Loyalist (American Revolution)

This article concerns those known as Loyalists during America's War of Independence.

Related Topics:
The American Revolution

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Loyalists (capitalized L as considered a title) were North American colonists who remained loyal subjects of the British crown during the American Revolutionary War. They were often referred to as Tories , "Royalists or King's Men". Later after the war those Loyalists that did not want to remain in the new USA and settled in what would become Canada were given the hereditary title of United Empire Loyalists. Their colonial opponents, who supported the Revolution, were called Rebels, Patriots or Whigs, but generally just thought of themselves as free Americans. From the Patriot's perspective, the Loyalists were traitors who would not support the rebel's cause and collaborated with what they thought was an oppressive British government. Whereas from the Loyalist perspective, they were the honorable ones who stood by the Empire and the Crown and considered the American rebels as the traitors to the mother country

Related Topics:
American Revolutionary War - United Empire Loyalists - Tory - Whig

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What actually happened to the Loyalists somewhat spoils the image of a 'righteous cause', so American historians have tended to imply that only 15-20% of the thirteen colonies white adult male population were Loyalists. One obvious problem with this is that John Adams (someone not inclined to exaggerate), made several statements estimating Loyalists numbers as one-third of the population.
To reconcile this difference, claims are made that he was taken out of context and was not referring to the sentiments of the colonists, however they never convincingly qualify this.
Conversely there is plenty of evidence to suggest that at least initially loyalist numbers were even higher, possibly as high as 40% and if Blacks & Native Americans are included the figure would be nearer 65%

Related Topics:
The Revolution's Buried History - John Adams

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The greatest number of the Loyalists were to be found in the present state of New York, where its capital having been forcibly taken over by the rebels in 1775, was re-taken by the British in September, 1776, to become a refuge for persecuted Loyalists until its evacuation in 1783. They were also the majority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and in the southern colonies of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Elsewhere they were a large minority of the population but least numerous in Massachusetts & Virginia.

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Loyalists were generally associated with Anglicanism, whereas Patriots were mainly non-Christian non-judgmental sects e.g. Deist and a loose form of Presbyterianism the hard core by which the rebellion was sustained.
Loyalists were considered better-educated than the average Patriot, hence relatively wealthier; but loyalty was not only the preserve of the wealthy as many Loyalists were of humble means, particularly away from centers of population e.g. New York's Mohawk Valley and between the coastal areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the western frontier.

Related Topics:
Anglicanism - Presbyterianism - Deist - Mohawk Valley

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During the war, about 50 military units were made up of Loyalists, many of whom had their lands or property seized. It is estimated that there were actually from 30,000 - 35,000, at one time or other, enrolled in regularly organized corps, but rebel tactics of attacking their homes deterred others joining, particularly in the southern colonies. Apart from those Loyalist families who took refuge in New York City and Long Island, others re-established pro-British colonial governments in Georgia and Florida.

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In rebel controlled areas Loyalists were subject to confiscation of property, tar and feathering or even being murdered. They could be arrested and fined for being loyal to the British, many were blackmailed, whipped, abused, threatened, and attacked by mobs of revolutionaries. So to be identified as a Loyalist was dangerous, meaning true numbers of Loyalists is not known, but an estimated 30,000 were either forced or decided to leave the thirteen colonies during the war and a further 70,000 left with the British troops when they evacuated held territory, in total about 5% of the population.
At the end of the American Revolutionary War and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the treatment of Loyalists did not improve so those wanting to evacuate were resettled in other colonies of the British Empire, most notably in the future Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, that received in total some 38,000 Loyalist refugees. Also the Canadian Eastern Townships and Upper Canada in modern-day Ontario, received altogether some 12,000 refugees.
Others who left the thirteen colonies, 8.000 went to Britain, while particularly Southern Loyalists, went to Caribbean islands, notably the Bahamas, that received 9,600, and Bermuda, Jamaica, Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia receiving approx 2,500 in total

Related Topics:
Nova Scotia - Bahamas - Bermuda

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Many Native Americans also left the 13 colonies for Canada. The descendents of one such group of Iroquois, led by Joseph Brant Thayendenegea, settled at Six Nations of the Grand River, the largest First Nations Reserve in Canada. A group of Black Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia but would frequently undercut local labor rates and became unpopular with competing whites, so took up an offer to emigrated again to Sierra Leone.
Loyalists were forced to abandon substantial amounts of property, and restoration of, or compensation for this lost property was a major issue during the negotiation of the Jay Treaty in 1795. But after agreeing to settle claims the United States reneged on its commitments, so more than two centuries later, some of the descendants of Loyalists still assert claim to their ancestors' property.

Related Topics:
Jay Treaty