The American Revolution: Loyalists
The American Revolution is among the greatest resistances against colonial rule. The revolution united thirteen colonies under the British Empire. However, the revolution was marred by instances of lack of cooperation amongst the oppressed. Some individuals turned out to be in favor of the British Colonialists. Loyalists to the revolution were known as Tories. Statistically, only a third of the population was for the idea of a war. A third actively opposed the war and the other third had an aura of indifference1. Among the reasons advanced by Tories included that of loyalty to the king. In this case, they felt that the king had a right to collect taxes; even in absentia. Other reasons included the termination of livelihoods of individuals. This applied in the case of individuals who were employed by the crown. An example of these individuals is that of the King’s officers.
In addition, Loyalists were pessimistic about the chances of the revolution succeeding. Thus, they hoped that they could secure their positions by not collaborating with the revolutionists. Other groups of British Sympathizers included immigrants from Scotland and Quakers. Quakers withheld their crops and sold them to the British government. This angered George Washington to the extent that he declared Pennsylvania and New Jersey as enemy territory; Quakers resided in these areas2. Immigrants’ and refugees’ reasons could have been fear of the unknown. They could be deported by the British; if they won.
Bibliography
Lanning, Michael Lee. The American Revolution 100: The People, Battles, and Events of the American War for Independence, Ranked by Their Significance. Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2009.
