# If You Were Alive During the American Revolution **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842 "2010-08-29T00:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/1 "2010-08-29T00:40:01Z")
If you lived during the era of the American Revolution which faction would you have been? I probably would have been a moderate Loyalist who remained loyal to the Crown but still peacefully demand more rights for the colonies although I’d probably avoid fighting and remain in the United States after the Revolution ends. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/2 "2010-08-29T00:50:20Z")
Penultimate Mohegan ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/3 "2010-08-29T00:51:39Z")
I’da been a staunch loyalist/runaway slave. If we’re pretending I was white back then I’da been one of the 1/3 trying not to get caught up in the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/4 "2010-08-29T00:55:14Z")
I would have been, probably much like today, completely apathetic and rather indifferent to it all. “Eh, Loyalist or Rebel, I gotta get dinner on the table. Little Jebediah starts school next week, can you believe the price of parchment this year?” I might have had some opinions at dinner parties, but I wouldn’t have gotten involved in the actual political process. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/5 "2010-08-29T01:01:08Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I would have been, probably much like today, completely apathetic and rather indifferent to it all. “Eh, Loyalist or Rebel, I gotta get dinner on the table. Little Jebediah starts school next week, can you believe the price of parchment this year?” > > I might have had some opinions at dinner parties, but I wouldn’t have gotten involved in the actual political process. You wouldn’t at least I don’t know try to prevent the violence which will several thousand deaths? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/6 "2010-08-29T01:03:49Z")
Most likely I would have believed that we did have the inherent right to representation and that a Monarchy was an unethical method of government. But I would probably have believed that the correct answer would be to foment for a national vote (where “national” includes England) on whether to continue as a monarchy, with the King losing all power if he loses. I probably wouldn’t advocate war as life simply wasn’t all that bad. Going to war and getting a lot of people killed simply wouldn’t be worth it. But if war broke out anyways, I’d be cheering for the Revolutionaries. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/7 "2010-08-29T01:04:09Z")
Marion’s Rangers. No way am I fighting a conventional war with the Continental Army. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/8 "2010-08-29T01:07:29Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > You wouldn’t at least I don’t know try to prevent the violence which will several thousand deaths? Having no knowledge of what’s to come…no. I would have probably thought it was a group of tough talking young men who’d be quickly squashed by the government and put in jail. Just like today’s “Tea-Baggers” or Libertarians or people protesting outside Target, I don’t expect them to make a great impact on history or my personal life, whether or not I agree with what they’re saying. ETA: And, of course, as a woman, I’d have had no power to do something had I wanted to. I’d probably be pregnant and caring for a dozen children already. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/9 "2010-08-29T01:10:00Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > If you lived during the era of the American Revolution which faction would you have been? I probably would have been a moderate Loyalist who remained loyal to the Crown but still peacefully demand more rights for the colonies although I’d probably avoid fighting and remain in the United States after the Revolution ends. If I were alive and aware of all I know now I would be fighting with the rebels simply on the basis of the sheer arrogance of the British Parliment’s idiotic beyond idiotic actions. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/10 "2010-08-29T01:10:28Z")
Was I born in England or in the colonies? Actually, never mind. If I’d been born overseas, I probably would have had a damn good reason for leaving if I was willing to taken an ocean voyage to get here. Put me down as one of the damn traitors to the crown. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/11 "2010-08-29T01:22:32Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@WhyNot](#): > > > > I would have been, probably much like today, completely apathetic and rather indifferent to it all. “Eh, Loyalist or Rebel, I gotta get dinner on the table. Little Jebediah starts school next week, can you believe the price of parchment this year?” > > > > I might have had some opinions at dinner parties, but I wouldn’t have gotten involved in the actual political process. > > You wouldn’t at least I don’t know try to prevent the violence which will several thousand deaths? What have you done to prevent deaths in the war in Iraq? That’s what I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/12 "2010-08-29T02:58:58Z")
I’d have been a revolutionary. Depending on my age and station, I could have fought in various ways, or been a firebrand printer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/13 "2010-08-29T03:47:03Z")
I would have been making the most of treason. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/14 "2010-08-29T08:16:57Z")
I don’t know. On one hand, I’m very fascinated and enchanted with the British Monarchy. On the other, I’m pretty “fight the power!!!” in my life here and now, and perhaps it’s only that the Monarchy is a bit of a toothless monster in the tyranny department that allows me to be so enchanted with them. Then again, I do have a streak of the traditionalist in me, and it makes me so nervous to see institutions and old forms of government die out sometimes. Still, I HATE injustice and disenfranchisement. I’d probably lean toward supporting the Revolutionaries, while being nervous about it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/15 "2010-08-29T11:47:59Z")
Well guessing by my family history, I would have probably been a farmer in backassville who heard about the ‘difficulties’ only long after things were mostly decided then tried to join up and been disqualified for some reason. My family has a long and strong tradition of military invalidity. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/16 "2010-08-29T15:50:18Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@WhyNot](#): > > > > I would have been, probably much like today, completely apathetic and rather indifferent to it all. “Eh, Loyalist or Rebel, I gotta get dinner on the table. Little Jebediah starts school next week, can you believe the price of parchment this year?” > > > > I might have had some opinions at dinner parties, but I wouldn’t have gotten involved in the actual political process. > > You wouldn’t at least I don’t know try to prevent the violence which will several thousand deaths? Like what? Stand between two armies and tell them it’s not a good day to fight? Best way to end up a greasy smear on the ground I can think of? Convince individual soldiers to desert? Shot for treason. There is no way to do this when you live among the combatants without either taking a side or having everyone believe you’ve taken a side. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/17 "2010-08-29T17:02:18Z")
> [@torie](#): > > I don’t know. On one hand, I’m very fascinated and enchanted with the British Monarchy. On the other, I’m pretty “fight the power!!!” in my life here and now, and perhaps it’s only that the Monarchy is a bit of a toothless monster in the tyranny department that allows me to be so enchanted with them. Then again, I do have a streak of the traditionalist in me, and it makes me so nervous to see institutions and old forms of government die out sometimes. Still, I HATE injustice and disenfranchisement. > > I’d probably lean toward supporting the Revolutionaries, while being nervous about it. Funny words for a Tory. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/18 "2010-08-29T18:10:57Z")
If I were alive during the American Revolution I’d be so old now I wouldn’t be able to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/19 "2010-08-29T18:56:45Z")
I’d be one of those fence sitters, supporting whatever side was winning ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842/20 "2010-08-29T21:08:49Z")
The Revolutionaries of course! I would align with George Washington, Tom Jefferson, Sam and John Addams, Paul Revere, et al. Frankly, it is really hard for me to believe that some of our neighbors fought against us. I hope those not on our side all got sent back to England. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-alive-during-the-american-revolution/551842.md?page=2)