Who were the Patriots?
At first, the Patriots just didn’t want to be taxed
Later, liberty became as important- they no longer wanted to be British, but Americans
They wanted to rule themselves and create their own government, as the United Colonies
Patriots were called Rebels, Liberty Boys, Sons or Daughters of Liberty, Colonials, or Whigs
About one third of the colonists considered themselves Patriots
When the war began, the Continental Army was formed with Patriots, some Canadians, and some Native Americans, and also some slaves.
In 1778, 2 years after the war began, France sent money and troops and the Navy to help the Patriots
In 1779, Holland and Spain also sent money to help the Patriots cause
Help came from the other countries because those countries did not like England, not because they believed in the Patriots cause