Who Were the Loyalists in the Revolutionary War?
The American Revolutionary War, which took place from 1775 to 1783, was a defining moment in American and world history. The conflict saw the 13 American colonies unite against Great Britain, fought for independence and established the United States of America as a sovereign nation. But not all Americans shared this vision, and thousands remained loyal to the British Crown.
Defining the Loyalists
The loyalists were a diverse group of Americans who remained committed to their allegiance to King George III and the British government, despite the overwhelming opposition and revolution that took place in the colonies. They could be found throughout the British colonies, but their support was strongest in the backcountry, frontier areas, and among recent British settlers.
Types of Loyalists
Loyalists were not just randomly distributed throughout the colonies, but rather clustered in various regions and professions. They could be divided into four main categories:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Settlers from New York and East Florida | Many of the British settlers in New York and East Florida remained loyal to the Crown, especially those with recent British or Irish origins. |
| Government Officials and Royal Governors | Royal officials, including royal governors, magistrates, and other administrative staff, remained loyal to their king. |
| Religious Groups | Evangelical and high-church Anglicans were more likely to support the Crown than their liberal Protestant and Enlightenment-oriented counterparts. |
| Businesspeople and Landowners | Many merchant-class individuals and large landowners, such as speculators and planter-gentry, held significant assets tied to their relationships with the British and maintained economic ties to Great Britain. |
Causes for Loyalist Opposition
While the Continental Army, led by George Washington, was fighting for independence from British rule, many individuals opposed the rebellion due to various reasons, including:
- Loyalty to the King Many colonists viewed King George III as the legitimate authority, and disapproved of the rebellion’s call to abolish the monarchical system.
- Economic Ties to Britain Trade and commerce between the colonies and Britain had deep historical roots. Merchants, traders, and businesses reliant on these ties supported the Crown’s rule to maintain their interests.
- Fear of the Rebellion’s Consequences Those who opposed the revolution, such as those living along the border areas with the Native American populations, believed that the chaos and lawlessness that often accompanied civil conflict would lead to harm.
- Ethnic, Racial, or Language Affiliations There were significant minorities in the colonies, particularly German Lutherans, who felt loyal to the Germanic monarchical system, as did the enslaved and enslaved Black communities who would suffer severely if the empire was replaced by a system without enslaved labor.
Examples of Loyalists
Throughout the colonies, individuals publicly expressed their allegiance to the Crown, and it’s estimated that 100,000 people took arms against the patriots or provided support in various forms. A few prominent examples include:
- Lord Dunmore (1729-1774), the Royal Governor of Virginia, famous for his speech proclaiming that any slaves who followed the British forces would be freed. Over 1,000 African slaves responded, ultimately joining the Loyalists and fighting on their side.
- Haym Salomon (1723-1785), a Jewish American trader, pledged £120,000 (the equivalent of millions of pounds today) to support the Loyalists, ultimately serving as an emissary for the Continental Army while remaining loyal to the King.
- Sir James Wright (1715-1785), Royal Governor of Georgia, who, despite opposition, chose to remain in the capital city of Savannah even after the Declaration of Independence.
Loyalist Experiences during the War
Life for the loyalists was precarious, to say the least, during the war. Those who continued to support the British monarchy faced:
- Civil War and Mob Violence: As the patriot army made gains, many loyalists were ostracized, arrested, and killed, with examples like the Boston Massacre in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd, killing and wounding hundreds of loyalists.
- Battles and Occupation: With British forces besieging colonies, the population remained in a state of limbo, exposed to food shortages, pillage, and the ravages of war.
- Surrender, Fugitive Life, and Eventually Resettlement
Loyalists eventually either retreated to British strongholds like New York and Boston or fled abroad as refugees to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada, Jamaica, or the British Isles. At least 70,000 to 80,000 Loyalists left North America permanently.
After the War
As the Treaty of Paris (1783) marked the formal end of the war, the remaining loyalists and British veterans began to reassemble new lives, building societies in their chosen adopted nations. These groups worked to maintain the memory and honor of the Loyalists, keeping alive a vital part of their legacy.
