one way. This way was by the abuse of power of the British government.
its wings
The colonist, but the whole event was used as propaganda by the few colonist who wanted to start problems against the British troops. What a lot of people don't realize is that John Adams defended the troops who were put on trial for the event.
The sugar and stamps act required British colonies to pay taxes so as to support the British army.
To support the indigo thieves.
Because the colonist believed in self rule
"No taxation without representation"
Colonist
they were unjustly taxed
They needed things to get bad enough that Rebel sentiments would be high enough that support for independence would outweigh the Tories support for the British, so they would be fighting a revolution against Britain and not a civil war against themselves. They also wanted to get European support for their cause as well.