What about those who were not 'Britons' to begin with? If this can be confusing to us in these modern times, to go or not to go had to be a very disturbing decision then.

So, our ancestors won that first Revolution over many obstacles and odds to form a new nation. They disagreed with the status they were granted and tried to change things. It worked. They worked out the details for a radical change in human dignity that had not been seen in governmental leadership in quite some time. The one nonchange was the continuation of slavery. These 'Founders' are revered and celebrated as they should be. Many, even most, had some sin or scandel associated with their name but these have been overlooked and forgiven because of the good deed they performed. Some became impoverished. We still consider them to be 'heroes'. What if they had lost the war? If we had not become an independant nation would we still hold them in high esteem for trying something that looked as if it would be to the betterment of the citizenry or would we scorn them? I'm sure the history books written by the 'motherland' would have labled them traitors and some would have been drawn and quartered. Would our attitude be the same knowing someone had made the attempt.
So many Scots did and they are still considered heroes even though they lost.
So, my point is, even in laying down arms, is there any reason to show anything but respect and honor to those who did try to make a change they felt was needed a few short decades later? These were decent men, who were well trained and honorable to a fault at times.
Many decades later, another made an attempt at radical change. It was successful and we have MLK Blvd, St, Hwy, Square, Plaza, whatever. Had it not been a success would he have been villianized as the Commanding Officers of the CSA have been over the years?
They are all Americans. Even the those who tried to build the Confederate States of America. North Dakota, South Dakota---Union America, Confederate America. Same difference, the name and the location.
The real bitterness didn't come into play until Reconstruction. That's when the punishment started. The Union was viewed by Southern folk as Cossacks were to the Jewish villages in Russia. Out to destroy. After the war years, many homes and families altered forever, the punishment still went on. Instead of a peaceful resolution, martial law became pograms. Bitter, yes, it persisted and still does because of the stories handed down. Even so, we all consider ourselves Americans. Always have, always will. Some of us are more specific about the area of America we come from. For us, we are not Britons, we are Southern Americans.
Pam