1776

As 1776 began, most Americans considered themselves loyal British subjects. They had some grievances that they wanted addressed, but few saw independence as an outcome. By the end of the year, they had declared their independence and were engaged in a war with the mother country. George Washington was a rich southern landowner that others rallied behind. Initially, he had little respect for New Englanders. However, after fighting alongside them, they both gained mutual respect. Not everybody was on board with the revolution. Their were spies among the colonists. There were also people that were on the fences, eager to shift their loyalty to the winning side. Few at the time could have predicted what the future would hold.