[sauropod]

Quite correct.

This country was founded the hard way, under great conditions of privation, with a significant portion of the populace loyal to the Crown.

The American Revolution tore apart families, but created the greatest nation on earth.

[expat2]

Ann is correct, they were very different. But the American 'Revolution' was not really a revolution -- it was a secession. The revolutions mentioned, including the French Revolution, were class struggles, the mob smashing the ruling class. The Colony vs Britain struggle was not a class war, but a secession of the Colony, both rich and poor, from its Mother Country, without removal of the ruling class.