Key Questions:
Loyalism versus Loyalist - What are the defining differences?
How did Loyalists display their allegiances?
How did Loyalist identity evolve over time and across space?
How did Loyalists describe the Revolution itself?
In what terms did both sides, Loyalist and Patriot, describe each other?
Notes:
Loyalism: Practice and body of thought, opinion, and self understanding of allegiance
Loyalist: Individuals who opposed Patriots during Revolution and embraced the above ideology
Loyalist is NOT:
- A literal descriptor
- Identifiable term for people on the losing side
- Identifiable term for people on the losing side
- It involves human conditions of action
- Oaths, allegiances, promises, toasts, etc.
Loyalists, especially long term colonists, did NOT automatically oppose republicanism
- Some had resented British policies in the 1760's/1770's
- But they refused to support military mobilization, outright independence, and a complete break with the crown and empire
- Some had resented British policies in the 1760's/1770's
- But they refused to support military mobilization, outright independence, and a complete break with the crown and empire
Several Loyalist migrations happened BEFORE the Declaration and end of the War
- Around Portland, Maine (then Falmouth) Loyalists left after plundering by the Rebel militia in October 1775
- Around Portland, Maine (then Falmouth) Loyalists left after plundering by the Rebel militia in October 1775
- Migrated to Britain, Halifax, and those who went to Boston would also have to flee by March 1776
Identity crisis:
- Loyalists were part Colonialist and part Briton
- Loyalists were part Colonialist and part Briton
- Sameness and difference characterized the Briton and American relationship
- Most rejected republican connotations of colonist identity
- But remained "American" in culture and inheritance
White male Loyalists:
- Confirmed collective identity through cultural manifestations
- Confirmed collective identity through cultural manifestations
- Toasts, songs, and rituals
- Defined themselves through whom they toasted, when, and how
- Toasts were centerpieces of dinners (PRIVATE sphere)
- Sometimes published toasts in newspapers and pamphlets (PUBLIC sphere)
- Powerful act of affiliation and allegiance
Reasons for support:
- Supported because their position, livelihood, or aspirations depended on it
- Government officials, merchants, clergy, etc
- Supported out of simple concern for loyalty and respect for the law
- Middle class, regular folks, etc.
Loyalists had difficulty describing the Revolution
- Difficulty in characterizing the conflict and its origins as external
- Used internal descriptors to state it as a "Civil War"
Describing each side:
- Patriots were described as "rebels", "revolters", and "enemies of the British government"
- Loyalists were described as "loyal and faithful subjects" and "friends of the government"
- Loyalists were described as "loyal and faithful subjects" and "friends of the government"
Post war identity:
- Same factors still acted to bind Loyalists exiles loosely together
- Displacement from the Revolution
- Assumed a shared status - Migrants and settlers
- Refugees relationship with Britain
- Shared determination to assert their rights as British subjects
- Started to view themselves as an interest group with special status because of their service and sacrifice
Migration locations:
- New Brunswick, Upper Canada, and the Bahamas
- Became dominant element
- Nova Scotia, Grenada, Jamaica, and Sierra Leone
- Enclaves (territory with or surrounded by larger territory where inhabitants are culturally/ethnically distinct)
- Provincial Britain
Loyalist Slaves: Plight of those who remained enslaved to Loyalists
Since early 17th century Spanish Florida was a haven for runaway slaves
With the departures of the Royal Governors of GA and SC (1775 & 1776) the collapse of British authority in the south followed
- Change in government brought adjustments and violent change to Loyalists
Patriots started targeting Loyalists
- Testimony of John Hopkins (tarred and feathered by local Sons of Liberty)
Social pressure coupled with fear of violence forced Loyalists to move to St. Augustine with many slaves
As the population boomed because of migration...the need for land did as well
- St. Augustine became overcrowded and under-supplied
- Some Loyalist planters sought to re-establish their lifestyle
- Some Loyalist planters sought to re-establish their lifestyle
- Applied for land grants from governor
- A few tried to bypass government and buy land directly from Native Americans
- Ran into trouble with money exchange and legality
Growing number of African/African-American and Loyalist deflections frustrated and alarmed GA Patriots
- Invasions needed to prevent deserters from Loyalist uniting
- Raids in 1776 - 1778
- Plantations plundered
- Some owners burned their own plantations to keep Patriots from using it
In regards to "Identity Crisis" section, the book I read claims that a majority of active Loyalists were immigrants rather than being born in American and there was a higher chance of being Loyalist if you were an immigrant instead of native born. How do you think these stats could have effected the question of why a person was Loyalists?
ReplyDeleteOn the identity crisis, how did the loyalists remain "American" in culture? What does that mean?
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that your book mentions that the loyalists couldn't describe the revolution, my book constantly refers to loyalists calling the rebellion "unnatural" and that was a theme throughout the book.
the emphasis on ACTS of loyalism strikes me as important.
ReplyDeleteThat testimony is pure gold. invasion of private space, paraded in public space, demanding political "repentance," the mixed social nature of the mob.
In regards to the identity crisis section, the author makes the distinction between first generation immigrants and those Loyalists who were a number of generations removed from immigration and their ideologies as affected by the number of years living in the colonies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the statement that Loyalists were part Briton and part Colonialist, the author is attempting to convey that ideologically they were British, but culturally they lived among a unique American experience on the periphery of the British Empire that undoubtedly manifests an argument that Loyalists were part Colonialist
The point about loyalists considering the Revolution as an internal "Civil War" particularly stood out as interesting to me. At that point, did they consider themselves still part of Britain, or as something entirely unique on the British periphery?
ReplyDelete^Your comment's second paragraph answered that question, as well as the note that they considered patriots as traitors to the British government.