The major opponent of Freemasonry was the Roman Catholic Church, so that in countries with a large Catholic element, such as France, Italy, Spain, and Mexico, much of the ferocity of the political battles involve the confrontation between what Davies calls the reactionary Church and enlightened Freemasonry. Even in France, Masons did not act as a group. American historians, while noting that Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were indeed active Masons, have downplayed the importance of Freemasonry in causing the American Revolution because the Masonic order was non-political and included both Patriots and their enemy the Loyalists. COUNT 5
QSN1 Who was the major opponent to Freemasonry? ANS1 Roman Catholic Church QSN2 Which countries had a large Catholic element and therefore had confrontation with Freemasons? ANS2 France, Italy, Spain, and Mexico QSN3 Do American historians downplay or attribute the importance of Freemasonry in causing the American Revolution? ANS3 downplay QSN4 Who was the political enemy of the Patriots? ANS4 the Loyalists QSN5 Were the Masons political or non-political in the American Revolution? ANS5 non-political