If you would have followed George Washington in 1776, it means that you were white trash.
Why do you think George Washington's followers were white trash?
Because they were dirty and nasty and didn't fight fair during the war.
I'm sure there were some people that didn't fight fair against the British but there were many that did and wanted to create a free country. You shouldn't generalize people as white trash that you don't understand. There are many books that talk about soldiers at the time and what they believed in that would help you understand their motives.