The 19^th century Prussian historian Friedrich von Gentz described the American Revolution as a “revolution resisted, not accomplished.” He meant that the colonists didn’t start a revolution—they stopped one.

In other words, the real revolution was the English monarchy’s lawless imperialism over the American colonies, and the ensuing resistance was a righteous reformation against English abuse and injustice.

When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517, he wasn’t looking to leave the Catholic church but to stay and reform it. He just could no longer tolerate the corruption. So, Luther didn’t really leave the Church. Rather, the Church left him. 

Likewise, the early American colonies didn’t really want to leave England but concluded the monarchy left them by unjustly denying them their rights, cruelly quartering soldiers in their homes, and unlawfully taxing their citizens.

So, their resistance was in protest of English tyranny, and from their patriotic perspective, they were fighting to PRESERVE a system of common law and liberty, not to overthrow one.

When the American colonists became convinced that King George III was a tyrant and that his government had become oppressive, they acted not to depose the British Crown but instead to protect American liberty.

In colonial America, the common law was sacrosanct—a deeply embedded view of higher law that required a king to protect his subjects, not abuse them. So, when that abuse and injustice became intolerable, they simply had no choice but to start an American Reformation.