For any of you taking or have taken American history, you should know that America was conflicted between gaining independence from Britain or staying with the current global power. (Although many colonists remained neutral for some time.)
Now, let me sum up what's happened.
In short, in the 1700s America was starting to think about gaining their independence from Britain when they helped Britain win the French-Indian War, but didn't share any of the spoils of war. The colonists wanted to colonize past the Appalachian mountains, but Mama Iggy wouldn't allow it. This made the colonies mad because that's why they helped in the first place.
After this, America put out a little propaganda (The 'Join or Die' Poster.) and Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense which said that t was only natural for them to separate from England. Also, add multiple taxes that the colonists had no say in what was taxed, and America was officially starting their hissy fit.
This made the colonists divided by loyalists and patriots. Loyalists wanted to stay with Britain and remain a colony, while patriots wanted to become independent.
With that said, let's make this more interesting.
I want you to imagine Alfred, at about 13 or so years old, conflicted as to which party to represent. Imagine him being coaxed by Gorge Washington to leave his older brother, who he cherishes the small time he sees him before he runs off again.
Imagine him sitting down in an empty house and think about what he could do with himself if he didn't need England's approval. Or how he could prove himself if he had the chance.
But, imagine poor little Alfred in that same empty house wishing to have a brother there instead of political unrest.
Of course, we know his unenviable decision of choosing to be a patriot, but I refuse to believe he chose it easily and without manipulation by the political powers who just wanted him to grow.
(I'm thinking of making an excerpt with George Washington and Alfred, summing up all this. I love doing all that heart-wrenching stuff. Should I do it in a separate one shot kind of book or do it in a chapter here?)
