US on factions list

**quadalpha** · 02-26-2009, 00:40

One might say, without taking sides, that the 8th grader view is just as myopic (well, it would have to be at least a little simplified for 8th graders). Perhaps we can tentatively say that the problem was that the inadequate British constitutional framework for the governance of colonies, in conjunction with new ideas of "nationhood", allowed differing interpretations of the legal issues, which enabled both simplified interpretations ("pay for navy, etc." and "no tax without representation") to be used as soapboxes.

**Sol Invictus** · 02-26-2009, 01:04

"No taxation without representation" was simply a rabble-rousing slogan. The last thing the Colonies wanted was representation in Parliament, since that would have removed the issue as a rallying cry and Parliament would have steamrolled over any Colonial tax objections. The Colonies simply wanted to be left alone to go about their business. The reason the Colonists came to America in the first place was to get away from England because of poverty, religious freedom, and a chance at a fresh start. Some of the same reasons people still want to come to the United States. It remains; to a large degree; the last frontier.

**A Very Super Market** · 02-26-2009, 01:22

Explain the loyalists presence in the colonies then? Generally, the population was 1/5 patriots 1/5 loyalists and the rest were ambivalent.

**quadalpha** · 02-26-2009, 01:54

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

Explain the loyalists presence in the colonies then? Generally, the population was 1/5 patriots 1/5 loyalists and the rest were ambivalent.

I'm not quite sure who that was addressed to.

**A Very Super Market** · 02-26-2009, 02:08

Sol Invictus. My understanding of his post was that he was claiming the colonies to have been separatist from the beginning.

**quadalpha** · 02-26-2009, 02:24

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

Sol Invictus. My understanding of his post was that he was claiming the colonies to have been separatist from the beginning.

Oh, my understanding of it was that the Americans were acting out of enlightened self interest: to have all the benefits of being "British" in name, to have the freedoms they claimed, and to bear as little of the cost as possible.

**crazyviking03** · 02-26-2009, 02:39

Sorry to come back on topic, but I wonder how the U.S. naval tech will work. If you take a historical approach, they shouldn't be able to build 1st and 2nd rates as these were rare in the US navy even in the 19th century. I think it would add "faction flavor" if you will, if they can only make frigates, and thus the only way to obtain a larger vessel of war would be to capture it (but not obtain the tech).