Who were the patriots?

• A. The Americans (colonists) who fought and supported the war for independence from Great Britain (England).
• B. The British soldiers.
• C. The Loyalists.
• D. The Parliament members.

Answer: (A)

Patriots are the Americans (colonists) who supported independence from Great Britain and took up the fight to win that independence. They believed the colonies should govern themselves and reject laws and taxes imposed by Britain without colonial consent, so they joined or supported the Continental Army and local militias to oppose British rule.

That’s why this choice fits best: it describes the people who fought for and backed the push for independence. The other groups aren’t patriots in this sense: British soldiers fought for Britain, Loyalists were colonists who remained loyal to the Crown, and Parliament members were part of the British government rather than the colonial independence movement.