Intersting thread. It's true that the struggle of the American colonies had a lot of support in Britain and the ordinary folks, certainly, were cheering on the underdog. I think it's fair to say it was viewed as more of a civil war than one between two nations. People may have changed their minds a bit after it escalated and got ugly when the French jumped in.

I was on a discussion panel years ago, discussing the topic of "battles that changed the course of history" (as if any didn't!) and I was one of two non-Americans. After a few rounds of "we whupped you" sort of comments that I erally couldn't defend myself against, I was delighted when the host revealed that the ancestors of the American guests had all immigrated to the US during the 1800s and were in fact on 'the other side' during the war.

We're all pals now though ... right? ;o)