They most certainly did. The delegates to the Continental Congress were duly elected. They had the support of their population. They were the lesser magistrates. They didn’t just pick up a gun and start randomly shooting red coats. They had political support. You seem to think that you can shoot your way out of this. You can’t. Any Revolution has to have popular will behind it. Revolutions succeed because the people support the Revolution. Hearts and minds have to be won. You can just go on a shooting spree and think you are going to get your way.
Yeah, as part of the separation from the British before they opened a can on them. They actually had talks with the British about wanting to be a set of independent nation-states and the British said NO.
So they tried it their way and fighting was the only option. It's not on this thread, but I clearly said that there needs to be mass civil disobedience and ignoring Fedzilla before picking up arms, which should always be the very last resort.
I am telling you, if the Ds regain Congress in 2022 with the same shenanigans they used in 2020 and probably in these gubernatorial races this year, then voting is DEAD.