Argumentative Essay
Loyalist or Patriot
Background: Various events of the 1700s led colonists to develop strong beliefs regarding the British government. The Trial of Peter Zenger, The Proclamation of 1763, the Boston Massacre combined with constantly changing taxes and rules that governed them made many think that self-governance was the best path for the colonies. Others felt that the King and his appointed officials had their best interests in mind and preferred to stay loyal to the crown. Later, during the American Revolution, most colonists took one side or the other. Either they were Patriots or loyalist. Patriots believed that the colonies should break away from England and govern themselves. Loyalist believed that the colonies
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Other famous loyalists include Thomas Hutchinson (governor of Massachusetts colony), Andrew Allen, John Butler (leader of the loyalists troops Butler 's Rangers), and David Mathews (mayor of New York City).
What happened to loyalists during the war?
Life for the loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war. Loyalists who lived in areas controlled by the patriots were in constant danger from radical patriots. Many of them lost their homes and businesses.
Many loyalists left the country and went back to Britain. Others decided to help the British fight the patriots. They either joined the British army or formed their own groups of fighters such as the Loyal Greens and the Royal American Regiment.
What happened to the loyalists after the war?
Many loyalists moved to England after the war ended. A lot of them lost their fortunes and land that they had built up over years in the Americas. In some cases the British government paid them for their loyalty, but it was usually not nearly as much as they had lost. The United States government wanted the loyalists to stay. They felt the new country could use their skills and education. Few stayed, however.
Interesting Facts About Patriots and Loyalists
• Other names for patriots included Sons of Liberty, Rebels, Whigs, and Colonials.
• Other names for loyalists included Tories, Royalists, and the King 's Friends.
• Many loyalists lived in New York
The British were losing the war, however they refused to give up and kept fighting American in New York, New Jersey and the Eastern Shore, yet the militiamen were still able to hold them off, so the British turned to the untouched South, with the hopes of gaining supporters, more profitable land and therefore regain control of the war, yet their efforts failed so they marched North again, to Yorktown, only to be destroyed by the American army, and forced to
On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere took his legendary ride, saying that the British troops that were stationed in Boston began to move, having the order to raid Concord. The patriots had anticipated this for a long time. They grabbed their firearms and prepared to meet the enemy. Loyalists felt like they should remain loyal to the king. The start of this divide came from 1750’s, The French and Indian war. This war put a strain on money in the colonies and a vaster empire to take care
After the victory towards French in the Seven Years War, the political and social relationship of the colonists and Great Britain had shifted to a different direction. The colonists began to think of themselves as Americans. At that time, The British government felt that the colonies had become quite independence, and they wanted their colonies to start paying tax in order to help England pay the national debt. Not only were Americans forced to pay direct taxes, but they were also obliged to involve in strict regulatory acts such as Sugar Act and Currency Act. Sugar Act (1764) strongly affected American’s trading in which their oceanic vessels and cargos could be inspected by the British Navy and might be confiscated if the paper and the goods that being transported were in disagreement. Currency Act (1764) restricted colonial governments to print their own paper money. These two acts put some colonists in anger but they were not enough to result in civil disorder until the Stamp Act was passed. The reason that the colonists resisted government authority with the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) was because the Stamp Act collected taxes in all type of papers including newspapers, playing cards, licenses, and stamps. This outraged many colonists especially the educated and
During the war, the colonists who were fighting, began to realize just how much they were deprived. The colonists observed how much more the British possessed and wanted the same since they were still Englishmen (Doc D). The English officials that came to lead in the colonies were not the most pleasant to work with and also were not superior listeners. The officers ignored what the colonists said, even if it was a colonial military leader. The colonial soldiers were seen as weak and inferior and were not respected by the officers. After the war, the taxes the colonists had to pay, also created new opinions in their minds (Doc G). Colonists began considering more about becoming separate from England and governing their own government. Revolutionaries propagated their ideas of disbanding as well. These theories created unity in the colonies but weakened the link between England and various colonists.
What a great post! The Loyalists had caused many problems for the Patriots. Many Loyalists moved, but some had stuck around and collected territory. The best thing that the Patriots did to win the war was getting the French on their side. France and Spain was the British greatest enemy and the Patriots were able to use their assistance.
Both Loyalists and Patriots faced several tribulations in events leading up to the American Revolution as the feelings of rebellion slowly progressed and created a great sense of tension. The Loyalists that inhabited the colonies, however, endured severe harassment in the times leading up to the war. They suffered through actions of disrespect and humiliation. They were, in other words, tortured for their position on the side of the English Law. This treatment forced many Loyalists to flee and return to England or to spread out and live elsewhere. Personal attacks and the stealing and destruction of their property were common nuisances that the Loyalists endured in times of trouble. Another example of the extremely cruel punishment towards
This eventually led to a new form of government being established which rested the power on the people (representative government), strengthening their idea of unity. With this came new political values and ideas that completely altered the identity of the colonists. While some Americans still sided with the British (Loyalists), others came to develop a new form of patriotism based on viewing the British as an enemy and not an ally (Patriots). For example, in 1777, George Washington and his army were struggling in a freezing Valley Forge while American Loyalists were supplying shoes and clothing to British troops just nearby, with no regards to what
Henceforth, the overall rundown of the book is based off the British view of the the American Revolution and how they viewed the colonist from a retrospect in the events happening. To begin with, King George the III had been placing taxes on the colonist, which made them furious over their relationship with him. The loyalist saw these “acts” as a part of
In the past, while learning about the American Revolution I had always thought of America as a united front. The war between the Patriots and Loyalists could even be compared to the war between America and Britain. The Patriots were not justified in abusing and expelling the Loyalists. In the actions the Patriots took against the Loyalists, they violated their unalienable rights, these actions also allowed for history to repeat itself through the civil war in 1861.
During the American Revolution, people had to decide which side to support. Colonists for independence from England were usually called revolutionaries or whigs. But some Americans thought that to break away from the British government would not be right; they usually were called loyalists or tories.
The loyalists tried to stop the revolution.since the patriots were causing mobs, the loyalists only did peaceful
Even though America was now completely self-sufficient, there were still people loyal to England. Often referred to as the "Tories", they did not want to abandon their parent country. The loyalists believed that America would never survive without England's protection and guidance. Mather Byles said, "...which is better, to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away, or by three thousand tyrants not a mile away." (The Famous Mather Byles). People like him believed that creating a separate government in America would not solve any problems, but only create more new ones. Others preached that it is a shame to leave their parent country. However, since the loyalists made up a small percentage of the population and were generally rich, the majority of people rarely favored their ideas. Prior to the breakout of the Revolution, many Tories had been tarred and feathered, beaten, or were subjected to other forms of punishment.
Paul Revere was one of the most famous figures in the American Revolution. He was a silversmith and courier during the war and was also one of the leaders of the Boston Tea Party. Revere is most well-known for his ride to Lexington to warn minute men John Hancock, and Samuel Adams along with countrymen of the British
Many colonists were loyal supporters of the French and Indian War and when the war came to the forefront, they wanted nothing more than to fight alongside the British Army. The two shared many of the same ideals and values
The war seemed to separate the colonists into three separate groups. Ones that were loyal to Britain, which were called “loyalists”. Most loyalists had “business ties” with Britain and saw being on Britain’s side of the war as being “defenders”. While other loyalists despised those that rebelled and assumed their reason to rebel was to obtain more money from the empire. The second group was with George Washington called the “Patriots”, who were fighting for the freedom from Britain, and the third group were people that were trying to go about their lives and not get involved in the war. Though slaves were asked to participate in the war, most went to Britain’s side in exchange for freedom. In 1775, Washington and his army win the battle at Saratoga and this ultimately wins over France as an