MyEssay3

It is accurate to call the American Revolution a civil war. This war split the colonies between the patriots and loyalists. Both colonists and British soldiers were all English. In this case, the colonists were fighting their own countrymen. The British wanted to keep control over the colonies. However, the colonists thought of themselves independent from the crown and Great Britain.

The British passed laws that concerned the whole empire, even the colonies. However, the whole empire was not represented in Parliament. The British legislation also felt that the colonists "were, are, and must be subjects, and owe allegiance and subjection to their mother country." (A) "They are fellow-subjects." (B) King George thought the colonists were traitors. He said that the Britons were the best and most prestigious of all the people. Britain also did not want to fight a war because she had just been fighting wars with Spain and France. Many Englishmen felt that the colonists were starting this uprising for attention. They said that the colonists were immature and self-concerned. However, the British Parliament were not the only one's that did not want a war. Loyalists felt that avoiding a war would be most advantageous. "Agriculture, commerce, and industry would resume their wonted vigor....our trade would still have the protection of the greatest naval power in the world." (G) However, Britain did not forget the tories. She made sure that no wrong doings occurred to them in The Treaty of Paris. "No person shall on that account suffer any future loss or damage, either in his person, liberty, or property;" (J)

Patriots, however, felt that the colonies would be better off without being under the influence of the British Parliament. They felt that King George was a tyrant. "He has dissolved Representation Houses repeatedly...He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny..." (E), "our king is most severe...for all his cruelty," (H) The king ignored the petitions of peace sent by the colonists. Due to the circumstances, the most colonists felt "That the United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,..." (E) Patriots had strong feelings of dislike towards the Loyalists, or tories as they were known then. Paine felt that "Every tory is a coward...never can be brave.." and that "the American cause is injured by you." (F) He felt that the tories were hurting the American cause, the freedom of the colonies from the British crown. Political cartoonist depicted the Revolution as a horse throwing his master off his back. The horse represents the colonies, the master is the king, and the man in the back round is a French solider. This cartoon shows how the Revolutionary War was a civil war because horse and man live together in harmony. The colonists and the king were working together in harmony until King George and Parliament abused their powers.

In conclusion, the Revolutionary War was a civil war. Britain and her colonies disagreed and lost favor with each other. Through hard work and perseverance the colonies won their independence. However, the new country would have many new problems to face through its first years.