The point is that the they knew that the British considered them traitors and that if they were captured or were defeated, they could well swing for it.
Yes, from one POV.
The left likes to deliberately misinterpret Romans 13 in light of this, however. I’ve seen them do it.
There is also the point of religious freedom being one of the primary reasons for leaving the homeland for northern America, and the Crown did represent state religion.
2,500 Regulators fought 1,000 militia troops lead by British Governor William Tryon. The British won.
After the battle one Regulator was hanged. A few days later six additional men were hanged in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina.
The British did have a habit hanging people.
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For more information see The Battle of Alamance; The War of Regulation