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‘And what is a Tory? Good God what is he? I should not be afraid to go with a hundred Whigs against a thousand Tories, were they to attempt to get into arms. Every Tory is a coward; for servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism; and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave.’ • Thomas Paine The Crisis
This idea is typical of American patriots and early historians of the revolution • The loyalist is seen as • an individual, not as part of a group • driven by self-interested greed • Is this a real representation? • If not why not?
Most loyalist were proud to be Colonials • identified strongly with their local communities and government • Often resented the British Governments attempt to tax • Agreeing with patriots that this violated their rights as British subjects
What is a loyalist? • An American who favored reconciliation with Great Britain during conflicts that begin with the Stamp Act and concluded with the War of 1812 • They opposed the Revolution for a variety of reasons • Sentimental • Economic • Political • Religious • Philosophical
However, they were proud of their British heritage • It was after all this heritage which had taught them to cherish these rights • Wanted to remain part of the British Empire • at the time the most powerful nation in the world (or at least the world they knew)
Numbers • John Adams in 1815 stated that the American population could be split into thirds • 1/3 Pro-revolution • 1/3 anti-revolution • 1/3 uncommitted to either side • Historians have debated this number and estimates range from 1/5 to 1/3 of the population
As for hard physical numbers it is hard to come up with a satisfactory number • Records show that 40-50,000 went to Nova Scotia • Causing such a swell in Canada’s numbers that the new colony of New Brunswick was formed • It is thought that approx another 30-40,ooo left to go to other locales • Britain • West Indies • But these are only those that left America
There were many more who elected to stay in America • It was after all their home • Loyalists who stayed often unrecognized as such • The pressure to be a patriot, and the difficulty of not being so where obvious • Remember John Agnew • Many kept their thoughts secret • Many tried to put out the idea that they were neutral • Many would sign patriot oaths to protect themselves
Their reason to stay and become loyalist were also varied, driven by multiple factors • Economic • Familial • Political • Intellectual • For many the choice was something to be avoided • Many deferred making the commitment, unable to make the difficult choice
Only deciding when forced with the question of whether or not to fire on an approaching army • If they took the loyalist side, they could not return home after the fighting moved on • Eventually it was thought that approximately • 19,000 men • in 40 units • Fought along side the British • loyalist in most of the major battles
Back to the original questions • If loyalists were not all cowards and driven by greed why are they viewed that way? • The answer lies in the need for America, like any other country, to create a unified creation narrative
Loyalists have been omitted from the story because there is no place for them in the story of triumphal democracy and freedom • Erasing loyalists, • dismissing them as self-interested cowards • Portraying them as crazy hard-liners • Or simply alienating them by lumping them with the British invaders • Allows the creation of an American beginning with no meaningful domestic opposition to the patriot plan
