They were British and felt loyal to the king. It wasn't until later that problems came up and they felt they were not represented and laws were imposed on them that the loyalty began to wane.
I think you are confused because it was not up to the colonists to protect British rule. It was up to the British forces.
To convince the colonists to break away from British rule
Patrick Henry
they farted
Britain taxed them
Colonists who opposed British rule were called patriots.
They called themselves Patriots.
Declaration of Independence.
they wanted freedom from the british rule
Declaration of Independence
they felt encouraged
BcuZ they were POOR.