Why I am a Loyalist

If I were alive during the American Revolution, I would have been a staunch loyalist. The reason is simple - Great Britain did nothing to warrant an armed rebellion by her people. The Colonies were part of the British Empire, and as such the British Parliament had the right and power to impose various acts (ex - Navigation Act), taxes (ex - Sugar tax), and establish laws that were beneficial to the Empire. Americans make it seem as though the laws and acts passed by Britain in the time leading up to the Revolution were draconian and unduly harsh, but the truth is they were quite mild for the time, completely within reason, and levied on other nations in the Empire and even in Britain itself.
Furthermore, I find it galling when history teachers in high school make it seem as though the Revolution was an idea universally accepted within the Colonies, when at least 60% of the population was either loyal to the crown or neutral in the affair.
Additionally, there were many notable Members of Parliament who supported independence for the Colonies. William Pitt the Elder, one of the greatest statesmen Britain has ever had, supported making peace with the Colonies once the war had broken out so that the two could have close ties and unite against the French. But since the Colonies had turned to open rebellion and were allying themselves with the French, most of the MPs who originally supported the Colonists withdrew that support because the Colonists had essentially slapped them in they face by turning to France for help.
In closing, I feel that independence was inevitable, but America went about it in the wrong way. A gradual lessening of Britain's rule and influence over the Colonies would have led to an eventual state of independence, but the Colonies would have kept close ties with Britain. And we would probably be in the Commonwealth, just like virtually every other former colony of the British Empire, which would be kickass because the Commonwealth is pretty much the greatest league of nations ever made.

All hail and farewell to Britain, all hail and farewell to thee