Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Rough Notes 12/3/13



Who
Loyalism is not a literal descriptor or identifiable term for people on the losing side of the Revolution.
Loyalists were supporters of Britain living in colonial America in the 1760s and 1770s.
Loyalism can be considered active or passive based on the individual’s actions.
Some major groups that provided significant Loyalists were the royal officers, merchants, immigrants, and the Anglican Church leadership.
Free blacks, slaves, and Indians were also Loyalists.
Loyalists made up a minority of all economic classes. There were farmers, merchants, etc.
No more than 20%, or about 160,000 to 384,000, of the colonial population was active Loyalists. 

Why
Loyalists supported because their position, livelihood, or aspirations depended on loyalty or supported out of simple concern for loyalty or law
-          Government officials, merchants (Norfolk, NYC, etc), clergy
-          Middle class, regulars, etc
-          Hamilton and Jay (patriot aristocrats, magistrates, govt officials) seen as oppressive tyrannical land owners who would not give land reform. Prompted by 1766 itinerant riots
-          Ethnicity (Scots)
Slaves supported for freedom and Native Americans for protection
Frustration with British policy, but avoiding full rebellion
In the 1760’s Loyalists who supported the rule of law, believed there was a limit to acceptable protests, or disagreed with the colonial mob protests were common. 

When
In the 1760’s Loyalists who supported the rule of law, believed there was a limit to acceptable protests, or disagreed with the colonial mob protests were common.
Later in the early 1770’s moderate colonists, who would later be named “loyalist” by their patriot peers, were important in negotiations between the colonies and parliament. Colonists such as Joseph Galloway and John Dickinson hoped to achieve peace between the two sides in order to avoid war.
After the conflict escalated, some colonists became more aggressive in their loyalty to the Crown and stressed absolute loyalty.
Post-war, loyalists were dispersed all over the world –some went to India, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, other British colonies. More stayed in America than left. Loyalism became a badge of honor for those who went across the world.
Post-war, loyalists who stayed were disadvantaged politically, legally, and socially. This was found in Pennsylvania and among Native American populations. Loyalism became a badge of shame for those who stayed.

Where
Colonists tended to live near the coast, with the exception of the backcountry Scots in NC or debtor farmers in NY.
Strong influence in the Carolinas and Georgia. Regional influence particular in the South, with the exception of NY. Little influence in New England. British overestimated loyalist sympathies in the South.
People are more likely to be loyalists where there is a strong British presence, but extended interaction with the British (pillaging, British not utilizing loyalist potential) made them less likely to support the British cause. 
Black loyalists who had won their freedom often became second-class citizens. 

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