Waging The Good Fight

Seems like a contradiction in terms, does it not?  How can a fight be good? The answer is clear enough; when in defense of honor, country, family, or...  Well, you complete the thought.

Back in 1776, some old men of property (and some owned slaves, mind you) got together to declare independence from the Crown, far across the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, the struggle had already begun. But without real purpose. Mostly operating just on emotion, the rebels were angry but had not yet focused on a goal. That was what the old men of property were about... creating that purpose. They were gambling their fortunes and even their lives on that independence.

Anger at the Mother Country had been building for decades, mostly over taxation. Taxes were imposed by Parliament, far away, and the colonies had no representation there. By today's standards, the taxes were minor but had a major impact on business and the general economy. The economy was rural, as were the people. Oh, there were towns and cities. But we wouldn't call any of the cities actual cities. After all, the population of New York City in 1776 was a mere 25,000 or so. We might see them as towns, through 21st century eyes. And every penny counted, for both the townspeople and the rural folk.

We only numbered about 2.5 million then and most lived away from town... on small farms or in houses built on plots of land with a large garden. Quite rural, perhaps pastoral.

Knowing this, and having been schooled mostly during the 50's, I could not understand what angered enough citizens to do the unthinkable... rebel against royalty; against the status quo, against the country many of the citizens, or their parents or grandparents, had come from. I think they lost a large amount of support when the Crown fought back, trying to crush the rebellion. Could I have done it? Could I have joined in the rebellion?
I cannot ever know the answer to that question.

I should have posted this yesterday, huh?