Patriots American Revolution

Patriots American Revolution: Facts

The Patriots based their notions of rebellion on the Enlightenment philosophy of republicanism, the idea that government should reject the institution of monarchy and central control and embrace individual liberty, natural rights, and sovereignty granted by the people.

Fig. 1 - The Spirit of 1776, a painting that exemplified the defiant spirit of the American patriots

Most individuals who claimed to be Patriots were from Boston, a city at the heart of the independence movement since the Stamp Act in 1765. Boston became the epicenter of rebellion as many of the taxation, enforcement, and governmental policies passed by England from the 1750s to 1770s directly impacted Bostonians.

Soon, the Patriot movement spread to cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia and in pockets of resistance in New York City. Many different Americans of varying backgrounds gravitated toward the Patriot cause, most directly influenced by the passage of policies such as the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts. They consisted of lawyers, merchants, plantation owners, farmers, slaves and freemen, and politicians.

Famous Patriots: American Revolution

Listed below are several, but not all, prominent Patriots of the American Revolution:

Female Patriots: American Revolution

There were several famous and influential female Patriots during the American revolution.

• Martha Washington: The wife of George Washington, but that is not what made her a patriot. Martha took up the patriot cause and took action. During the Continental Army’s difficult time at Valley Forge in 1777, Martha brought food and rations from the Washington Estate of Mt. Vernon and established sewing circles to repair uniforms.

• Lucy Knox: Wife of General Henry Knox, Lucy disowned all of her Loyalist family when marrying Henry. Much like Martha Washington, during the harsh winter at Valley Forge, Lucy left her home to join her husband and help provide rations and clothing.

• Abigail Adams: Wife of John Adams, and arguably one of the most influential patriots during the revolution for her arguments for independence in her letters to her husband and a strong advocate for equality in women's rights in creating the new government.

• Mercy Otis Warren: An author and playwright who used her craft to promote her patriot views to the general public and helped bring people to the patriot cause.

• Margaret Moore Barry: Volunteered to scout for the Continental Army during the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in 1781. Her scouting reports and ability to rally militia were vital in securing an American victory in the battle.

• Esther DeBerdt Reed: Established an organization in Philadelphia during the war that collected monetary donations to support the Continental Army.

• Margaret Cochran Corbin: The wife of an American military officer, Margaret is famous for her actions during the British attack on Fort Washington. As her husband John oversaw the artillery shelling the British advance, a gunner was killed. John stepped in to cover the position, but he, too, was killed. Margaret then stepped in and continued to fire the cannon alone until she was wounded and could not continue, losing the function of her left arm for the rest of her life.

Loyalists of the American Revolution

Loyalists were often older and had more established wealth in the colonies. Many felt a strong allegiance to the British Crown and saw the Patriot movement as treason. Most had solid financial connections in England or familiar connections with members of Parliament.

Several Famous Loyalists include:

• William Franklin

• Thomas Hutchinson

• Thomas Brown

• Joseph Brant

• Andrew Allen

• Isaac Low

• John Zubly

Fig. 2 - Though not an Englishmen, one of the most famous Loyalists was Joseph Brant, a Mohawk leader who sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War

Patriots of the American Revolution: Flag

There are several historical flags used by colonists who identified with the patriot cause:

Fig. 3 -The Stamp Act Flag

The Stamp Act Flag was used in 1765 as a symbol of community boycott and protest of the Stamp Act and was an early visual sign of the growing patriot movement.

The Stamp Act Flag was quickly adopted and modified into the "Rebellious Stripes" used by the Sons of Liberty in Boston.

Though it began life as a cartoon printed in a newspaper in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin following the Albany congress, its notion and image were quickly adopted by the colonial Patriots and made into flags, pamphlets, and other images for display.