In Washington Irving’s "Rip Van Winkle," when Rip returns from the forest, no one seems to recognize him. When he describes himself as "a loyal subject of the King, God bless him!", he sends the town into an uproar. Why was this a problem?

Rip was asleep and the people kept wondering he was a spy from England.

Explanation: Washington Irving's story "Rip Van Winkle" that tells the story of how the United States was established when Rip Van Winkle was asleep for two decades. Rip was asleep and the people in the town wondered if he was a spy sent from England. Later, when he returned to his town finally, it was an old woman that recognized him. When Rip informed the town what had happened, old Peter Vanderdouk was consulted and he confirmed that it is true that the Kaatskills are haunted. Rip rip was asleep when United States had been to war and eventually got her independence.

a small town is a good definition for new france in 1750. new france was the area colonized by france in north america. the area is nowadays the city of quebec in canada.