Under the influence of the American Revolution, the Patriots wanted a more democratic form of government. The opening shot of this revolution might be co The opening shot of this revolution might be coerced to be the manifesto published by Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol, the founder of the Patriots in 1781: In 1785 there was an open rebellion by the In 1785 there was an open rebellion by the Patriots, which took the form of an armed insurrection by local militias determined to defend municipal democracies in certain Dutch towns. 1787, Engraving depicting a riot in Rotterdam in 1794