Patriots (American Revolution)

Patriots (also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs)  are those colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rebel against British control during the American Revolution and in July 1776 declare the United States of America an independent nation.

Their rebellion is based on the political philosophy of republicanism, as expressed by spokesmen such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Thomas Paine.

They are opposed by the Loyalists who instead support continued British rule.

As a group, Patriots represent a wide array of social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

They include lawyers like John Adams and Alexander Hamilton; planters like Thomas Jefferson and George Mason; merchants like Alexander McDougall and John Hancock; and ordinary farmers like Daniel Shays and Joseph Plumb Martin.

Patriots also include slaves and freemen such as Crispus Attucks, a free man and the first martyr of the American Revolution; James Armistead Lafayette, who serves as a double agent for the Continental Army; and Jack Sisson, who, under the command of Colonel William Barton, is the leader of the first successful black operation mission in American history, resulting in the capture of British General Richard Prescott.

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