What was it like to be a Loyalist during the American Revolution?

What was it like to be a Loyalist during the American Revolution?

They had a long-standing sentimental attachment to Britain (often with business and family links). They felt that independence from Britain would come eventually, but wanted it to come about organically. They were wary that chaos, corruption, and mob rule would come about as a result of revolution.

What was the loyalist point of view of the Boston Massacre?

Patriots argued the event was the massacre of civilians perpetrated by the British Army, while loyalists argued that it was an unfortunate accident, the result of self-defense of the British soldiers from a threatening and dangerous mob.

What was a loyalist in the Revolutionary War?

Loyalist, also called Tory, colonist loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. Loyalists constituted about one-third of the population of the American colonies during that conflict. Loyalists were most numerous in the South, New York, and Pennsylvania, but they did not constitute a majority in any colony.

What did the loyalist think of freedom and loyalty?

Some Loyalists were servants or slaves. They felt that the way to freedom was not through American independence. In “The Price of Loyalty,” there are accounts of a kidnapped servant trying to get back to England and of a slave who wanted to remain with the British.

What did a loyalist believe?

Loyalists wanted to pursue peaceful forms of protest because they believed that violence would give rise to mob rule or tyranny. They also believed that independence would mean the loss of economic benefits derived from membership in the British mercantile system. Loyalists came from all walks of life.

What was the loyalist role in the Revolutionary War?

From an Americans point of view a Loyalist was a traitor who turned against the colonists to go with the British government. From a Canadian or British point of view the Loyalists were the honorable ones. The Revolutionary War lasted almost 10 years, 1775-1783.

What was the disinclination of loyalists to resist?

Frazer supports the Loyalist disinclination to resist, although he acknowledges that some Loyalists did recognize justifiable resistance at some point (just not in the American conflict). If so, resistance became a question of degree and prudence rather than being simply out of bounds.

Why did the Loyalists move to public rooms?

The loyalists decided that to move to public rooms of Harvard because it was convenient for the Assembly to sit in; therefore, it was not uncomfortable. It was only miles away from the Town of Boston, so it was not that far away at all. The Assembly then refused to do any more sessions until they were moved back to Boston.

Why was John Locke important to the loyalists?

Contra many of the Loyalists (and Frazer himself), Americans were not only motivated by the political thought of John Locke. Rather, they drew on a larger Anglo-American tradition of political thought. Their own reading of British constitutionalism allowed for the protection of rights, liberties, and property.