(Excerpts 1-6 relating to why the colonies owed no loyalty to Britain)

Excerpt #1:

Some people say that England is the mother country. If she is, then shame on her. Even the
worst of people dont destroy their children and make war on their own familiesEurope, and
not England is the mother country of America. The new world has been the safe place for
persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. They didnt come here
leaving the tender arms of a mother, but running away from the cruelty of a monster, and
England is just as bad today as when the Pilgrims left England.

Excerpt #2:

Not even one third of the colonists are of English descent. Therefore, calling England the mother
country is ridiculous.

But, assuming for a minute that all of the colonists were from England, would that matter? No.
Britain, which is now our enemy after what happened at Lexington, cannot be called anything
but an enemyThe first king of England was French (William the Conqueror), and half of the
people in England have French descent, so by the same logic that we should be governed by
England because of our descent, England should be governed by France.

Excerpt #3:

I cant even count all of the bad things that happen to us because we are connected to England,
and our duty to mankind and ourselves is to break away from England. Because our connection
with Britain tends to involve us in European wars, and makes us enemies with nations that would
normally be our friends. All of Europe is where we trade, so we shouldnt have any special
connection with any particular country. It is in our best interest to stay out of European
problems, which we can never do as long as we are connected to England. England will use
America however it needs to.

Europe has too many kingdoms too close together to be at peace for very long, and whenever a
war breaks out between England and another European country, Americas trade will suffer
because of our connection with Britain.

Excerpt #4:

Small islands that cant protect themselves should belong to a mother country that can protect
them and take care of them; but there is something ridiculous in an island ruling over an entire
continent. In no instance has nature made a moon larger than its primary planet, and in the case
of England and America, the order of nature is reversed, it is obvious that they belong to different
systems: England to Europe- America to itself
Excerpt #5:

We are already better than the king wants us to be, so from here on out wont he try to knock us
down and make us less? Consider this: Is the person who is jealous of our success the proper
person to govern us? If you say No to this question than youre an independent who thinks we
should be able to make our own laws, as opposed to the king, the greatest enemy the colonies
has, who says there shall be no laws except for the ones I like

Excerpt #6:

We should not be going into debt unless we have something to show for it. A nation should have
a debt. A nations debt helps unite the people; and when theres no interest on the debt, its not a
big deal. Britain has a massive debt of over one hundred and forty million pounds (British
dollars) and she pays four million pounds in interest. But, she has something to show for her
debt, she has a huge navy; America has no debt, and no navy; but, for a fraction of the English
debt America could build a navy just as big as Englands. No country on earth is as perfectly
suited to build a navy as America. America can easily produce iron, timber, tar, and rope because
of all its natural resources. We dont have to import anything. The Dutch, who make a fortune
renting out their navy to the Spanish and Portuguese, have to import almost everything they
need. We should look at building ships as a tool for trade, since thats how we make all of our
money. It is the best way we can spend our money. When a navy is finished, its worth more
than it cost to build it. Wouldnt it be nice to have something we could use for trade and to
protect ourselves. We should build ships, and if we dont want them, we could sell them, and get
rid of our paper money and replace it with gold and silver.

(The following relates to why the Colonies should declare their independence)

First.It is normal for a lot of countries, when two of them are at war, for some other country
thats not part of the war, to step in and bring about peace. But as long as America is still a part
of Britain, no other country is going to step in to help bring about peace. Therefore, we may go
on fighting with Britain forever.

Secondly.Its unlikely to think that France or Spain will give us any kind of help if we are
only trying to work things out with Britain because those countries would suffer if we did. They
would love to see Britain lose America: they dont want the two coming back together.

Thirdly.Foreign countries will just consider us rebels as long as we consider ourselves to be

British subjects. Foreign countries will see us as dangerous because they wont want their own
people to rebel. We can fix this by declaring independence: but foreign countries wont
understand trying to rebel and remain subjects at the same time.
Fourthly.If we published a declaration of independence and sent it to all of the foreign
countries, telling them how horrible Britain has been to us, and of the peaceful ways weve tried
to get Britain to listen, and telling them that we can no longer live happily or safelyunder British
rule and that wed been driven to declaring independence: and at the same time telling them that
we want peace with them and how much we want to trade with them: This would do more good
than if an entire ship was filled with petitions and sent to England.

(Loyalist Response to Common Sense)

The True Interest of America Impartially Stated, 1776

Suppose we were to revolt from Great Britain, declare ourselves Independent, and
set up a Republic of our ownwhat would be the consequence? My blood runs
chill when I think of the calamities, the complicated evils that must follow. . .

Devastation and ruin must mark the progress of this war along the sea coast of
America. So far, Britain has not exerted her power. Her number of troops and ships
of war here at present, is very little more than she judged necessary in time of
peace. . .

But as soon as we declare independence, ruthless war, with all its aggravated
horrors, will ravage our once happy land. Our seacoasts and ports will be ruined,
and our ships taken. Torrents of blood will be spilled, and thousands reduced to
beggary and wretchedness.

By declaring independence, we would instantly lose all assistance from our friends
in England. They will stop saying anything in our favour, for they would be seen as
rebels, and treated accordingly.

The only European power from which we can possibly receive assistance, is
France. But France is now at peace with Great Britain; and is it possible that
France would interrupt that peace, and risk another war with England, from a
disinterested motive of aiding and protecting these Colonies?

Source: Charles Inglis, Anglican minister, wrote a pamphlet in response to Thomas

Paines Common Sense, entitled The True Interest of America Impartially
Stated, 1776. Impartial means fair or objective.
 (Arguments from a Loyalist)

Pennsylvania Packet January

2, 1775

My Friends and Countrymen,

This howling wilderness has been converted into a flourishing and populous
country. But, is this not due to the way in which the colonies have been treated
from the beginning? Isnt our growth a result of Great Britains willingness to
encourage our industry and protect us from foreign countries? If so, surely some
degree of gratitude, such as becomes a free and liberal people, would be
appropriate.

The peace and security we have already enjoyed under Great Britains protection,
before the mistaken system of taxation took place, must make us look back with
regret to those happy days whose loss we mourn, and which every rational man
must consider as the golden age of America.

Let us then, my friends and countrymen, be patient and avoid all inflammatory
publications that are disrespectful to our most gracious Sovereign. Let us look
forward to a happy termination of our present disputes, and a cordial reconciliation
with our mother country.

Source: The letter above was published by an anonymous writer in a Pennsylvania

newspaper in 1775.