What were the different ways to avoid the American Revolution?
If you did not want to fight in the American Revolution there were several ways to get out…what were they?
I 2nd the 1st answer. Very few people were compelled to fight during the Revolutionary War and only a very small percentage of the population joined the rebel forces. I remember something like 14% supported the rebels, but I might be off on that figure. Certainly it was a small percentage.
The problem was that those who supported the King “Royalists” would have been facing serious issues from those supporting the rebellion and even from the King, to stand with him. There was a risk whether you chose sides or didn’t choose sides. And of course… if the war came near to where you lived, those issues became a little more critical. Do you help rebels coming through? Do you refuse? If you do help them and the British catch up to them, what do you do then?
You could also go to England or Canada or France, though back then it was a pretty extreme choice. There were a number of cities that the British controlled where Royalists could go for their protection. If the British evacuated that city at some point, they usually took the Royalists with them. So that was something, but being under seige in a city is hardly avoiding the war. In addition, once you did that, you would be labelled by everyone else who knew you. Going back or remaining after the fighting would have been hard.
The American Revolution was a relatively small war with relatively few major battles over a very long period. During the winters, very little fighting took place and the war did happen everywhere all at the same time. So to completely avoid it, you might just sit tight and stay out of all of it and if the war came near you, pick up… go live with relatives for a few weeks or months and then return when it had passed.
The American Revolution: The Conflict Ignites Ep. 1, Pt 1
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