I know what he is saying here but I wonder if the professor realizes the inherent contradiction within these statements? 'They're trying to save the British Empire - don't provoke Americans.' I'm no historian but I'm pretty sure a sense of separate identity was already deeply ingrained in a great many "Americans" by 1775. If it weren't how could the Revolution have ever gotten started much less won?
” great many Americans (British Colonial Citizens) “ is right....but questionable if even a majority at that time were ready to go to war. One look at the huge numbers who later fled to Canada and/or just stayed out of the war shows that. But it was the heavy handedness of the British that brought abought sufficient support for the revolution to happen and eventually succeed (perhaps 2/3 support). Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, etc.
My understanding without having to go google all of the documents is that yes, there was A sentiment for independence especially in Boston and among the inner circles of Sam adams et al but it was not a big push for it.
There was still hope for a peaceful settlement with the Crown.
Independence didn’t get its push until 1776. As late as April of 1776 there was a drive to petition the King but it was expected that it would fail, by some.
So yes: some may have wanted independence but the voices were hushed.
Because of the treason involved.