What term refers to the supporters of American independence during the Revolutionary War?

The term that refers to the supporters of American independence during the Revolutionary War is Patriots. Patriots were individuals who actively opposed British rule and sought to establish an independent nation based on Enlightenment principles of self-governance and liberty. They played a crucial role in mobilizing sentiment against British policies, organizing protests, and ultimately forming the Continental Army to fight for independence.

In contrast, Loyalists were those who remained loyal to the British Crown and opposed the revolutionary movement, while Federalists were proponents of a strong central government after the war, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. Nationalists, though relevant in the context of later American identity and unity, do not specifically pertain to the Revolutionary War and its immediate supporters. The distinction of Patriots embodies the spirit of resistance and the pursuit of freedom that characterized the American revolutionaries' quest for independence.