Did the Founding Fathers despise the British?

Answer 1

No, strangely enough, they did not despise the British. The major problem at the time was communication, whilst America sent letters of peace across the Atlantic, Britain was sending 2,000 soldiers. America really wanted representation. The British were taxing America but refusing them the right to have a say in the political system. Adams resented systems of class and privilege and so resented the British system, but all in all the Founding Fathers did feel some loyalty towards the Crown.

The French despised the British more than Americans hence one reason why when Americans travelled to Paris 4 times begging for assistance against the British, the French agreed and were semi - secretly involved from the get - go supplying over 90% of gunpowder stocks in 1776, also artillery troops and a navy Americans didn't have one)...then later the Spanish also assisted America followed by the Dutch. So..although the Americans disliked the taxation policy that the British forced upon them they didn't despise them to the degree that the French did.

I too agree with the first contributor about not hating the British. Most of what I've learned concerning the relationship was good. Even George Washington originally wanted to be promoted and accepted by his British officers. I think that Britain's handling of their friendship ended in disaster.

It is safe to say that many of the FF did indeed despise the British. If not early on then certainly after the war began and some atrocities set in. An example would be the treatment of P.O.W's by the British on rotting prison boats sitting stagnant in the harbor.

To say that the FF had no ill feelings toward the British is simply ridiculous. Check out some of Patrick Henry or Tom Paine's quotes if you don't believe me.

Madison had no love lost for the Brits himself and backed their mortal enemy the French.

So the prior persons answer is false.

Hope that helped.

The founding fathers did not behave or act with any hostility to Britain similarly British soldiers saw the settlers, rightly, as their kith and kin. However when the blood started flowing and atrocities from both sides were discovered animosity and hatred set in.

Wars do tend to change peoples feelings toward another nation. Just think of Iraq or Vietnam. Before the wars the American people genuinely cared about the welfare of the (reportedly) downtrodden Iraqis and Vietnamese, halfway through no one cares how many innocent people die as long as they aren't American.

In 200 years time Iraq and Vietnam will celebrate how they fought and won Independence from an all powerful America, how they overcame atrocities etc

Cut and paste American Independence for every nations Independence

By 1775 most colonial Americans were so far removed from their British counterparts that they felt very little commonality with them. I don't think that their feelings could properly be described as "hostility" as much perhaps, as "resentment." Colonial Americans had been ruling themselves for so long with what amounted to indifference by England that when the Crown tried to tighten the reins, they understandably balked. The "catalyst" that propelled the Revolution was, quite simply "capitalism." The colonists had discovered that unlike anywhere else in the world, this land allowed the "individual" to succeed, not the company, or the crown, and they liked being "somebody" for a change. They just were not about to give that up. It was worth fighting for.

Not all of the Founding Fathers hated the British. Hamilton, as an Anglophile, admired them and attempted to install a similar government in America after the war was over. People like John Adams felt much stronger about breaking free from the crown, and knew from April 19, 1775 that the only end to the situation would be a revolution. However, in the beginning most others wanted to reconcile. The first "American" flag was the Union Jack with 13 stripes to represent the desire to rejoin the English empire. Many wanted to fight only a long as was needed to do gain equal rights with British citizens living in England. Up until 1778 the British could have given in to certain American requests and stopped the war. The breaking point was when British soldiers employed the American Indians to kill "Rebels" and rebel sympathizers, including women and children. The final straw was the way the American press portrayed the cruelty of British soldiers most notably Banester Tarleton. There were always colonists who wanted to break free from England but once England decided to tax the colonies to pay for the Seven Years War and the price of keeping a standing army in America the notion became much more popular. However, after the above incidents with the Indians and Tarleton there was no going back.

Just to add on to what people have already said, Thomas Jefferson, while not totally against the British, was a Francophile, or in other words loved France. Therefore, he more wanted a separation from the British, and a permanent alliance with the French.

While it is correct to say that the move away from reconciling with the British towards independence was a gradual one. The previous answer that mentions the atrocities of Banistre Tarleton as a catalyst is incorrect, as his actions had nothing to do with changing the minds of the average citizen or members of the Continental Congress. Tarleton made his name at the battle of Waxhaws which took place in 1780, well after all had given up on the idea the idea of reconciliation. Tarleton was known to be a vicious fighter before Waxhaws but not until that battle were his actions brought front and center for the public to see.