Have you ever heard about loyalists and patriots?
In the American revolution, about 16% of people of the total American population were colonists who did not want to break away from Britain. Loyalists wanted to remain loyal to the king, and Americans who wanted independence and were willing to fight were called patriots. Loyalists felt a special tie to the king because they had served as judges, councilors, or governors. The Patriots cause embraced farmers, artisans, merchants, landowners, and elected officials who wanted independence. Patriots believed they could defend their homestead and their natural rights to life, liberty and property.
Who were the loyalists and patriots?
http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/patriots_and_loyalists.php
In the picture above, the man on the horse is loyalist, and on the ground is a patriot. As you can see, the loyalist might have the advantage on his horse but is being knocked down by the patriot. Patriots joined militias and were ready to fight in a minutes notice, so they were called minutemen. Patriots wanted independence. They were paying high taxes to support a government in London without being directly represented in Parliament. Many Loyalists were working for the king and they didn’t want to lose their job.
After the Revolutionary war ended in 1781, many loyalists left the country and went back to England or Canada because the patriots controlled the areas where loyalists lived. Most Loyalists lost their homes and business during the war so maybe the image should have read “A loyalist defending his homestead.”.
In history, there have been many duels between two political groups like the federalists and anti-federalists or the Republicans and the Democrats. Thankfully the new American Constitution of 1787 was made with compromise in mind.
Is there anything that you are willing to compromise in order to reach your goals?
What would you be willing to fight for without any compromise?