George found a movement and was drafted by those without political authority to take military leadership, as if arrogance was enough. It worked. He got followers, He got a lot them killed, captured, and lost militarily, but won politically. (The same way 'Nam won.) If it wasn't for the unofficial grass root secessionists and their military arm, the Minute Men, the separation from G.B. would have failed. But all of their goals might have been achieved anyway, without independence. They traded one rule for another, the king for the state govt. They were still ruled. It was better, but not for long. Along came a counter-coup and a non-violent anti-American Revolution established the Constitution. This couldn't have happened with British rule, if violent secession failed, maybe non-violent politics would have gotten the colonies a freer society, at least in some colonies, which negotiated for their independence.
RE: Patriotism, an Abomination