Some sources claim that the Regulator War was a catalyst to the American Revolution

The assertion that the Regulator War served as inspiration for the American Revolution is hotly contested. In some sources, the Battle of Alamance is also cited as the start of the American Revolution (as seen in the postcard image below). While the Regulator War was a class-based revolt, similar to Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia.

The Regulator War and the American Revolution were fought for quite different reasons, despite some similarities between them, such as indignation over unfair taxes. In retaliation for abuses and mistreatment, a local civil war known as the Regulator War was fought against corrupt government officials. The war's objective was to clean up the administration and end the corruption that existed there. There were no talks of overthrowing the government as there would be a few years later in the American Revolution.