I think the “Presbyterian rebellion” notion can only be maintained if one uses the term quite loosely, lumping in Congregationalists, which the Brits and Loyalists of the time probably did.
New Englanders were almost all Congregationalists, not Presbyterians proper. The South was dominated by C of E, which in some colonies was the Established Church.
Presbyterians were primarily Scots or Scotch-Irish and were mostly found on the frontier or in the Middle Colonies, especially PA.
I’d be interested if you have a reference for the 40% number. Sounds high to me.
Ran across an interesting site for religion of the 208 men it classifies as Founders. 55% were Episcopal/C of E. Presbyterians were at 19% and Congregationalists at 17%. Big dropoff thereafter.
http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html
I don’t think the Presbyterians can accurately be claimed as dominant in the Revolution, despite what its opponents may have said at the time.
I agree. It was a unique blend of peoples, resources, distance, and geo-politics at the time that enabled us to to pull it all off.
In shorthand, I always describe the gentlemen Tidewater Anglican/Cavalier types (now Episcopalians) and Puritan/dissenters providing most of the money, respectability, leadership and intellect while the Calvinist/Knoxite Presbyterian/Congregationalists provided the much of the mob and muscle.
Would that diversity gave us such strength today.