As a Canadian (which I guess didn't exist yet), I most likely would have been welcoming all the loyalists who were moving up here. But as an Asian woman, I'm not sure if I would have been allowed on this continent yet lol.
It's interesting to note that many archaeologists and scholars have reason to believe Chinese sailors may have visited the West coast of the USA well before Columbus and even before the Spanish plundered Latin and South America. It's dangerous to deal with absolutes. In fact, I'll bet that today, there is someone wearing a blue leisure suit, a person is playing with a pet rock, and Jacob Monnin (one of the commenters) actually has a civil and respectful attitude toward fellow humans. Oh wait. The third is quite unlikely.
@Jacob Monnin Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1917 barred people of Asian descent from entering the US. So it's pretty true and she's right
Willy Wong prior to that there had been lots of Chinese people here, they helped build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800’s. It was just harder to travel back then and they probably didn’t have much interest in visiting here in the 1700’s
@Lars Chue yes, American history is so skewed. Those who accept the truth knows that China, Spain, Mexicans, and the Vikings were here long before the British. But yet the narrative of US history would leave all those other non-white nations off the history books in fear of showing that white supremacy isn't actually supreme at all.
I don’t think any of my family was here during the American Revolution. I think most of them arrived about a century later. I wouldn’t be a fighter, but possibly a cook, nurse, or seamstress. I really enjoy these history lessons. Please keep them coming.
ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
My family that joined the war were Palatine Germans in Germantown, NY. I would love to research what drove their decision to join up. What did they have to gain/lose?
My family was divided by this war. One side came to Canada as loyalists and the other side became revolutionary heroes. I would love to do more research into why. And also to have been a fly on the wall for those family dinners!
It is a province/territory, just like US virgin islands, Guam, among others who's names I currently cannot remember. America is the new age version of the old British empire, puerto Rico is not a state, currently, because as far as I have found, they keep voting that down in their elections, but they do have a governor. I want them to be a state, because we need more not old white male senators.
@Brains00007 The reason we make everyone speak the same language is so we can understand each other. I agree with the decision to only speak English in congress but I don't entirely disagree with speaking Spanish but that's only because I love politics and want to learn to speak Spanish lol.
ARTICLE V PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
This was really interesting! Are there going to be more videos like this in the future? I really like learning about the lives of normal people throughout history, I'm an anthropology major of course which makes me even more interested.
ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Fundamentally, if I were born in the 1750's, I would not be who I am today. I mean, even more so than most people-my turn to atheism (which was triggered by philosophical concepts that weren't common and scientific knowledge that wasn't known) and the effects it had on my relationships with family and (former) friends were a major force shaping my adolescent years, and most of the things I want to/enjoy doing were even more nonexistent. That's not getting into how my political beliefs would have changed, growing up in different time periods! All that said...I think I'd probably want to try and stay out of it. Find some place away from the fighting, try to avoid conscription without breaking the law. I'm one of those guys who thinks that _both_ parties are flawed in their own ways, and I'd probably think much the same about Royalists and Republicans.
This is a solid point, since it's not as if we would travel back in time as we are today but would be entirely different people all together. I'll be giving your comment a shout out at the end of tomorrow's episode. Thanks for watching!
Lots of 18th century people were skeptics or Deists, but almost all of them were influenced by Enlightenment philosophy. Maybe it wouldn't be as different as you think. :)
Even the idea that 'both parties are flawed' would have been hard to come by. I doubt the flow of news etc was as streamlined. So if someone came to you and said that the other side is terrible and they are planning to kill us all etc, you might believe it just because it would be difficult to fact-check. So it could become a battle of who could reach a bigger audience convincingly.
+Me --I've often thought of this same idea as it relates to 'fake news' in pre-mass media times. Since it would have been almost impossible to do any fact-checking, I've wondered if it was simply a matter of who got to deliver the news first. Perhaps this is this a twisted view of people of the past in that it may simply not have occurred to them to completely re-write the unfolding of events to suit their needs the way people do today with what appears to be no qualms whatsoever.
Not so at all. Starting in 1700 was the age of scientific enlightenment. Benjamin Franklin was a leading scientific proponent of this movement which questioned organized religion and non- scientific understanding of natural phenomena.
UNITE!!! UNITE! THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING!!!!! ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Our 5th grade class voted 12 to 9 saying no we would not have joined the Revolutionary cause. It was too risky and without knowing how it would all end it was too difficult to choose the right side. If you chose the losing side you could lose everything...all you had, freedom, your life.
Thanks for commenting and for letting me know how the vote went! Great to see some budding historians in the making down here in the comments section!!! -Danielle
@@pbsorigins I would join if I could but my ansctors where from India and living in India Bhair region. the East India Trading Company and Brtish rule by the East India Trading Company was happing during the American Revolution period. The company ruled Bhair Odisha the modern Indian state of West Bengal and Bengal Bangladesh than part of India since Pakistan and Bangladesh where still part of India untill 1947. But I person of my heritage an Asiatic Indian from Asia India woudnt have been allowed to be in America much less join the American Revolutionaries. Plus the crimstances in India where different from America. American Patriots and colonists where the conquers fighting against there own mother County England the Brtish Empire. America was inhabited by Brtishers White Englishman and other Westerners Dutch Swedish Scotish Irish Scots Irish Welsh same ethnic heritage and cvilization western cvilization they came from Europe. There were no Colonists in India. Plus taxation without representation didn't exist in Brtish colonies where no white western people where living
Loved this! I have been researching my family's part in the revolution . I am very proud that my ancestors took part, but I don't know If I personally would have. It really is food for thought
In a college history class I took, it was put forth that the revolution was fought, not over taxation (though that was part of it), but for religious freedom. The english monarch was the head of the church. When the monarchy changed, the citizens of the faith favored became entitled while citizens of other faiths became oppressed. So having separation of church and state was a driving force for many. That said. I don't know. On one hand, I'm Irish Catholic and the reigning monarch was church of England. On the other hand Irish Catholics were discriminated against in the U.S. until well into the 1900s. It was common for NINA to be part of job & housing ads. No Irish Need Apply. My father fought in WWII. He was a medic and was treated with extreme prejudice by the non-Irish patients in the hospital he served in. As a woman though, it is likely I wouldn't have had a choice as i probably would have been a bond servant and coerced to assisting one side or the other.
not exactly, many loyalists just stayed, kinda like how the civil war ended peacefully, & many troops who retreated to Canada returned to the usa since there was no lasting bad blood so it’s really hard to know whos who today, just look at william allen for example
Being Scottish the genral opinion of Scotland at the time (and mostly still is) was feeling disconnected from the British parliament only joining with the English parliament in 1707 after Scotland went broke trying (and failing) to set up their own colony. Most felt as unrepresented as the Americans but there wasn't that much they could do about it without another round of braveheart. So I think had I lived at the time I wouldn't care either way as long as I had food in my stomach and a roof over my head.
Not subject related. Just wanted to say that you are a great presenter. You're very engaging! Look forward to watching more of these videos. Great topic.
I love your vids and presentation!!! Totally like learning of this new perspective regarding the way the different nationalities and social strata are explained here. My history classes never touched on how the explanation regarding personal decisions made.
Interesting to look at choosing sides as a matter of how you might be better off on a personal level - the revolutionary war is often viewed more though the lens of ideology or personal views on government
My family at the time, if they were of age, served in the Revolution on the side of the Colonies. However though several did serve in the Continental Army from 1775 - 1783 many more served for a campaign or two or served in the individual militias. The Cones served from Connecticut and had farms in Middlesex County, the Kempton served from Massachusetts, Plymouth County and served at Lexington. The Kingsburys served from Boston… they were all farmers and many moved to New Hampshire and Vermont after the war.
Well, it's hard to say if I would have joined or not. But, I am eternally grateful to several of my ancestors for doing so, on the Patriot side of course. The only notable one was James Potter of Pennsylvania who rose to Brigadier General under George Washington. I am proud to be 9th generation American, and have researched my family tree for 25 years and counting.
The Patriot side...you mean Britain? The "patriots" as you called them were the terrorists back then. They tarred and feathered (a disfiguring and painful torture) those that disagreed with their ideology, they burned down businesses of citizens who did not support their terrorist activities, etc. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Yes, britain was not responsive enough (though taxes they raised were to support their defence of North america), but isn't today's American govt as well? The president has more power than King George III could have ever dreamed of. Would you support a group of "patriots" who would bomb businesses who were loyal to the American govt? Would you torture those that disagreed with your group's ideology? Just trying to show you what the equivalence of that would be today. And have you seen modern American taxes v colonial (taxes on income and payrol [21% of income average], property taxes, sales taxes, fees, etc - compared to around 5% sales tax...on only certain items and a slight tariff). Rebellion time? And regular riots and lobbying would've still increased democracy. Look at Canada, Australia, etc. Not going after you, just showing the other side. Cheers 😁🍻
More than likely I would have personally leaned toward maintaining the status quo (loyalist), but as a female, I would have supported the decision made by my father or husband.
@@1515327E true. But history proves me correct time after time. Just look at how many "pledges" the crown made and broke with India alone, let alone the rest of their "empire".
If i could go back now.I would have fought with the British because they would of done a much better job at the running of America and we wouldn't be where we are now.We would be more like Canada.EDUCATED
@@Armed-Forever Undoubtedly there would have been less genocide and war generally. People forget that ultimately is a Civil War. The founding fathers lifted most of the British law, human and Civil Rights legislation into the Bill of Rights and American constitution from existing British legislation, and relatively Britain was a free society and was only propaganda that George had much control as he was marginalised by British Parliament. Manifest destiny would not have happened, therefore over the decades expansion would have happened more slowly, with Native Americans having the chance to integrate and slowly transition their culture to adapt and lead to less misery and guilt amongst white Americans now. British Parliament was focused on sophisticated investment practice, with fractional reserve, already having worked for centuries and free market capitalism was about to kick off even more with the steam engine driven 2nd phase of the Industrial Revolution, Exclusively in Britain. Britain's government enabled incredible synergy throughout Britain ffrom 1750 onwards, so as a British colony and think it's safe to say that this highly developed calculated risk-taking mentality in Britain at the time, would have fostered good conditions for the future of the American continent..it would have been better in many ways, and certainly power wouldn't have been hijacked in a nepotistic, plutocratic duopoly like it is now. The current British Parliament is very right-wing and corrupt, but that was mainly due to the Brexit debacle, before that British politics was much more centred, and sensible, with the Tory party being centre-right to fully right-wing, and the Labour and Liberal party being centre-left to fully left-wing.However, they were not extreme at any wing of the party, unlike the extreme right wing Republicans we see in the United States today and in a assessment based on conventional political science, despite the propaganda, the Democrats are also centre-right to fully right-wing, they are not left-wing by any traditional assessment.But in modern American politics If you focus in anyway on collective responsibility and responsibility towards other citizens, or takes responsibility, giving public services, rather than harping on about personal rights all the time,You are commonly labelled a socialist or even worst = a communist
@@Rowlph8888 British politics is only corrupt due to brexit? huh? brexit happened because british ppl wanted less immigration and the gov refused to give it... in terms of democracy, the USA is a real democracy, the uk is not. we know this because the uk parties select candidates Nd there's no primaries, in the US, anyone can run in a primary for any party, meaning it's way more democratic, that's a big reason why i sought to become an american, imagine if the republican party got to pick all their candidates, it would just be a bunch of neo cons, and democrats would pick a bunch of hillary clinton's, no thanks. uk picks ppl like boris johnson and dianne abbot 😹 dear god! and let's not forget free speech, in the uk, cops arrest you if someone is offended.
Hahaha yea ok British offer freedom. We left the American values in the past which is why America sucks today but the original founding was all about freedom
What a lot of Americans do not know is that the so called first settlers were not actually seeking freedom of religion as such, these people were intollerant religous fanatics who abhored any sort of happiness or self enjoyment and believed in the devil as a constant threat. They left behind a relatively carefree society to create their own strict miserable society.
I can honestly say...my entire family would have joined the Patriot Rebellion. we are working class people who are avid believers of the right to your own personal freedoms and the right to protect those freedoms.
My mother's ancestors supported the revolution. Assuming I lived where they did and saw what they saw, I probably would have aided the revolution. But I tend to be risk-averse, so I would have tried to stay publicly neutral, unless that was an even more dangerous position than choosing sides. I love your channel, btw!
I think staying publicly neutral depended on where you lived at the time. Who your family was, which side controlled the area, who the officers were in the area, etc. Some officers on both sides were gentlemen, some on both sides were basically tyrants in their own ways. There's also the little hidden pockets of spies for both sides, little pockets of opposers to the side in charge, strong supporters of the side in charge, both that could put your family in harm's way depending on how extreme they wanted to be on any given day. There's also the "You're either with us or against us" no middle ground no gray area people.
Hmm. Interesting question. Like Timothy McLean commented before me, if I had been born back then I would be a COMPLETELY different person. I would be devoutly religious because almost everyone was, if my feminist rebellious tendencies existed at all it'd only be in small, sneaky ways, and I'd definitely be not only a mom, but a grandma. WHOLE different person. That said, I like to think I'd be one of those badass, tough, frontier housewives who instead of being all meek and ladylike, would grab the musket and fire out the door at invaders and place herself between danger and the children like a meat-shield. "GET OFF MAH PROPERTAY!" is a long-standing American tradition; and when soldiers are trying to take over your house to sleep there, it's kinda understandable. I've got this very ornery can't-push-me-around streak that I assume would be there no matter what, as I've been that way since forever, but does that mean I'd also be all Don't Tread On Me? Not necessarily...as a _poor_ white woman who has to struggle all the time, I'd probably just want whatever was best for my family and to be left alone. Now, it gets even more fun when we consider the idea of not just being ourselves (ish...VERY ish) born into Revolutionary times, and instead think about Quantum Leaping into one of our actual ancestors who would've been around at the time. In my case, I'm almost entirely white _now_...but in the 1700's my Native American ancestors were still directly interacting (coughbreedingcough) with my Caucasian ancestors. So there's every chance that, if I "leapt" back into a time-appropriate ancestor's body, I'd end up AS a Cherokee. And that would change everything around yet again!
I would definitely have actively opposed the revolutionary efforts. While I am a great fan of Thomas Paine, I have read contemporary accounts which showed the number of debt defaulters and oath breakers who jumped on the bandwagon not through any ideology, but to evade justice through the turmoil of regime change. US school history lessons have unfairly vilified the British, who had many good points at the time that are now generally completely overlooked. Smiles
The reason, Which I'd of joined, Was a huge amount of no representation(Huh imagine it), Ridiculous taxes, Arbitrary law's, King George literally told people they could not move freely. And a good many black people joined by "placing their mark" And earned their freedom. Any "Slaves" were almost always from Africa, Which their tribe sold them to Anglo people. Hate to say it but our government is no different now than in the 1770s.
@@northernpartisan7370 their tribe didn’t sell them, rival tribes did. and this whole narrative about tax is misleading, london had invested huge money into creating / maintaining the 13 colonies, including to protect them in the french indian wars, to then turn around and say we wana be independent was abit ruthless, & many american born ppl agreed, the boston governor was born in boston yet opposed independence
I'm Haitian-American, too. I think it would be pretty hard. to choose because there was still a lot of racism on both sides, but I would have most likely joined the colonists because not only was there racism in both America and Britain, but the British literally lost the war and most black loyalists who fled to Canada, according to research were enslaved because most of them went into either upper Canada, or lower Canada.
Some of mine did, but some also refused to and were shipped off to Canada and the fact the leaders in Boston and Philadelphia treated the farmers the same way Britian treated them is a little sad to say the least.
Since my ancestors include Gen. Nathanael Greene, Washington’s second-in-command, and Gilbert Stuart, Washington’s (and most of the founders) portrait artist, I’m going to go with, yes, I very likely would have been involved on the side of the revolutionaries.
Today it is difficult to imagine anything that would justify going to war, but given the times and the situation, I believe I would have sided with the revolutionaries. My family came to Virginia in the 17th century as indentured farmers to the King but by 1775 they had paid their debts and had become landowners themselves, although not the landed gentry that we often think of when we use the word landowners. I imagine that to live at a time when the King was always looming large in the background of every big life decision would have felt incredibly frustrating. The king would have been an unknown force that could upend any part of society or life in general for his entire kingdom on a whim or as a political move related to the king's position among the other kingdoms of the times. Even as a small landowner the idea of self-governance would have felt intoxicatingly alluring and I am fairly sure I would have been one of the first to enlist on the side of the revolutionaries.
Great video! I'd love to see more thought experiment type vids from you in the future. Considering the women's perspective (what are the men in the family supporting and self-preservation aspects) as well as family lineage, it's likely I would have been a loyalist! I also have a suggestion for a future video: the origin of the bicycle! There's a fascinating history behind the prelude to the car. Bike Month is May! ;)
A lot of these answers are based on hindsight which as we know is 20/20. The people that came to the colonies were a motley crew, tended to have a lot of grit and faith. As always, we humble lot, outnumber the privileged few. We don't know the pressures that our forebears were feeling to survive. I suspect since so many chose to support the patriot cause, there was more at stake than our 1st world, modern, life of material, eyes can see.
cool thought experiment! I am a white woman. I honestly believe in following my convictions, and also find satisfaction in helping out, so I can see myself helping out in the camps for troops. Possibly helping in nursing injured men, as I have an interest in medicine. However, I am uncertain which side. It depends on how my life had been going up until then (was I happy under british rule? had I personally been affected by the things the rebels were rebelling against?). And possibly where i was living and how close I was to an encampment (If i lived near a british encampment, that might make the decision for me). I am thinking I very well may have chosen the rebels though.
ARTICLE V PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Based on family history, I'd most likely be the wife of a land owning but not rich man in central New England, so I'm guessing my stance would depend on whether my husband was taking the risk or not. Whatever keeps me alive and not starving
@Jacob Monnin gender dysphoria is a symptom trans people typically experience, but it is not the proper term since not every trans person experiences dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is actually not listed as a mental illness either. Maybe I'm speaking to a wall here and your opinion cannot be changed, but here's a link that I think explains it pretty well: www.healthyplace.com/blogs/thelifelgbt/2019/3/gender-dysphoria-vs-transgender-identity
As a Jewish woman, I definitely would have sided with whomever I thought would better secure my religious freedom. I'm not sure what life for Jews was like under British rule back then - so it mostly depends on that. But realistically, given my health history and what medical care was like back then, I would most certainly have died before I was old enough to understand and take sides.
Then in that case, you'd support the "patriots", as the Church of England was the state religion of the mother country and they didn't like even Christian dissidents (partially why the Pilgrims and Puritans fled to NE). Catholics were hated. Britain back then was a VERY domineering, centralized and rather elitist system and culture.
If you guys want to read loyalist media in the modern day read these books 'Goth Craft' by Raven Digitalis and 'Goth Bible' by Nancy Kilpatrick and The Scolar Warrior by Deng Ming-dao... Those are the ones I know of the top of my head.
"The concept was pure, simple, true, it inspired me, led a rebellious fire, but ultimately I learned the lesson that Goldman, Prudot and the others learned. That true freedom requires sacrifice and pain. Most human beings only think they want freedom. In truth they yearn for the bondage of social order, rigid laws, materialism, the only freedom man really wants, is the freedom to become comfortable." -John Teller, SOA.
The founding fathers were a mix of atheists and deists who were wealthy, landed and white. And the only reason why some claim to be deists is so they could be masons a fraternal group with a religious requirement. The taxes on them were pretty fair and the reason for them was to pay for the French and Indian war which cost the crown a lot of money and this war was fought for the colonists. They were greedy and didnt want to pay or fight so they tricked and exploited the poor to fight for them ( which is what always happens) .Washington and a lot of the rest were cruel slavers. This whole thing about the founding of America is a myth. And would not have happened If not for the French and Spanish. Somebody should do a real movie or documentary.
I laughed out loud at pounds money vs weight. topic maybe for next Valentine's day: when did engagement rings become a thing? "Adam ruins everything" already covered how D'Beers (sp?) basically pushed the idea of a diamond ring but when are movies anachronistic when a man gets down on one knee with a ring?
I suspect the relative lack of black Patriots actually has more to do with economics and less to do with racism. Colonial America was almost exclusively based on an agricultural economy. The problem, however, was that there simply weren't enough whites to tend the fields even before the war. With so many whites fighting, there would have been no one to keep the plantations and farms, and thus the colonists would have starved and their economy would have plummeted even more than it had. Slaves allowed the colonies to soldier on, so to speak. Slavery is and was tragic and horrible, and I'm not at all condoning it, but it was the only way to do mass agriculture at a time before modern farming equipment. Secondly, I wouldn't be so quick to paint the British as shining knights for black slaves. Keep in mind we inherited slavery from the British, who by and large had a very poor viewpoint on blacks at that time. The British government did officially offer emancipation for American slaves during the Revolution, but this was done for political, not ethical, reasons.
John Boone good points, except that slavery is as necessary to mass agricultural production as rape is to spreading one's genes... it's an uncomfortably equivalent analogy... there are many better alternatives to both, even at that time period.
Andre P Don't get me wrong, slavery is as disgusting to me as rape is, to use your analogy. No one should ever be enslaved. However, as I've stated, I'm unaware of any other commonly available method to sustainably achieve mass agriculture during the 18th century. If you do, I respectfully ask that you enlighten me.
John Boone Sir, you sound arrogant as if someone owes whites something! Black people do not and did not owe whites any labor! You all chose to come to America! If you didnt bring enough white labor with you, that was your problem! You dragged Africans into it who had NOTHING to do with it!
John Boone Yeah I see where you're coming from. But Britian and America were both devils, unfortunately blacks only had those two options. Not saying Britain actually cared about us but America sure as hell didn't either. Yeah America inherited slavery from the Brits, but at the time the British were starting to make an effort to end it, something America didn't do till 1865, 32 years after the British did. And without a civil war.
Joel Afamefune Let's keep everything in context. Why did Britain end the trans atlantic slave trade! Tell the truth! Please dont give me the "it went against their morals" bullshit! We both know that ain't true!
This is a question posed to me by a teacher back in middle school days (in the '70s). Given my leftist leanings and indignation at bullies, be they local or higher up the food chain, and being a social historian, myself, I suspect that I would have joined with the local "patriots" against the crown. That said, it certainly was a frightening time.
I'm with loyalist all the way Long Live King George and Queen Charlotte and love Generals William Howe and Charles Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold and Admirals Richard Howe and George Elliot and Sir George Rodney they fought in some amazing battles and some of those British officers became great legends after the war did you know that guys
I think it would have depended on what age I was when the revolution was getting started. As a teen, I was much more open to radical political solutions. So the idea of being part of "something bigger" with the chance to "fix things" would have really appealed to me. If it started at my current age, I probably would have been a loyalist, non-combatant. I tend to be a fan of political stability, and I probably would have been not so keen on the risk associated with a revolution. However, given that I had really bad asthma as a child, in reality, I would most likely have been dead by the age of 4, so there's that. This was a fun thought experiment - thanks!
Age isn't a consideration I had but it definitely would be interesting to dig into. Thanks for watching, I'll be adding a shout out with your comment at the end of tomorrow's episode!
@@pbsoriginsmy family was living and from India during the American Revolution. The East India Trading Company had conquered Bengal Subah province which was one of the wealthiest provinces in India. The Company in the 18th century was starting to rule India as a Brtish colony. But they only held Bengal Subah. The Company by Time of the American Revolution had started its conquest of India conquering different Kingdoms gaining the ability to collect taxes. Dethroned Kingdoms. And it's actions led to the death and destruction of the people in Bengal in the Bengal Famine of 1770 which freaked out the American Revolutionaries who feared what happened in Bengal India could happen to them
Within this conversation, the plight of the conscientious objector must be considered as so many of the new settlers were Swiss and German pacifists of varying faiths. "Colonial archives are replete with heartfelt appeals from pacifists to their state assemblies, town committees of safety, and other civil authorities, beseeching them to acknowledge their religious scruples and to recognize alternative forms of support such as prayer and aid for the sick and hungry. Here we read a selection of these appeals from Quakers, Mennonites, Moravians, Schwenkfelders, and German Baptists (Dunkers) in Pennsylvania, and Sandemanians in New Hampshire. Also included are internal Quaker documents that highlight the challenge of specifying the actions that contribute "to the promotion of war." What decisions were thrust upon religious pacifists as the revolution began? How did they work within their churches to define their political stance? How did they attempt to persuade civil officials for official tolerance of their views?"
The current notion is that at the outset of war, roughly a third remained loyal while another third chose revolution. The rest were on the fence and waiting to feel things out.
Postmodernism notwithstanding, the strongest link between the 21st century and the 18th is the persistence of the ideas of the Enlightenment manifested and institutionalized in the very structure of the American democracy. In that context, I imagine that if I were alive then with the same approximate level of understanding and education, I would have embraced the ideas of Locke and Hume then much as I do today and would have been swept up by the breathtaking currents of history that were swirling through the American colonies at the time.
As a black man in that revolution, I would have been aware that the abolition of slavery seemed assured in London. So I would have fought for the UK. Dr. Gerald Horne describes this phenomenon in his book, The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America. This way, the UK would have placed my name in The Book of Negroes. After the war, I'd spend the rest of my days living as a freeman in Nova Scotia. I think there's a BBC Canada mini-series called The Book of Negroes. On the other hand, black men fighting with the revolutionaries risked kidnapping, and risked a forced return into slavery in a southern state.
I don't know many things about history mate, but i doubt that living in Nova Scotia as a Black- loyalist veteran would be better than alongside patriots
@@IchabodvanTassel98 The Counter-Revolution of 1776 by Gerald Horne, in case you're interested. BTW: No one is saying black life in Nova Scotia was Shangri-La. But compare that to slavery, and I think you'll see my point, maybe. PEACE.
I have identified nine direct ancestors who fought on the Patriot side of the Revolution. Many would be considered supporters of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution. It has NEVER been challenged in court. NEVER. Ask yourself, do you too support the 3rd Amendment?
As a Canadian (which I guess didn't exist yet), I most likely would have been welcoming all the loyalists who were moving up here. But as an Asian woman, I'm not sure if I would have been allowed on this continent yet lol.
TF It’s exactly the same situation for me
It's interesting to note that many archaeologists and scholars have reason to believe Chinese sailors may have visited the West coast of the USA well before Columbus and even before the Spanish plundered Latin and South America. It's dangerous to deal with absolutes. In fact, I'll bet that today, there is someone wearing a blue leisure suit, a person is playing with a pet rock, and Jacob Monnin (one of the commenters) actually has a civil and respectful attitude toward fellow humans. Oh wait. The third is quite unlikely.
@Jacob Monnin Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1917 barred people of Asian descent from entering the US. So it's pretty true and she's right
Willy Wong prior to that there had been lots of Chinese people here, they helped build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800’s. It was just harder to travel back then and they probably didn’t have much interest in visiting here in the 1700’s
@Lars Chue yes, American history is so skewed. Those who accept the truth knows that China, Spain, Mexicans, and the Vikings were here long before the British.
But yet the narrative of US history would leave all those other non-white nations off the history books in fear of showing that white supremacy isn't actually supreme at all.
I don’t think any of my family was here during the American Revolution. I think most of them arrived about a century later. I wouldn’t be a fighter, but possibly a cook, nurse, or seamstress. I really enjoy these history lessons. Please keep them coming.
ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
My family that joined the war were Palatine Germans in Germantown, NY. I would love to research what drove their decision to join up. What did they have to gain/lose?
My family was divided by this war. One side came to Canada as loyalists and the other side became revolutionary heroes. I would love to do more research into why. And also to have been a fly on the wall for those family dinners!
It's really cool to hear about divisions that aren't Civil War related...in most countries.
It was effectivly a civil war
Can you explain how Puerto Rico is part but not part of the USA. Love the channel, I have learn a lot.
Spanish American war
It is a province/territory, just like US virgin islands, Guam, among others who's names I currently cannot remember. America is the new age version of the old British empire, puerto Rico is not a state, currently, because as far as I have found, they keep voting that down in their elections, but they do have a governor. I want them to be a state, because we need more not old white male senators.
@Brains00007 The reason we make everyone speak the same language is so we can understand each other. I agree with the decision to only speak English in congress but I don't entirely disagree with speaking Spanish but that's only because I love politics and want to learn to speak Spanish lol.
ARTICLE V PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
@druid_zephyrus
LMAO Puerto Rico is much more conservative than you think 😂😂😂😂
If you’re a black Loyalist: you go to Sierra Leone.
If you’re a black Patriot: you go to Liberia.
Neither Existed
@@Absolute_Joker sure they did, they were still colonies back then, but they sure existed just like Canada and America.
This was really interesting! Are there going to be more videos like this in the future? I really like learning about the lives of normal people throughout history, I'm an anthropology major of course which makes me even more interested.
ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Fundamentally, if I were born in the 1750's, I would not be who I am today. I mean, even more so than most people-my turn to atheism (which was triggered by philosophical concepts that weren't common and scientific knowledge that wasn't known) and the effects it had on my relationships with family and (former) friends were a major force shaping my adolescent years, and most of the things I want to/enjoy doing were even more nonexistent. That's not getting into how my political beliefs would have changed, growing up in different time periods!
All that said...I think I'd probably want to try and stay out of it. Find some place away from the fighting, try to avoid conscription without breaking the law. I'm one of those guys who thinks that _both_ parties are flawed in their own ways, and I'd probably think much the same about Royalists and Republicans.
This is a solid point, since it's not as if we would travel back in time as we are today but would be entirely different people all together. I'll be giving your comment a shout out at the end of tomorrow's episode. Thanks for watching!
Lots of 18th century people were skeptics or Deists, but almost all of them were influenced by Enlightenment philosophy. Maybe it wouldn't be as different as you think. :)
Even the idea that 'both parties are flawed' would have been hard to come by.
I doubt the flow of news etc was as streamlined. So if someone came to you and said that the other side is terrible and they are planning to kill us all etc, you might believe it just because it would be difficult to fact-check. So it could become a battle of who could reach a bigger audience convincingly.
+Me --I've often thought of this same idea as it relates to 'fake news' in pre-mass media times. Since it would have been almost impossible to do any fact-checking, I've wondered if it was simply a matter of who got to deliver the news first. Perhaps this is this a twisted view of people of the past in that it may simply not have occurred to them to completely re-write the unfolding of events to suit their needs the way people do today with what appears to be no qualms whatsoever.
Not so at all. Starting in 1700 was the age of scientific enlightenment. Benjamin Franklin was a leading scientific proponent of this movement which questioned organized religion and non- scientific understanding of natural phenomena.
It was such a complicated time. I would like you to do another 50 videos on it, as this one was amazing. Just rename the channel :)
EddyGurge facts
@@desean3402 ikr
UNITE!!! UNITE! THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING!!!!! ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES OUR KILL SWITCH ON THE GOV! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Our 5th grade class voted 12 to 9 saying no we would not have joined the Revolutionary cause. It was too risky and without knowing how it would all end it was too difficult to choose the right side. If you chose the losing side you could lose everything...all you had, freedom, your life.
Thanks for commenting and for letting me know how the vote went! Great to see some budding historians in the making down here in the comments section!!!
-Danielle
@@pbsorigins I would join if I could but my ansctors where from India and living in India Bhair region. the East India Trading Company and Brtish rule by the East India Trading Company was happing during the American Revolution period. The company ruled Bhair Odisha the modern Indian state of West Bengal and Bengal Bangladesh than part of India since Pakistan and Bangladesh where still part of India untill 1947. But I person of my heritage an Asiatic Indian from Asia India woudnt have been allowed to be in America much less join the American Revolutionaries. Plus the crimstances in India where different from America. American Patriots and colonists where the conquers fighting against there own mother County England the Brtish Empire. America was inhabited by Brtishers White Englishman and other Westerners Dutch Swedish Scotish Irish Scots Irish Welsh same ethnic heritage and cvilization western cvilization they came from Europe. There were no Colonists in India. Plus taxation without representation didn't exist in Brtish colonies where no white western people where living
Loved this! I have been researching my family's part in the revolution . I am very proud that my ancestors took part, but I don't know If I personally would have. It really is food for thought
Nah. I would have chosen the cats offering freedom from enslavement. So size me up for the red coat!
Move to the UK then ✌🏼 RAAAAAA🦅🦅🦅
@@angelotorto250or Canada
Hope you leave America now then
@@angelotorto250 No. Treat people better.
Both sides offered freedom for slaves. Britain hadn't abolished slavery yet, so neither had the best interests in mind for Africans
In a college history class I took, it was put forth that the revolution was fought, not over taxation (though that was part of it), but for religious freedom. The english monarch was the head of the church. When the monarchy changed, the citizens of the faith favored became entitled while citizens of other faiths became oppressed. So having separation of church and state was a driving force for many.
That said. I don't know. On one hand, I'm Irish Catholic and the reigning monarch was church of England. On the other hand Irish Catholics were discriminated against in the U.S. until well into the 1900s. It was common for NINA to be part of job & housing ads. No Irish Need Apply. My father fought in WWII. He was a medic and was treated with extreme prejudice by the non-Irish patients in the hospital he served in.
As a woman though, it is likely I wouldn't have had a choice as i probably would have been a bond servant and coerced to assisting one side or the other.
It had nothing to do with religious freedom
This is a fantastic series that requires ten times as many subscribers and views that it gets
Interestingly enough, this ties in well with yesterday's episode of Adam Runs Everything.
If you’re Loyalist : your descendants become Canadian.
If you’re Patriot : your descendants become American.
not exactly, many loyalists just stayed, kinda like how the civil war ended peacefully, & many troops who retreated to Canada returned to the usa since there was no lasting bad blood so it’s really hard to know whos who today, just look at william allen for example
@@Armed-Forever ok, but I was mainly generalizing.
I probably wouldve tried to become a woodland warlord fighting all sides
Yes! 😆
lol
Being Scottish the genral opinion of Scotland at the time (and mostly still is) was feeling disconnected from the British parliament only joining with the English parliament in 1707 after Scotland went broke trying (and failing) to set up their own colony. Most felt as unrepresented as the Americans but there wasn't that much they could do about it without another round of braveheart. So I think had I lived at the time I wouldn't care either way as long as I had food in my stomach and a roof over my head.
Not subject related. Just wanted to say that you are a great presenter. You're very engaging! Look forward to watching more of these videos. Great topic.
I love your vids and presentation!!! Totally like learning of this new perspective regarding the way the different nationalities and social strata are explained here. My history classes never touched on how the explanation regarding personal decisions made.
thanks for watching!
I'm just doing this for a reading assignment and I would join the war I don't have a clue why
Interesting to look at choosing sides as a matter of how you might be better off on a personal level - the revolutionary war is often viewed more though the lens of ideology or personal views on government
We’ll Done! Thank you! My family was #5, so we were Patriots ☺️
My family at the time, if they were of age, served in the Revolution on the side of the Colonies. However though several did serve in the Continental Army from 1775 - 1783 many more served for a campaign or two or served in the individual militias. The Cones served from Connecticut and had farms in Middlesex County, the Kempton served from Massachusetts, Plymouth County and served at Lexington. The Kingsburys served from Boston… they were all farmers and many moved to New Hampshire and Vermont after the war.
Can you do more videos on this? I know it’s going to be controversial but doing one like this over the Civil War would be amazing.
Well, it's hard to say if I would have joined or not. But, I am eternally grateful to several of my ancestors for doing so, on the Patriot side of course. The only notable one was James Potter of Pennsylvania who rose to Brigadier General under George Washington. I am proud to be 9th generation American, and have researched my family tree for 25 years and counting.
The Patriot side...you mean Britain? The "patriots" as you called them were the terrorists back then. They tarred and feathered (a disfiguring and painful torture) those that disagreed with their ideology, they burned down businesses of citizens who did not support their terrorist activities, etc. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.
Yes, britain was not responsive enough (though taxes they raised were to support their defence of North america), but isn't today's American govt as well? The president has more power than King George III could have ever dreamed of. Would you support a group of "patriots" who would bomb businesses who were loyal to the American govt? Would you torture those that disagreed with your group's ideology? Just trying to show you what the equivalence of that would be today. And have you seen modern American taxes v colonial (taxes on income and payrol [21% of income average], property taxes, sales taxes, fees, etc - compared to around 5% sales tax...on only certain items and a slight tariff). Rebellion time?
And regular riots and lobbying would've still increased democracy. Look at Canada, Australia, etc.
Not going after you, just showing the other side. Cheers 😁🍻
More than likely I would have personally leaned toward maintaining the status quo (loyalist), but as a female, I would have supported the decision made by my father or husband.
Excellent video! I never thought about this and now it makes perfect sense.
As a french canadian, I would have done the same than my ancestors: I would have said no!
Yes I would have been with the Cherokee,aligned with the British. King George had pledge to halt colonial expansion at the Appalachian Mountains.
The crown would have broken that pledge as soon as king George was dead.
@@adamcolbenson5638 Speculation. Your assertion is not based on fact, so is hearsay.
@@1515327E true. But history proves me correct time after time. Just look at how many "pledges" the crown made and broke with India alone, let alone the rest of their "empire".
@@adamcolbenson5638 that’s prob what really caused the push for independence, they wanted to expand for riches and the king said no lol
@@Armed-Forever more like the crown wanted a disproportionately large chunk of the riches made possible by the serfdom of the colonials.
I love how you did this focusing on POV
If i could go back now.I would have fought with the British because they would of done a much better job at the running of America and we wouldn't be where we are now.We would be more like Canada.EDUCATED
America would have ended up more like Canada, I agree. Wussies! Love from Wisconsin, ya maple syrup drinking hosers!
Cringe take.
LOL idk .. usa and canada are both great respectively, gun rights are important to me though
@@Armed-Forever Undoubtedly there would have been less genocide and war generally. People forget that ultimately is a Civil War. The founding fathers lifted most of the British law, human and Civil Rights legislation into the Bill of Rights and American constitution from existing British legislation, and relatively Britain was a free society and was only propaganda that George had much control as he was marginalised by British Parliament. Manifest destiny would not have happened, therefore over the decades expansion would have happened more slowly, with Native Americans having the chance to integrate and slowly transition their culture to adapt and lead to less misery and guilt amongst white Americans now.
British Parliament was focused on sophisticated investment practice, with fractional reserve, already having worked for centuries and free market capitalism was about to kick off even more with the steam engine driven 2nd phase of the Industrial Revolution, Exclusively in Britain. Britain's government enabled incredible synergy throughout Britain ffrom 1750 onwards, so as a British colony and think it's safe to say that this highly developed calculated risk-taking mentality in Britain at the time, would have fostered good conditions for the future of the American continent..it would have been better in many ways, and certainly power wouldn't have been hijacked in a nepotistic, plutocratic duopoly like it is now. The current British Parliament is very right-wing and corrupt, but that was mainly due to the Brexit debacle, before that British politics was much more centred, and sensible, with the Tory party being centre-right to fully right-wing, and the Labour and Liberal party being centre-left to fully left-wing.However, they were not extreme at any wing of the party, unlike the extreme right wing Republicans we see in the United States today and in a assessment based on conventional political science, despite the propaganda, the Democrats are also centre-right to fully right-wing, they are not left-wing by any traditional assessment.But in modern American politics If you focus in anyway on collective responsibility and responsibility towards other citizens, or takes responsibility, giving public services, rather than harping on about personal rights all the time,You are commonly labelled a socialist or even worst = a communist
@@Rowlph8888 British politics is only corrupt due to brexit? huh? brexit happened because british ppl wanted less immigration and the gov refused to give it... in terms of democracy, the USA is a real democracy, the uk is not.
we know this because the uk parties select candidates Nd there's no primaries, in the US, anyone can run in a primary for any party, meaning it's way more democratic, that's a big reason why i sought to become an american, imagine if the republican party got to pick all their candidates, it would just be a bunch of neo cons, and democrats would pick a bunch of hillary clinton's, no thanks. uk picks ppl like boris johnson and dianne abbot 😹 dear god! and let's not forget free speech, in the uk, cops arrest you if someone is offended.
I don't want to take way from the importance of what you're saying, Danielle, with frivolousness, but... You're looking SHARP!
Yeah I would side with which ever side offer me the most freedom. So I think I would have joined the British.
Hahaha yea ok British offer freedom. We left the American values in the past which is why America sucks today but the original founding was all about freedom
@@the_awakening6044 for white people…
@@the_awakening6044 not for native / black ppl , i think is what he’s getting at
Absolutely and I’m ready to join the next one!!
What a lot of Americans do not know is that the so called first settlers were not actually seeking freedom of religion as such, these people were intollerant religous fanatics who abhored any sort of happiness or self enjoyment and believed in the devil as a constant threat. They left behind a relatively carefree society to create their own strict miserable society.
I can honestly say...my entire family would have joined the Patriot Rebellion. we are working class people who are avid believers of the right to your own personal freedoms and the right to protect those freedoms.
My mother's ancestors supported the revolution. Assuming I lived where they did and saw what they saw, I probably would have aided the revolution. But I tend to be risk-averse, so I would have tried to stay publicly neutral, unless that was an even more dangerous position than choosing sides. I love your channel, btw!
I think staying publicly neutral depended on where you lived at the time. Who your family was, which side controlled the area, who the officers were in the area, etc. Some officers on both sides were gentlemen, some on both sides were basically tyrants in their own ways.
There's also the little hidden pockets of spies for both sides, little pockets of opposers to the side in charge, strong supporters of the side in charge, both that could put your family in harm's way depending on how extreme they wanted to be on any given day. There's also the "You're either with us or against us" no middle ground no gray area people.
Hmm. Interesting question. Like Timothy McLean commented before me, if I had been born back then I would be a COMPLETELY different person. I would be devoutly religious because almost everyone was, if my feminist rebellious tendencies existed at all it'd only be in small, sneaky ways, and I'd definitely be not only a mom, but a grandma. WHOLE different person.
That said, I like to think I'd be one of those badass, tough, frontier housewives who instead of being all meek and ladylike, would grab the musket and fire out the door at invaders and place herself between danger and the children like a meat-shield. "GET OFF MAH PROPERTAY!" is a long-standing American tradition; and when soldiers are trying to take over your house to sleep there, it's kinda understandable.
I've got this very ornery can't-push-me-around streak that I assume would be there no matter what, as I've been that way since forever, but does that mean I'd also be all Don't Tread On Me? Not necessarily...as a _poor_ white woman who has to struggle all the time, I'd probably just want whatever was best for my family and to be left alone.
Now, it gets even more fun when we consider the idea of not just being ourselves (ish...VERY ish) born into Revolutionary times, and instead think about Quantum Leaping into one of our actual ancestors who would've been around at the time. In my case, I'm almost entirely white _now_...but in the 1700's my Native American ancestors were still directly interacting (coughbreedingcough) with my Caucasian ancestors. So there's every chance that, if I "leapt" back into a time-appropriate ancestor's body, I'd end up AS a Cherokee. And that would change everything around yet again!
I love the inclusion of social positionality in this video. Thanks.
I would definitely have actively opposed the revolutionary efforts. While I am a great fan of Thomas Paine, I have read contemporary accounts which showed the number of debt defaulters and oath breakers who jumped on the bandwagon not through any ideology, but to evade justice through the turmoil of regime change. US school history lessons have unfairly vilified the British, who had many good points at the time that are now generally completely overlooked. Smiles
The reason, Which I'd of joined, Was a huge amount of no representation(Huh imagine it), Ridiculous taxes, Arbitrary law's, King George literally told people they could not move freely. And a good many black people joined by "placing their mark" And earned their freedom. Any "Slaves" were almost always from Africa, Which their tribe sold them to Anglo people. Hate to say it but our government is no different now than in the 1770s.
wow you can realty dance
The British were pretty good compared to other empires at the time.
@@northernpartisan7370 their tribe didn’t sell them, rival tribes did. and this whole narrative about tax is misleading, london had invested huge money into creating / maintaining the 13 colonies, including to protect them in the french indian wars, to then turn around and say we wana be independent was abit ruthless, & many american born ppl agreed, the boston governor was born in boston yet opposed independence
I would join it so I could be George Washington standing on the prow of that boat like a badass with my coat flapping dramatically in the wind.
valar not to damper your dreams but you would be freezing your ass off. But don’t worry I’d do the same thing (but I would complain the entire time)
If that painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware had been accurately painted, you would see nothing but fog.
South Carolinean, Charleston. We should have never signed that Declaration. Loyalist to the end. God Save the Queen!
As an upper middle class white woman and a Canadian I probably would have been welcoming loyalists fleeing across the border.
My ancestors fought for freedom so I would have joined the British because my ancestors fought for freedom during the Haitian revolution
I'm Haitian too. If I had been a slave and had the chance for freedom from the British, then I would have accepted it.
I'm Haitian-American, too. I think it would be pretty hard. to choose because there was still a lot of racism on both sides, but I would have most likely joined the colonists because not only was there racism in both America and Britain, but the British literally lost the war and most black loyalists who fled to Canada, according to research were enslaved because most of them went into either upper Canada, or lower Canada.
That’s Exactly what the British were fighting against.
Interesting to hear the Loyalists' perspective!
Another great video!
I would have joined the British obviously as a black man.
The Continental Army did offer freedom to slaves that joined their ranks
@@thorpeaaron1110 Look what that did for them. Another 89 years until any vestige of 'freedom,' and still waiting.
it’s ironic isn’t
I am Canadian and I love PBS WNED
One part of my family was chased out of the American colonies, we were loyalists. We went to upper Canada.
it’s weird because after the war, many who fought for the crown retuned to the usa, seems grudges weren’t held
Shared. Thank you for this content.
Great video
Some of mine did, but some also refused to and were shipped off to Canada and the fact the leaders in Boston and Philadelphia treated the farmers the same way Britian treated them is a little sad to say the least.
This clip is fantastic!!!! Thank you!!!
Since my ancestors include Gen. Nathanael Greene, Washington’s second-in-command, and Gilbert Stuart, Washington’s (and most of the founders) portrait artist, I’m going to go with, yes, I very likely would have been involved on the side of the revolutionaries.
Today it is difficult to imagine anything that would justify going to war, but given the times and the situation, I believe I would have sided with the revolutionaries. My family came to Virginia in the 17th century as indentured farmers to the King but by 1775 they had paid their debts and had become landowners themselves, although not the landed gentry that we often think of when we use the word landowners. I imagine that to live at a time when the King was always looming large in the background of every big life decision would have felt incredibly frustrating. The king would have been an unknown force that could upend any part of society or life in general for his entire kingdom on a whim or as a political move related to the king's position among the other kingdoms of the times. Even as a small landowner the idea of self-governance would have felt intoxicatingly alluring and I am fairly sure I would have been one of the first to enlist on the side of the revolutionaries.
It was fought by those who had the most to gain and least to lose.
Great video! I'd love to see more thought experiment type vids from you in the future. Considering the women's perspective (what are the men in the family supporting and self-preservation aspects) as well as family lineage, it's likely I would have been a loyalist!
I also have a suggestion for a future video: the origin of the bicycle! There's a fascinating history behind the prelude to the car. Bike Month is May! ;)
I really like your videos, thanks!!
I haven't a clue how I would have decided the question. I don't know how I WILL answer question now either.
Depends if I swore an oath to the crown beforehand. If not then I would of fought for the Revolution.
A lot of these answers are based on hindsight which as we know is 20/20. The people that came to the colonies were a motley crew, tended to have a lot of grit and faith. As always, we humble lot, outnumber the privileged few. We don't know the pressures that our forebears were feeling to survive. I suspect since so many chose to support the patriot cause, there was more at stake than our 1st world, modern, life of material, eyes can see.
BTW proud American, feel my country is more good than bad.
I am confident I would of joined because my ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War as Rebels.
Without a doubt, missed the first but hope to see the next one.
Excellent! Thank you!
cool thought experiment! I am a white woman. I honestly believe in following my convictions, and also find satisfaction in helping out, so I can see myself helping out in the camps for troops. Possibly helping in nursing injured men, as I have an interest in medicine. However, I am uncertain which side. It depends on how my life had been going up until then (was I happy under british rule? had I personally been affected by the things the rebels were rebelling against?). And possibly where i was living and how close I was to an encampment (If i lived near a british encampment, that might make the decision for me). I am thinking I very well may have chosen the rebels though.
It is so refreshing to hear a person look at history through non color eyes!
ARTICLE V PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IM CALLING ON ALL GODS CHILDREN. I'm begging all patriots to sign and spread the PETITION. let's take back our COUNTRY. im sick of all LIARS and deceivers!!! I love God and he is calling on us to rebuke all the evil our gov has reigned down upon us!!! please sign if u agree!! our lives literally depend on the conventions of states!!!I WILL NOT STOP SCREAMING CONVENTIONS OF STATES RISE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER'S AND SHOW THE DEVIL GOD WILL NOT STAND FOR IT ANYMORE. I KNOW EVERYONE FEELS THIS!!! RISE SIMPLY SIGN THE PETITION IF U DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY JUST PLEASE SIGN IT EDUCATE URSELF LOOK AT THE SITE. KNOWLEDGE IS THE TRUE POWER!!! conventionofstates.com/?ref=57686 SPREAD THE WORD LIKE A LIGHTING BOLT. ITS THE ONLY KILL SWITCH WE HAVE TAKE A STAND. BE BRAVE STRONG AND PROUD. DO NOT LET THESE VILE EVIL LIARS STAND. CONVENTION OF STATES. GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF US!!! UNITE. UNITE NOW IS THE TIME. U R BEING CALLED UPON UNITE!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
Based on family history, I'd most likely be the wife of a land owning but not rich man in central New England, so I'm guessing my stance would depend on whether my husband was taking the risk or not. Whatever keeps me alive and not starving
I am transgender ftm so I would probably be thrown in the loony bin before I even had the chance to choose.
Same
How can u be trans anything for the moment lol
Appropriately so
@Jacob Monnin gender dysphoria is a symptom trans people typically experience, but it is not the proper term since not every trans person experiences dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is actually not listed as a mental illness either. Maybe I'm speaking to a wall here and your opinion cannot be changed, but here's a link that I think explains it pretty well: www.healthyplace.com/blogs/thelifelgbt/2019/3/gender-dysphoria-vs-transgender-identity
Well, at least thank the founding fathers for you to protest for those rights.
As a Jewish woman, I definitely would have sided with whomever I thought would better secure my religious freedom. I'm not sure what life for Jews was like under British rule back then - so it mostly depends on that.
But realistically, given my health history and what medical care was like back then, I would most certainly have died before I was old enough to understand and take sides.
Then in that case, you'd support the "patriots", as the Church of England was the state religion of the mother country and they didn't like even Christian dissidents (partially why the Pilgrims and Puritans fled to NE). Catholics were hated. Britain back then was a VERY domineering, centralized and rather elitist system and culture.
1776 was really just a civil war about power, the rebels wanted to expand so opted for independence and the loyalists preferred to remain united
If you guys want to read loyalist media in the modern day read these books 'Goth Craft' by Raven Digitalis and 'Goth Bible' by Nancy Kilpatrick and The Scolar Warrior by Deng Ming-dao... Those are the ones I know of the top of my head.
"The concept was pure, simple, true, it inspired me, led a rebellious fire, but ultimately I learned the lesson that Goldman, Prudot and the others learned. That true freedom requires sacrifice and pain. Most human beings only think they want freedom. In truth they yearn for the bondage of social order, rigid laws, materialism, the only freedom man really wants, is the freedom to become comfortable."
-John Teller, SOA.
Great Question...
The founding fathers were a mix of atheists and deists who were wealthy, landed and white. And the only reason why some claim to be deists is so they could be masons a fraternal group with a religious requirement. The taxes on them were pretty fair and the reason for them was to pay for the French and Indian war which cost the crown a lot of money and this war was fought for the colonists. They were greedy and didnt want to pay or fight so they tricked and exploited the poor to fight for them ( which is what always happens) .Washington and a lot of the rest were cruel slavers. This whole thing about the founding of America is a myth. And would not have happened If not for the French and Spanish. Somebody should do a real movie or documentary.
I laughed out loud at pounds money vs weight.
topic maybe for next Valentine's day: when did engagement rings become a thing? "Adam ruins everything" already covered how D'Beers (sp?) basically pushed the idea of a diamond ring but when are movies anachronistic when a man gets down on one knee with a ring?
Me who’s British and watching this
That's just the north Side. Sourthern Louisiana actually had a very large role to play. For very specific and different reasons
What is the name of that violin music
70 years later, the Cherokee people saw their future with the Confederacy.
Too bad the Cherokee people always chose the losing side.
@@adamcolbenson5638 lmao
my ancestors were from the German city of Kessel(where Hessians came from).
I'm not sure. Most in the Americas during this time was mostly native.
My ancestors were poor English, Welsh and Irish probably farmers and miners, so like yeah whatever who cares.
Love this channel
Us natives would be screwed regardless
Apparently...
Same thing for blacks too...
I suspect the relative lack of black Patriots actually has more to do with economics and less to do with racism. Colonial America was almost exclusively based on an agricultural economy. The problem, however, was that there simply weren't enough whites to tend the fields even before the war. With so many whites fighting, there would have been no one to keep the plantations and farms, and thus the colonists would have starved and their economy would have plummeted even more than it had. Slaves allowed the colonies to soldier on, so to speak. Slavery is and was tragic and horrible, and I'm not at all condoning it, but it was the only way to do mass agriculture at a time before modern farming equipment.
Secondly, I wouldn't be so quick to paint the British as shining knights for black slaves. Keep in mind we inherited slavery from the British, who by and large had a very poor viewpoint on blacks at that time. The British government did officially offer emancipation for American slaves during the Revolution, but this was done for political, not ethical, reasons.
John Boone good points, except that slavery is as necessary to mass agricultural production as rape is to spreading one's genes... it's an uncomfortably equivalent analogy... there are many better alternatives to both, even at that time period.
Andre P Don't get me wrong, slavery is as disgusting to me as rape is, to use your analogy. No one should ever be enslaved. However, as I've stated, I'm unaware of any other commonly available method to sustainably achieve mass agriculture during the 18th century. If you do, I respectfully ask that you enlighten me.
John Boone Sir, you sound arrogant as if someone owes whites something! Black people do not and did not owe whites any labor! You all chose to come to America! If you didnt bring enough white labor with you, that was your problem! You dragged Africans into it who had NOTHING to do with it!
John Boone Yeah I see where you're coming from. But Britian and America were both devils, unfortunately blacks only had those two options. Not saying Britain actually cared about us but America sure as hell didn't either. Yeah America inherited slavery from the Brits, but at the time the British were starting to make an effort to end it, something America didn't do till 1865, 32 years after the British did. And without a civil war.
Joel Afamefune Let's keep everything in context. Why did Britain end the trans atlantic slave trade! Tell the truth! Please dont give me the "it went against their morals" bullshit! We both know that ain't true!
This is a question posed to me by a teacher back in middle school days (in the '70s). Given my leftist leanings and indignation at bullies, be they local or higher up the food chain, and being a social historian, myself, I suspect that I would have joined with the local "patriots" against the crown. That said, it certainly was a frightening time.
I'm with loyalist all the way Long Live King George and Queen Charlotte and love Generals William Howe and Charles Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold and Admirals Richard Howe and George Elliot and Sir George Rodney they fought in some amazing battles and some of those British officers became great legends after the war did you know that guys
I think it would have depended on what age I was when the revolution was getting started. As a teen, I was much more open to radical political solutions. So the idea of being part of "something bigger" with the chance to "fix things" would have really appealed to me. If it started at my current age, I probably would have been a loyalist, non-combatant. I tend to be a fan of political stability, and I probably would have been not so keen on the risk associated with a revolution.
However, given that I had really bad asthma as a child, in reality, I would most likely have been dead by the age of 4, so there's that.
This was a fun thought experiment - thanks!
Age isn't a consideration I had but it definitely would be interesting to dig into. Thanks for watching, I'll be adding a shout out with your comment at the end of tomorrow's episode!
@@pbsoriginsmy family was living and from India during the American Revolution. The East India Trading Company had conquered Bengal Subah province which was one of the wealthiest provinces in India. The Company in the 18th century was starting to rule India as a Brtish colony. But they only held Bengal Subah. The Company by Time of the American Revolution had started its conquest of India conquering different Kingdoms gaining the ability to collect taxes. Dethroned Kingdoms. And it's actions led to the death and destruction of the people in Bengal in the Bengal Famine of 1770 which freaked out the American Revolutionaries who feared what happened in Bengal India could happen to them
Within this conversation, the plight of the conscientious objector must be considered as so many of the new settlers were Swiss and German pacifists of varying faiths. "Colonial archives are replete with heartfelt appeals from pacifists to their state assemblies, town committees of safety, and other civil authorities, beseeching them to acknowledge their religious scruples and to recognize alternative forms of support such as prayer and aid for the sick and hungry. Here we read a selection of these appeals from Quakers, Mennonites, Moravians, Schwenkfelders, and German Baptists (Dunkers) in Pennsylvania, and Sandemanians in New Hampshire. Also included are internal Quaker documents that highlight the challenge of specifying the actions that contribute "to the promotion of war." What decisions were thrust upon religious pacifists as the revolution began? How did they work within their churches to define their political stance? How did they attempt to persuade civil officials for official tolerance of their views?"
The current notion is that at the outset of war, roughly a third remained loyal while another third chose revolution. The rest were on the fence and waiting to feel things out.
Nope. Not going to risk my life for slaveowners who didn't want to pay their taxes.
NATIVE AMERICAN!!! I love native America!!!
Postmodernism notwithstanding, the strongest link between the 21st century and the 18th is the persistence of the ideas of the Enlightenment manifested and institutionalized in the very structure of the American democracy. In that context, I imagine that if I were alive then with the same approximate level of understanding and education, I would have embraced the ideas of Locke and Hume then much as I do today and would have been swept up by the breathtaking currents of history that were swirling through the American colonies at the time.
As a black man in that revolution, I would have been aware that the abolition of slavery seemed assured in London. So I would have fought for the UK. Dr. Gerald Horne describes this phenomenon in his book, The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America. This way, the UK would have placed my name in The Book of Negroes. After the war, I'd spend the rest of my days living as a freeman in Nova Scotia. I think there's a BBC Canada mini-series called The Book of Negroes. On the other hand, black men fighting with the revolutionaries risked kidnapping, and risked a forced return into slavery in a southern state.
I don't know many things about history mate, but i doubt that living in Nova Scotia as a Black- loyalist veteran would be better than alongside patriots
@@IchabodvanTassel98 The Counter-Revolution of 1776 by Gerald Horne, in case you're interested. BTW: No one is saying black life in Nova Scotia was Shangri-La. But compare that to slavery, and I think you'll see my point, maybe. PEACE.
@@carlosrobbins9178 well i might check that book later man thanks!
I have identified nine direct ancestors who fought on the Patriot side of the Revolution.
Many would be considered supporters of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution. It has NEVER been challenged in court. NEVER.
Ask yourself, do you too support the 3rd Amendment?
Yep. I have ancestors on both my mother and father's who served. I served as a paratrooper. God Bless America.
My 8th-grade class said that they would have not joined the Revolutionary effort because of the risks involved.
As a Canadian, I probably would have joined the british army 😅 sorry South neighbor jajaja
Some of my ancestors were loyalists so yay 🇨🇦