Live at the National Constitution Center Loyalists vs. Patriots and the American Revolution
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Dec 19, 2023 Joyce Lee Malcolm and Eli Merritt discuss the origins of loyalists and patriots during the American Revolution, the fear of disunity and civil war, the road to independence, the complexity of slavery and the fear of demagogues, and the importance of civil and thoughtful conversations.
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Fear of Demagogues
- Demagogues, driven by egocentrism, use fear-mongering and bigotry to gain power.
- The founders worried demagogues would exploit disunity to seize control.
Founders' Primary Fear
- The founders feared disunion and civil war more than British military might.
- They worried that disunion would lead to separate confederations and internal conflict.
Sam Adams and Mob Violence
- Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty used mob violence, like destroying the customs house.
- This mob violence caused fear and intimidation among those who preferred peaceful protest.