Loyalists and the American Revolution

Note: Um, our group kinda forgot it had to be an outline so, yeah...

Background

Many Americans were not fully supportive of the cause for independence. Referred to as Loyalists, and often jeered upon as “Tories”, these men and women remained loyal to the “mother country,” Great Britain. Loyalists tended to be British colonial officials, Anglican clergymen, lawyer, members of ethnic minorities, tenant farmers who worked for abusive Patriot landlords, slaves, American Indians, and conservatives

Reasons for Remaining Loyal

Business – Many businesses were reliant on loans and trade from/with British merchants. Unwilling to alienate the market for their goods, many business owners, such as plantation owners in the Lower South, refused to join the Patriot cause and “bite the hand that feeds them”

Persecution – Members of society who faced discrimination and persecution from those around them (who tended to be Patriots) were unwilling to side with those who had caused them so much previous distress (examples: minorities, abused tenant farmers)

Fear of Violent Political Disruptions – Many conservative men and women were fearful of the possibility of violent revolts and mob gatherings that would occur as a result of political distress amongst Patriots

“Children Rebelling Against Their Mothers” – Many Americans refused to fall into the squabble that was occurring between Great Britain (the mother country) and the American colonies (the children). Most of these people remembered and were grateful for the actions that the British crown and Parliament and performed for them only a few decades before (example: providing funding for the exploration of the New World, which as a result led to the establishment of the colonies)

Impact on Revolution

The Loyalists both in America and in Great Britain had major and minor impacts on the conflict in the colonial area. Some issues that arose because of Loyalists in Colonial America were that they were often the center of attacks and people would yell angry remarks at them. The loyalists even developed the nickname "Tories" as a derogatory nickname. The loyalists in Colonial America mostly remained secretive to avoid conflict and discrimination. They never really attempted any political organization. They were only militarily active in places under British control, predominantly in the South. They did not have a huge impact in America. But in Great Britain, mostly everyone remained loyalists because of their location and say in Parliament.

British officials were almost always Loyalists, but some disagreed with what they were doing, particularly later in the war. But they thought it was necessary to obey their king. The main impact was conflict and discrimination between the Patriots and the Loyalists.

Revolution Impact on Loyalist Lives

Hostility—During the war, Patriots seized all royal territories and made it treason to declare loyalty to the King. Much Loyalist property was either destroyed or confiscated. Most of it was never given back or recompensated for, although Britain made Americans have promises to do so in the Treaty of Paris. In addition to losing property, Loyalists could also suffer public humiliation with threats of tarring and feathering, slandering in newspapers, and physical attack. Two Philadelphia residents were executed for actively aiding the British during the city’s occupation, but this is an extreme case. In short, the Patriots did all they could to discourage Loyalists from taking up armed resistance.

Emigration—Though the vast majority of Loyalists stayed where they were, an estimated 10-20% left for the other British territories such as New Brunswick or the West Indies by the conclusion of the war. Thousands of Indians and slaves moved to Canada. The Loyalists who stayed were recognized as citizens of a new country. Some became famous political figures such as Tench Coxe, a Pennsylvanian delegate and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

-ML, KD, RW