(This article is about the Patriots in the American Revolution. For other uses, see Patriot (disambiguation).) Patriots (also known as Revolutionaries, Continentals, Rebels, or American Whigs) were the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies. They rejected British rule during the American Revolution, and declared the United States of America an independent nation in July 1776. Their decision was based on the political philosophy of republicanism—as expressed by such spokesmen as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Thomas Paine. They were opposed by the Loyalists, who supported continued British rule.