Why Would Some Not Want To Be Independent From Britain?
Because of three conditions some people in the 13 North American colonies didn’t want to be independent from the rule of Great Britain.
Those conditions are:
1. Firstly, those people were loyalists. Under the English administration, those people enjoyed special privileges, and therefore, they didn’t want the end of British rule from the 13 colonies.
2. Secondly, those people were patriots, but they were afraid of ending the rule of Great Britain in the 13 colonies. This group of people wondered that the end of the strong English protection would encourage European imperial powers to invade their landmass.
3. Thirdly, Those people were Native Americans. From the year 1763, through a Royal Proclamation, the British government had been protecting Native Americans’ land areas from the possession of European-origin American colonists. In this case, they also didn’t want the end of British rule in the 13 colonies of North America. Even, for this reason, they fought many battles against patriots during the American Revolutionary War.
In the below, I will explain to you these three major conditions step by step.
1. They Were Loyalists (Including Blacks And Whites)
During the American Revolution, a large portion of American colonists was loyal to the British Government and King George III.
Under the British administration, these loyal people used to get various amenities from the English Government.
In the exploitation of the 13 colonies, these people also had a big contribution to the British Government.
The economic, social, and political status of these loyal people was much advanced (Only of Whites) than the rest of the common colonists.
On the other hand, the British authority also promised Black loyalists (Previously slaves) freedom after the end of the war.
For these reasons, to keep this continuity, they never wanted the English authority to leave the 13 colonies.
The American Revolution and the Revolutionary War threatened them losing the privileges and probabilities; hence, they didn’t give their support to the 13 colonies’ independence.
However, later, this move proved to be wrong for their interests.
Because after the 13 colonies’ independence, atrocities of patriots started increasing on these people. Even patriots started killing and robbing these loyalists.
[Interesting Fact: Did You Know? After The United States Independence (Previously 13 colonies), A Large Number of American Loyalists Had To Leave The Newborn Country And Settled Various Regions of The British Empire. The Majority of Them Migrated To British Canada And Some Others Went To England, Jamaica, Bahamas, And West Indies]
2. They Were Patriots, But They Wanted To Make Some Negotiation With The British Government Instead of Fighting For Full Independence
This was a different group, who were patriots or revolutionaries; but they didn’t want the 13 colonies to become independent states from the British Empire.
Even, they suggested to others that they should come to a proper negotiation with the Government and King George III instead of fighting for full independence.
But what was the main reason for these people’s thinking?
Actually, this group of people was highly afraid; they thought if the 13 colonies would get separated from their mother country then other imperial powers of Europe would get a chance to invade them.
Because for many decades, their economy, military, and political side would remain weaker than European powers.
Therefore, they wondered, it was a better idea to negotiate with their mother country rather than being separate.
John Dickinson was one of the main supporters of this group. Even Dickinson didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence for this reason.
[Interesting Fact: This Group of Delegates Sent Many Proposals To The British Parliament And King George III For Peace Negotiation; However, Each Time, The British Authority Rejected Their Proposals. Examples: Petition To The King (1774), Olive Branch Petition (1775)]
3. They Were Native Americans, Whose Interests Were Protected Through A Royal Proclamation of 1763
After the Seven Years’ War, the British Crown declared a Royal Proclamation in 1763 for preventing European origin American colonists’ expansion towards Native Americans’ land areas.
Native Americans were quite happy with this Royal Proclamation because it promised to protect their culture and identity from the domination of Europeans.
They knew the protection would remain until the Britishers administrate the 13 colonies.
Therefore when the Revolutionary War broke out for full independence, they supported and fought from the British Crown’s side.
[Interesting Fact: Did You Know? After The Revolutionary War And The Independence of The United States, The New Government of The Country Started Taking Hostile Policies Against Natives. For Example, 1830’s ‘Indian Removal Act’]
Conclusion
So, these are the three conditions, why would some people of the 13 colonies not want to be independent from Britain.
I hope, this answer has remained helpful to you.
If I can still assist you then please let me know in the comments.
I will be more than happy to help you.
