The Hollywood version of the War of Independence is a straightforward fight between heroic Patriots and wicked, Nazi-like Redcoats. The reality was quite different. This was indeed a civil war which divided social classes and even families. And the worst of the violence did not involve regular British troops, but was perpetrated by rebel colonists against their countrymen who remained loyal to the crown.
The portrayal of the American War of Independence in Hollywood simplifies a complex historical conflict into a battle of heroic Patriots versus evil Redcoats. In reality, the war was much more intricate, characterized as a civil war that deeply divided social classes and often split families apart.
Most notably, the violence during this period frequently came not from British forces but from rebellious colonists targeting fellow citizens who remained loyal to the British crown. Niall Ferguson's book, "Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World," highlights these nuanced dynamics that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
