Quote Originally Posted by rvg View Post
The tax policy was the manifestation of British tyranny.
OK, that deserves a WTF LOL.

Seriously?

The only "Tyranny" was not letting the rich living in the Colonies vote like the rich in England. Before the Revolution most the of the population couldn't vote, and they still couldn't after the revolution. In fact, I think you'll find the UK was ahead of the US there as well as in matters of slavery.

You certainly implied it. You're obviously viewing it with a negative connotation.
Meh, I just don't think he should be lorded as a secular saint.


That's pure speculation on your part backed up by absolutely nothing.
His military record speaks volumes.

We were so equal that a senior colonial officer ranked on the same level as the regular British NCO. Equality my ass.
Are you willfully misinterpreting me? A British Colonist with a regular commission was equal to an Englishman with a regular commission.

You are equating the professional troops of what then was the largest colonial empire on the planet with a bunch of colonists? Really?
Again, you are reading forward. The Greatest Colonial Power at this time was France, not Britain, and the "professional" British Army was forged later in the Iberian Wars. During the Revolutionary War British units were still regularly raised and disbanded. Howe's army would have been built around a core of experienced units and newly raised battalions.

They were mostly farmers some of whom had served in the military at one point in their lives.
During this period Battalions raised in omerset had the same make up. Battalions raised in Liverpool were dock workers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...olutionary_War

Note the number of "Volunteer" units.

Quote Originally Posted by Noncommunist View Post
If the crown wasn't fulfilling its duties to its subjects, then it seems that the term traitor seems overly negative.
The Crown fulfilled all its duties to the Colonists, including defending them from Indians and the French. Then they asked the Colonists to pay, the rich ones that is. The Colonial Aristocracy didn't like that, so they rebelled.