Some colonists who were not persuaded by the political struggle joined the British for personal gain or military glory. Some joined out of sheer loyalty to the Crown — they still believed themselves loyal British citizens.
Some colonists who were not persuaded by the political struggle joined the British for personal gain or military glory. Some joined out of sheer loyalty to the Crown — they still believed themselves loyal British citizens. There were also many American farmers willing to sell their goods to the British for profit.
Although he supported Englishman Thomas Paine's call for immediate independence for the American colonies, Adams feared that Paine had “a better hand at pulling down than building.”
The settlers were unable and unwilling to plant crops because it was too cold and too much work for an unskilled worker. Without these successful crops, the colonists survived by trading with the Native Americans.