Loyalist vs. Patriot

(Taken from a 2005 exhibit on the Revolution I curated at my museum)

 

One of the difficulties in studying any time period is the inherent lack of contemporary perspective. In today’s America, the choice to separate ourselves from England and form our own country seems like an obvious one. However, for many residents of the colonies, the decision between being a patriot or a loyalist was not at all obvious or easy. 

 

Despite mounting grievances, it is important to note that many Patriots considered themselves subjects of the King until the brink of war, and were often proud of being British. Britain had won the French and Indian War just a decade previously, and colonists were still experiencing national pride as a result of the important victory. In addition, Britain was widely perceived as one of the more progressive governments in the world. Interestingly, the emphasis on individual liberty that colonists so cherished as Britons added fuel to Patriot rhetoric – how could a government that proclaimed individual rights and due process for their mainland citizens ignore the will of their colonists?  

 

 Patriot Argument

 

-         Individual liberty threatened by greater government

-         A series of acts and laws passed by the British Government were oppressive and indicative of a decline in colonial rights.

-         No representation in British Parliament

-         The Quartering of British troops

-         Closing of the Port of Boston

-         British control of trade

 

 

 

 

Loyalist Argument

 

-         Common Heritage and Culture with England

-         Benefit from the trans-Atlantic trade

-         Many were first generation or had close relatives in England

-         Strong sense of duty to British Crown

-         Farms and Farm products could be greatly reduced in value

      -    Separate government could      degenerate into anarchy

-         Actions taken by revolutionary committees were “illegal”, and a symptom internal tyranny