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Loyalists v Patriots

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The Psychology of Revolt

  • No taxation without representation
  • Virtual (vs) Actual Representation
    • Where does ultimate power lay?
    • Colonists argued:
      • Parliament can legislate for England and for the empire as a whole, but colonial assemblies could legislate for individual colonies
    • English argued:
      • In any system of gov’t, there must be an ultimate authority
      • Since the empire is a single, undivided unit, there could be only one authority within it~ the King and Parliament

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Patriot (or Rebels)

  • Minority Movement: 30-50%
  • Were often Younger
  • Most were educated and wealthy
  • Also included ordinary men and women
    • Farmers
    • Traders
    • Ship builders
    • Shop Keepers
  • Middle and lower classes did not like the economic situation caused by the British

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Views of the Patriots

  • Believed British taxes were illegal
  • Felt recent British laws violated their rights as British citizens
    • taxing without consent
    • quartering soldiers
    • denying colonists the right to a trial
    • trade restrictions

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Loyalists

  • American colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain
  • About 20%- 30%
  • Often older
  • Wealthy and Educated
  • Wealthy landowners
  • People with close business or political ties to Britain

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Breakdown of Colonists

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Sons of Liberty

  • A Patriot Group formed in 1765 in Boston, Mass
  • A terrorist organization of colonists who:
    • Attacked stamp agents
    • Destroyed the lieutenant governor’s home
  • They would become a powerful, underground colonial terrorist group in Massachusetts

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Sons of Liberty

  • Protests and Riots: The Sons of Liberty organized and participated in numerous protests and riots against British policies and officials.
  • The Sons of Liberty encouraged economic boycotts of Loyalist businesses and individuals.
  • Targeted Loyalists with intimidation tactics, including threats and public humiliation.

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Tarring and Feathering

  • Sons of Liberty members subjected loyalists to tarring and feathering as a form of humiliation and punishment.

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Daughters of Liberty

  • Participated in anti-British riots
  • Helped spread pamphlets and literature against the British
  • Boycotted British Goods
  • Encouraged the use of “American Products”
  • Made bitterroot tea / homespun clothing to support the British boycott

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Dangers for Loyalists

  • 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.

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Loyalists During the War

  • Military Service: Loyalists often served as soldiers in British units.
  • Spying and Intelligence Gathering - Loyalists provided intelligence to British military commanders, often infiltrating Patriot organizations
  • Guerrilla Warfare: Loyalists sometimes engaged in guerrilla warfare against Patriot forces, conducting raids and ambushes.

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Loyalists During the War

  • Recruitment: Some Loyalists actively recruited others to join the Loyalist cause, trying to persuade neutral colonists.
  • Loyalist leaders and sympathizers published pamphlets, newspapers, advocating for continued loyalty to the British Crown.

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Loyalists During the War

  • 50,000 volunteered to serve in British cause
  • About 100,000 fled the American Colonies for their own safety.
  • Some Loyalists moved to England and many more moved to nearby Canada.

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Propaganda

  • Both sides used propaganda during the war to garner support
  • Propaganda: information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

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Liberty Tree

  • "Liberty Tree": The Liberty Tree, often an actual tree in colonial towns, became a symbol of resistance.
  • It was adorned with flags and slogans, and meetings were held beneath it to discuss patriotic matters.

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Yankee Doodle

  • "Yankee Doodle": The song "Yankee Doodle" was originally written by British soldiers to mock American colonists but was adopted by the Patriots as a symbol of American pride and resilience.

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Assignment

  • Loyalists and Patriots will each try to persuade Mr. Adornetto, a neutralist to join your cause. You will accomplish you mission by creating a propaganda poster.

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