1. The Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War
The Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked a decisive break from Britain, yet the colonies were deeply divided. Approximately one-third of the population supported independence, another third remained loyal to the British Crown, and the rest were neutral (nps.gov). This internal conflict led to violent confrontations between Patriots and Loyalists, with some Loyalists forming military units like De Lancey’s Brigade and the King’s Carolina Rangers to support British forces. The tensions and hostilities between these factions nearly tore the nation apart during the Revolutionary War.
