It is also possible that some loyalists saw independence as an inevitability that could be achieved through peaceful means instead of open rebellion. Latest answer posted June 21, 2017 at 5:37:38 AM. Patriots usually had strong economic ties to Great Britain and were hesitant to risk their livelihoods by joining the cause. From Revolution to Reunion: The Reintegration of the South Carolina Loyalists. Loyalists and Patriots . This is the sickness, right here, that most endangers our country, from people who shout most loudly that they are PATRIOTS! The largest group of neutral colonists was the Quakers, who are pacifists as a rule. At least 5,000 black soldiers fought for the Revolutionary cause. Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas, Curated/Reviewed by Matthew A. McIntoshPublic HistorianBrewminate. Farmers in the backcountry South who had tried to stay out of politics found one side or the other plundering their food and horsesand promptly chose the other side. They had family in England and they didn't want to put them in danger. Reasons not to join the Patriots Some pictures of Loyalists Conclusion These are some of the reasons to stay loyal to the King and not be a Patriot and move to the USA Here are some reasons not to join the Patriots, they are a new Country with no King or no rules to keep them copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. After all, history is on their side. They made up about 15-20% of the white male population. There was not unanimous support among members of the 13 colonies for the Patriot Siege of Boston (April 19, 1775March 17, 1776). Patriots would immediately realize their mistake and become Loyalists once again. Famous patriots included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Ethan Allen. Stated in the treaty was an allowance for most British soldiers and Loyalists to return home to Great Britain. Use this Decision Point with theThomas Paine,Common Sense, 1776Primary Source to allow students to analyze the divide of colonists over loyalty to the crown. Lord Dunmore, Royal Governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation offering freedom to all slaves who would fight for the British during the Revolutionary War. The former NFL wide receiver has made a habit of trashing his former quarterback Tom Brady in the years since the duo won a Super Bowl together in 2020 with the Tampa . No clear deciding factor predicted who would become a Patriot, a Loyalist, or neither, and generations of historians have tried to find a common pattern without success. John Adams famously said Americans divided into three equal groups: the staunch Patriots, the Loyalists, and those remaining neutral. They also thought a goverment run by Patriots would be worse than the King. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. In fact, Lord Dunmores Proclamation was the first mass emancipation of enslaved people in United States history. African Americans piloted vessels, handled ammunition, and even served as pilots in various state navies. HTMo0Wh,[l'EQI:`CoA^Hv],Q$gArUty\{_/%q}y2whf:,. Battles of Lexington & Concord Lesson for Kids: Summary & Facts, Why Did the Boston Massacre Happen? After all, at that time America was a very loose collection of independent political units. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2008. In our resource history is presented through a series of narratives, primary sources, and point-counterpoint debates that invites students to participate in the ongoing conversation about the American experiment. Public sentiment in the United States against the loyalists died down significantly after government began under the new U.S. Constitution in 1789. New England states offered male slaves freedom in return for their military service, although their owners had to agree to allow them to serve. Loyalism was particularly strong in the Province of Quebec. The Church of England was associated with Loyalists, so Patriots distrusted it to such an extent that the reputation of Anglicans was marred after the conclusion of the war. Essay by endstream
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Nonetheless, people of all socioeconomic statuses populated both sides of the conflict. Loyalists who remained in the colonies during the war found their property vandalized, looted, and burned. Small all-black units were formed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and many slaves were promised freedom for serving. After all, his dad had taught him to be a good citizen, love the king, and respect authority. After patriots tore down the statue of King George III in New York City on July 9, 1776, they melted parts of it down and made bullets to use against the British. This can be used for both in-class and virtual learning. God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution traces them while taking into account divergent viewpoints on both . At first, his dad agreed with him and did everything he could to help solve the problems between Britain and the colonies. Already a member? Altogether, the British were estimated to have evacuated nearly 20,000 freedmen (including families) with other Loyalists and their troops at the end of the war. (It might also unnerve otherwise-loyal colonists in the Caribbean colonies, who did not join the independence movement but depended on slavery to generate wealth.). Just like political affiliations today, loyalists, patriots, and neutrals came from all social and economic classes, and many people took sides based not on principle but on who they thought was going to win or which side would profit them the most personally. In places where the war stayed a distant concern, people found it easier to be neutral, or barring that, lukewarm in their support of either side. What best describes the Loyalists before and during the American Revolution? Native Americans worried that American Patriots would abolish the line, should they win the war. It was known as the Tory capital of America. Countries poured money into researching alchemy to create gold out of other minerals. It was a great risk to stake out a position, and the truth is most humans usually try to take the safe course. Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds Like a lot of Americans, William didn't approve of the actions that the British government had taken against its own citizens. Teacher will conduct a vote on which colonist's side they would most likely join. A total of 12,000 African Americans served with the British from 1775 to 1783. But eventually, his father was won completely to the Patriot cause and put pressure on William to quit his job and join them. But the from long-staples cotton in two ways: Its seeds What would you rather be a Loyalist or a Patriot? Other names for loyalists included Tories, Royalists, and the King's Friends. Many loyalists were appalled at the violent actions of the rebels. Many were persuaded more by their own personal concerns about their farm goods or the need to feed their families than they were by political ideas. In fact, one member of the Constitutional Convention, William Johnson of Connecticut, had been a loyalist. After watching this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. There were definitely reasons to be a Loyalist during this time. In 1775, the last royal governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issued a proclamation offering male slaves their freedom in return for taking up arms to defend the kings cause. These were the colonists who were ultimately willing to fight for the Loyalist cause, or at least to publicly express their loyalism even when it was not popular. Other names used to describe Loyalists included: Tories, Royalists, King's Friends, and Redcoats (specifically British soldiers). The Northwest Indian War was led by American Indian tribes trying to repulse American colonists. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Bibliography Beard, Charles A. Then, at the ripe age of 32, William's father helped him get appointed as the royal governor of New Jersey. 11b. A historian might use the sentiments from the excerpt provided to support the. | 5 The only Iroquois tribes to ally with the colonials were the Oneida and Tuscarora. Alexandra has taught students at every age level from pre-school through adult. Gregg Frazer restores the Loyalists as thoughtful participants in the debate over the American future. For example, during early 1775 in the South Carolina backcountry, Loyalist recruitment outpaced that of the Patriots. Well-educated doctors, lawyers, and newspaper publishers all could be found on both sides. Explain how religious beliefs and social standing influenced some colonists decisions to choose a side in the American Revolution. Free blacks, on the other hand, lived lives similar to those of poor white colonists, and they often chose the Patriot side for similar reasons. They had the advantage of fighting on their own grounds and also had a vast militia to cover their whole territory. What best describes the Patriots before and during the American Revolution? The British recruited slaves belonging to Patriot masters and promised freedom to those who served. Patriot opponents found the Loyalists's motives easy to explain: they were "self-interested men," greedy parasites who profited from the imperial connection, or weak and cowardly individuals who feared anarchy more than they appreciated liberty. Why?" Although many ordinaryAnglicans(members of the Church of England, the official state church in several colonies) became Patriots despite their religious beliefs, the vast majority of Anglican clergymen were Loyalists. Which of the following post-war developments ensured a continuation of the sentiments provided? 5. Being a Loyalist means that you are "rooting" for the team that is likely to win. Who knows? Why did colonists become Patriots? Following the war, both sides often reneged on these promises of freedom. Five hundred such former slaves from Virginia formed Lord Dunmores Ethiopian Regiment, which is most likely the first black regiment to ever serve for the British crown. What were Loyalists in the American Revolution? The Loyalist exodus also included Ohio Valley farmers who had relied on British military security against Pontiac s armies. Latest answer posted May 29, 2019 at 11:21:48 AM. When sizable numbers of those elites became Patriots and led the government, some Protestant religious minorities and recently settled farmers decided that they trusted a far-off king more than the local elites, who were more likely to enact policies for the benefit of easterners than those who lived in the west. Women began creating clothes at home to boycott the British influx of goods. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. $= Log in here. As such, loyalists saw a rebellion against England to be morally repugnant and treasonous. Piecuch, Jim. Back in the Colonial days, there were many reasons people would choose to be loyal to the British government or to be patriotic and attempt to establish a new nation. Married women generally chose the same side as their husbands. They are best known for initiating the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Jordy McElroy. The loyalists did not rise as a body to support the British army, but individuals did join the army or form their own guerrilla units. Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as . The Patriots rebelled against the British control, while the Loyalists, also known as "Tories" to the Patriots, remained loyal to the British crown. Loyalists were unwilling to support the Church of England because it conflicted with their views on liberty, resulting in a decline of Anglicanism in the colonies. Although some Canadians took up arms in support of the Patriots, the majority remained loyal to the King. engraving showing the American treatment of loyalists, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/loyalist, George Washington Mount Vernon - George Washington Digital Encyclopedia - Loyalist, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Loyalists in Canada. Antonio Brown is back at it. Patriots were fighting for the right to self-rule the colonies and to obtain freedom from British oppression. Origin and Progress of the American Rebellion. In the eighteenth century, during the American Revolutionary War, there were two opposing sides fighting against each other, the Patriots and the Loyalists. Loyalists were typically upper class, Patriots typically middle class, and neutrals usually lower class. Quakers formed the largest group of neutrals during the American Revolution due to their belief in pacifism, or non-violence. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 No. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.
First off, the colonists were all British citizens and considered themselves to be Englishmen and Englishwomen. The whole of our exports from the Thirteen United Colonies in the year 1769, amounted only to 2,887,898 sterling; which is not so much, by near half a million, as our annual expense would be, were we Independent of Great-Britain. American Indians led a coordinated attack on frontier outposts, stunning the British troops there. George Washington's Leadership at Trenton, Saratoga & Valley Forge, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Loyalists and Patriots During the American Revolution. Why did the Thirteen Colonies declare independence? Benjamin Franklin disowned his son William because he remained a Loyalist throughout the war and was exiled to England. Historians estimate that between 15 and 20 percent of European-American colonists supported the Crown; some historians estimate that as much as one third of the population was sympathetic to the British, if not vocally. The United States initially treated the American Indians, who had fought as allies with the British as a conquered people who had lost their lands. 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These men were the architects of the early Republic and the Constitution of the United States, and are counted among the Founding Fathers. These individuals were called loyalists. Delusional. Patriotism in the American Revolution | What is a Patriot? Being a Loyalist means that you are choosing to support your home country instead of committing treason. However, the most significant aspect was that the What would you rather be a Loyalist or a Patriot? Support for the war increased over time, and by the end of the conflict, every colonist identified as a Patriot. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2016. Following the French and Indian War (17531763), the colonies gained much greater independence due to salutary neglect, which was the British policy of allowing the colonies to violate strict trade restrictions to encourage economic growth. Accessed 18 Apr. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Myles Cooper, "The Patriots of North America," 1775, selections.If you were a Loyalist in America in the 1770s, you tried to explain to yourself and others why your Patriot neighbors were turning the paradise of America into "an endless Hell" by objecting to what was, in your view, the benign, enlightened, and gentle rule of Great Britain. The Patriots ended up winning the war against the British in 1781. Today, it's easy for Americans to say they would have been devoted Patriots from the start. Religious converts of the Great Awakening made strong connections between their faith and a developing sense of nationalism. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. succeed. The governor of Virginia had promised freedom to any slave who fought for the British. Option: Students can share their reasons out loud or share with a partner. Poor farmers, craftsmen, and small merchants, influenced by the ideas of social equality expressed in works like Thomas Paine's Common Sense, were more likely to be Patriots. But if you had lived back then, you might have made a different decision. Others traveled to Great Britain. Corrections? The Loyalists were afraid of the soldiers. Patrick Henry's famous Patriot speech at the Virginia Convention in 1775 summed up their beliefs when he said, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Loyalists, often called Tories, were loyal to the crown for several reasons. One man's story might help you understand. This association of Anglicanism with Loyalism tarred the church for many years after the Revolution. What Happened to Loyalists After the American Revolution? But what topics of reconciliation are now left for men who think as I do, to address our countrymen? Most Patriots had religious commitments that prevented them from joining a side, even though it made them unpopular. They were not confined to any particular group or class, but their numbers were strongest among the following groups: officeholders and others who served the British crown and had a vested interest in upholding its authority; Anglican clergymen and their parishioners in the North, who had likewise taken vows of allegiance and obedience to the king; Quakers, members of German religious sects, and other conscientious pacifists; and large landholders, especially in the North, and wealthy merchant groups in the cities whose businesses and property were affected by the war. Recent non-Anglophone immigrants (especially Germans and Dutch), uncertain of their fate under the new regime, also fled. His father didn't die, but after being sent to England in a prisoner exchange, William sent his father a letter. What would you have done? Patriots were those who believed in independence for the American colonists and/or freedom from oppression. 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