You're kidding, right?
The standard our Founders set for just what is "tolerable" was not that of Russians serfs under Ivan the Terrible, or any other example you mentioned.
The standard they set was English law, and the natural rights of Englishmen.
Their long list of dozens of British violations reflects that standard.
But, since you mentioned Attila the Hun, how does this item from the Declaration of Independence sound:
Isn't that a record even Ivan or Attila could be proud of? ;-)
the OlLine Rebel: "Let’s not forget many, many colonials were not interested in that rebellion, so in their view the Brits were not intolerable."
Years ago I was told that about 1/3 of Americans supported Revolution, 1/3 opposed and 1/3 were more-or-less indifferent -- curiously numbers reflecting politics in our own day.
But more detailed studies show that actual Loyalists (to Britain), like true Liberals today, accounted for only 15% of all Americans, so the issue really wasn't as close as some have said.
Nearly all Revolutionary era Americans understood that Independence was what they wanted.
the OlLine Rebel: "I would think FReepers would give a little benefit of doubt to other FReepers regarding devotion to country and Constitution, instead of making libelous accusations."
If you are posting here to defend slave-holding secessionists' unconstitutional declarations of secession, illegal rebellions and treasonous declaration of war on the United States, then the burden of proof is yours FRiend, to show us why you do not hate the United States of America.
Or, as the case may be, to admit as much... ;-)
This is getting absolutely absurd. Both in historical context and personally.
Use some common sense perspective. In the great scheme of things, Britain is and was the next best thing to the USA. If you cannot acknowledge that, I can’t help you. We took their superior society a step further and made it better. To view it otherwise is to be as ridiculous as the liberals who whine that Christianity has been just as cruel and atrocious as Islam.
It doesn’t take much to look over my posting history. You can prove it yourself. You can even find me on the net at large under this name. I know my upbringing and my patriotism. Even ask Pharmboy how long I’ve been on the colonial & RevWar pings. Never mind my membership in the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, and contributing to the save Paoli fund years ago. I’ve tried to be patient but you all libeling me personally is pushing the envelope.
Don’t libel me just because I see the right to secede. I don’t stop seeing that right just because the secessionists had or wanted slaves. Supporting that right is not supporting the slavery idea. You need to separate these issues. It’s a right for them as much as for the colonials, the American British (and that’s what they would actually have been).
If you persist in this, I suppose you can libel Walt Williams as a racist slaver who self-loathes.