Patriot%20or%20Loyalist?

1
Patriot or Loyalist?

• During the American Revolution, most American
  colonists had to decide to support the War for
  Independence or remain loyal to the British and
  King George III.

2
Patriot (or Rebels)

• Minority Movement 30-40
• Younger
• Felt recent British laws on violated their rights
  as British citizens (e.g. taxing without consent,
  quartering soldiers in citizens homes, and
  denying colonists the right to a trial, trade
  restrictions).
• Many live in the New England Colonies, especially
  Massachusetts
• Most numerous in Presbyterian Congregationalist
  areas

3
Loyalists tended to be

• About 20- 30
• Educated
• Aristocratic (wealthy)
• Older
• Wealthy landowners
• People who benefitted from the crown Anglican
  clergymen, kings officers
• People with close business or political ties to
  Britain

4

• High number of Loyalists in New York City, Quaker
  Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and in the Southern
  Colonies (Charleston).
• Least numerous in New England
• Many agreed that the American colonists had
  suffered at the hands of the British but the
  Loyalists hoped that a peaceful reconciliation
  with British government was possible.
• Most numerous where the Anglican Church (Church
  of England) was strongest- taught to obey the king

5
Various Reasons for Choosing Sides

• The Iroquois Confederation had a working
  relationship with British officials and was
  angered by colonists encroaching into their
  territory, sided with British.
• Tenant farmers often choose their position based
  on which side their landowner supported.
• For example, if a Patriot landowner was cruel and
  always raised the rent, the tenant would be a
  Loyalist, but if the Patriot landowner was kind
  and collected a fair rent, the tenant would be a
  Patriot.
• Non-English speaking colonists Viewed the
  conflict between the British government and the
  Patriots as family quarrel among the English.
  They wanted to stay out of it and be left alone.
• Colonists in debt with British creditors Often
  became Patriots because it could get them out of
  paying back their debt.

6
Dangers

• Feared that violent change would make things
  worse
• During the Revolution taking a Loyalist stance
  was dangerous, especially in the New England
  colonies
• Many Loyalists were brutally attacked and killed.
  
• Their property was destroyed or confiscated.
• About 80,000 fled the American Colonies for their
  own safety. Some Loyalists moved to England and
  many more moved to nearby Canada.
• 50,000 volunteered to serve in British cause
• Served as spies, incited Indians, attacked
  Patriot homes

7
Taxation

• The colonists should help pay Great Britain for
  the French and Indian war debt. (Loyalist View)
• No Taxation without Representation is a false
  argument. (Loyalist View)
• The colonists should have total control over who
  taxes them (colonial assemblies or Parliament).
  (Patriot View)
• The colonists should have total control over how
  tax money is spent. (Patriot View)

8
National Security

• The colonists can defeat Great Britain because
  they have home-ground advantage.
• (Patriot View)
• The colonists cannot win a war with Great Britain
  because the British have the most powerful army
  and navy in the world. (Loyalist View)
• Should the colonists win a war with Great
  Britain, they will not have the capacity to
  defend themselves against France and Spain in
  North America. (Loyalist View)

• The colonists do not have the
• money to form and maintain a
• national army and navy.
• (Loyalist View)

9
Trade

• Being part of the British
• empire gives the colonists
• access to goods from all over the world.
  (Loyalist View)
• Should the colonists win a war with Great
  Britain, it will be difficult to develop
  international trade relations and thus the
  economy will suffer. (Loyalist View)

• The colonists have a secure market in Great
  Britain for their goods and raw materials.
  (Loyalist View)

10

• An increase in control by the British government
  should not alone justify going to war. (Loyalist
  View)
• An imperfect situation is better than the
  unknown. (Loyalist View)
• If the war is lost, some
• of the most intelligent, respected leaders in the
  colonies will be hanged. (Loyalist View)

11
English Subjects

• The colonists rights as English subjects are
  limited by the English bill of rights. (Patriot
  View)
• The Patriots have exaggerated problems with Great
  Britain. (Loyalist View)
• The colonists have repeatedly petitioned the King
  and Parliament to hear their grievances, but were
  either ignored or answered with more British
  control. (Patriot View)

12

• As John Locke stated, government is a contract.
  The king has failed to uphold his end of the
  contract as the protector of the colonies.
  (Patriot View)
• Britain has allowed the colonists more rights and
  privileges than any other nation on earth. The
  Patriots act like spoiled children expecting more
  and giving less than those in Great Britain.
  (Loyalist View)
• The King is chosen by God. Treason against the
  King is treason against God. (Loyalist View)
• The colonists basic rights are being eroded. They
  are no longer guaranteed trials at the place of
  the crime and troops are being quartered in their
  homes. (Patriot View)

English Subjects
13

• Patriot or Loyalist

14

• Patriot or Loyalist
• The choice is yours.