John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. Many peopleincluding former Regulators in North Carolina refused to join the rebellion, as they had earlier protested against corruption by local authorities who later became Revolutionary leaders. Once the revolutionary war was lost, some in Britain argued that it had been unwinnable. American Loyalists American Loyalists, or "Tories" as their opponents called them, opposed the Revolution, and many took up arms against the rebels. A higher percentage of the population died in the American Revolution than in any other war fought by Americans. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site. without the support of the majority of the residents of the So not a minority, but hardly overwhelming support, either. "The Problem of the Loyalistand the Problems of Loyalist Historians,", Ranlet, Philip. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? That doesnt include the U.S. Navy, state navies, Continental Marines (2,000 by one estimate) and the estimated 55,000 who served on American Privateers, which gets us from 15 percent to perhaps as high as 25 percent participation. In actual numbers, blacks totaled perhaps seventy thousand but no more than 5 percent of them were free. According to Robert Calhoon, between 40 and 45 percent of the white population in the Thirteen Colonies supported the Patriots' cause, between 15 and 20 percent supported the Loyalists, and the remainder were neutral or kept a low profile. Many loyalists left the country and went back to Britain. Certain Loyalists who fled the United States brought their slaves with them to Canada (mostly to areas that later became Ontario and New Brunswick) where slavery was legal. More importantly, why would Adamss opinion be of historical accuracy anyway? They had business and family links with Britain. The British, however, assumed a highly activist Loyalist community was ready to mobilize and planned much of their strategy around raising Loyalist regiments. The Continental forces would be driven from Quebec in 1776, after the breakup of ice on the St. Lawrence River and the arrival of British transports in May and June. Join or Die Analysis Objective What caused American colonists in different states to unify as one nation leading up to the French and Indian War? They were also known as King's Men, Tories, and Royalists. He gave many reasons for the colonists to support colonial independence. Others were required to pay a 10% fine of the value of the property. Propaganda in support of independence split the colonists into two groups: Patriots and Loyalists. As we approach Independence Day, Slaughter shares three little known facts about the American Revolution for you to bring to your 4th of July picnic: The American Revolution started on April 19, 1775, with the exchange of gunfire at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions. Unpublished master's dissertation (London: Open University, 2013). Although some Canadians took up arms in support of the rebellion, the majority remained loyal to the King. Galloway's property was seized by the Rebels and she spent the rest of her life fighting to regain it. The American Revolutionary War was a war fought between Great Britain and the original Thirteen Colonies . The Moderates prevailed. These people were the type that were either pacifists, recent immigrants, or simply apolitical. What was Britain's reaction to the Boston Tea Party? 3. He wrote: "There may be a time when redress may not be obtained. At the time of the American Revolution, slaves made up at least 25 percent of the population of North Carolina. Paul H. Smith, "The American Loyalists: Notes on Their Organization and Numerical Strength,". The Colonists also gained help from other countries such as France and Spain; France provided up to 90% of the Americans' gunpowder in the war's first two years. The legislature named 232 Loyalists liable for the confiscation of their property, but most appealed and were forgiven. Some became nationally prominent leaders, including Samuel Seabury, who was the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Tench Coxe. Loyalists settled in what are now the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario. During the war, pardons were offered to Loyalists who switched sides and joined the Patriot forces. Philips Church, Brunswick Town. With the 1780 population estimated at 2,780,369, that gives us 2.96 percent of the country serving in George Washingtons Army. "The American Loyalist Diaspora and the Reconfiguration of the British Atlantic World." The violence of such an occupation led to the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Tea Party in 1773, and the Intolerable Acts a year later. In late 1775 the Continental Army sent a force into Quebec, led by General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold, with the goal of convincing the residents of Quebec to join the Revolution. [citation needed]. The term Loyalists refers to American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown. "[59] In response, the colony of New Brunswick, until 1784 part of Nova Scotia, was created for the 14,000 who had settled in those parts. First of all, lacking a border with the Indian population, the age requirement for Connecticut in 1774 was much lower than other states (the maximum age fell from 60 to 45). About 1,200 left Nova Scotia for Sierra Leone, where they named the capital Freetown. Macaulay's work include History of England and Warren wrote History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution. This forced the Patriots to also offer freedom to those who would serve in the Continental Army, with thousands of Black Patriots serving in the Continental Army. "The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 17631789." Modern scholarship suggests John Adams may have been referring to the French rather than American revolution. Ranlet, Philip (2014) "How Many American Loyalists Left the United States?. Many of the slaves in the South joined the Loyalists with intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the South. He worked to build Loyalist military units to fight in the war. [5] Many Loyalists eventually returned to the US after the war and discriminatory laws had been repealed. 35. Loyalist refugees, later called United Empire Loyalists, began leaving at the end of the war whenever transport was available, at considerable loss of property and transfer of wealth. As a result, more people who lived through the American Revolution knew someone who died or lost someone in the war, than in any war we have fought since. What percent of American colonists supported the revolution? Before the Congress evacuated Philadelphia, it passed a Declaration of Independence ratifying those ideas. One of the rules in any social change movement is the economic idea, "no free riders (read, Neutrals), and in Bergen County New Jersey one could seen how this worked. One rich Patriot in Boston noted in 1779 that "fellows who would have cleaned my shoes five years ago, have amassed fortunes and are riding in chariots." Starting in the mid1780s a small percentage of those who had left returned to the United States. [29], In areas under Patriot control, Loyalists were subject to confiscation of property, and outspoken supporters of the king were threatened with public humiliation such as tarring and feathering, or physical attack. The remaining 75% are ranked as supporters but it is quite Chopra, Ruma. There was also the influence of an influx of recent immigration from the British isles, and they remained neutral during the war, and the influx was greatest in Halifax. The British forces at the Battle of Monck's Corner and the Battle of Lenud's Ferry consisted entirely of Loyalists with the exception of the commanding officer (Banastre Tarleton). So, I think the 3 percenters are just people who have difficulty with basic math. Most of the English-speaking settlers had arrived following the British conquest of Canada in 17591760, and were unlikely to support separation from Britain. [49] Loyalists from South Carolina fought for the British in the Battle of Camden. The colonists were none too pleased to have their taxes raised and no representation in Parliament to have their say. Rebel agents were active in Quebec (which was then frequently called "Canada", the name of the earlier French province) in the months leading to the outbreak of active hostilities. Source: Political cartoon - Join or Die May 9, 1754 Pennsylvania . The Loyalists in the Revolutionary War were the American colonists who supported King George III of England and did not want independence. Pros And Cons Of The American Revolution. [4] The southern Loyalists moved mostly to Florida, which had remained loyal to the Crown, and to British Caribbean possessions. The battle for New York in 1776 gave England an excellent opportunity for a decisive victory. A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence (2002). (Gail Saunders, Bahamian Loyalists and Their Slaves [MacMillan Education LTD, London and Oxford: 1983] p. 1) The first of these was in the debate over American liberties prior to the war itself. Nonetheless, vigilante coercion, as much as legitimating rhetoric, won the day for the USA. Many active Church of England members became Loyalists. By July 4, 1776, the Patriots had gained control of virtually all territory in the Thirteen Colonies and expelled all royal officials. (Youtube video)", African Americans in the Revolutionary War, Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor, Bibliography of conservatism in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loyalist_(American_Revolution)&oldid=1142280576, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2012, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. This three percent myth is born out of the claim that only 80,000 people served in the Continental Army and militia during the war. openly support independence. The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the war, and Britain lost much of this territory to the newly formed United States. The American Revolution as civil war, "An Imperial Disaster? The Founding Fathers and architects of the Constitution were early Patriot leaders and . Before its demise, the church was considered one of the finest religious structures in North Carolina.St. [31], As a result of the looming crisis in 1775, the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issued a proclamation that promised freedom to indentured servants and slaves who were able to bear arms and join his Loyalist Ethiopian Regiment. The late William Marina was a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute, Oakland, CA, and Professor Emeritus in History at Florida Atlantic University. As Howard Zinn points out in his book "A People's . Toronto: Dundurn Press. Charles Woodmason (, Lohrenz, Otto; "The Advantage of Rank and Status: Thomas Price, a Loyalist Parson of Revolutionary Virginia. The British removed their governors from colonies where the Patriots were in control, but Loyalist civilian government was re-established in coastal Georgia[23] from 1779 to 1782, despite the presence of Patriot forces in the northern part of Georgia. [69] In New York, the departure of key members of the De Lancey, De Peyster, Walton and Cruger families undercut the interlocking families that largely owned and controlled the Hudson Valley. No one who openly proclaimed their loyalty to the Crown was allowed to remain, so Loyalists fled or kept quiet. This Fourth of July marks the the 228th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. This map shows the plan of Boston in 1775, at the height of the Revolution. With the 1780 population estimated at 2,780,369, that gives. The oppression by the local Whigs during the Regulation led to many of the residents of backcountry North Carolina sitting out the Revolution or siding with the Loyalists. Massachusetts passed an act banishing forty-six Boston merchants in 1778, including members of some of Boston's wealthiest families. of the estimated half million who had sided with the British Americans were not only rebelling against the mother country, they were fighting each other. Please feel free to fill out our Contact Form. In New York, powerful families had assembled colony-wide coalitions of supporters; men long associated with the French Huguenot/Dutch. His Twitter account is JohnTures2. In 1787 the last of any discriminatory laws were rescinded. Nelson. The colonists themselves were divided. These people were the type that were either pacifists, recent immigrants, or simply apolitical. Among the Catholics who assumed leadership roles in the fight for our liberty were: John K. Robertson looks at this very issue of militia size in the Journal of the American Revolution in 2016. Probably twice that number soldiered as militiamen, for the most part defending the home front, functioning as a police force, and occasionally engaging in enemy surveillance in addition to supplementing the Continental Army for stretches. Loyalists who left the US received over 3 million or about 37% of their losses from the British government. Loyalists who lived in areas controlled by the patriots were in constant danger from radical patriots. Ultimately, some 5,000 blacks bore arms for the United States, approximately 5 percent of the total number of men who served in the Continental Army. In direct opposition were the Loyalists or Tories who amounted to about 20% of the Colonial population. It doesnt include all in the Continental Army, militia or other units, or those who served but didnt file for a pension or bounty-land warrant application. Does prayer in school violate the First Amendment? The maximum strength of the Loyalist provincial line was 9,700 in December 1780. During the Revolutionary era, the pulpit played a . This was an affront to the Standing Army Act, and the Americans thought, of the Constitution itself. Historians estimate that between 15 and 20 percent of European-American colonists supported the Crown; some historians estimate that as much as one third of the population was sympathetic to the British, if not vocally. [38] In many cases, the women did not get a choice on if they were labeled a loyalist or a patriot; the label was dependent on their husband's political association. Written so many years after the American Revolution, it becomes clear that Adams was actually discussing American opinion about England and the French Revolution during his presidency, 1797-1801: "The middle third, composed principally of the yeomanry, the soundest part of the nation, and always averse to war, were [sic] rather lukewarm both to England and France.". Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500,000, or 20 percent of the white population of the colonies. The notion of computing percentages of patriots and tories is basically unsound. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In what became known as the Snow Campaign, partisan militia arrested or drove out most of the back country Loyalist leadership. Farmers, for example, often chose the side that their . Lexington and Concord were less than a year away. Although both women's works were unpopular, during this time, it pushed them to learn from social critique. 45% of colonists fully supported the war 20% of colonists were outright loyal to Britain 3 million is the estimated population of America in 1776 1 million is the estimated population of. Sure there were some loyalists who sided with the British, but a vast majority supported independence. The descendants of one such group of Iroquois, led by Joseph Brant (Thayendenegea), settled at Six Nations of the Grand River, the largest First Nations reserve in Canada. 9240 views Over 2,500 settled in Birchtown, Nova Scotia, instantly making it the largest free black community in North America. African-Americans were often the first to come forward to volunteer and a total of 12,000 African Americans served with the British from 1775 to 1783. "Tories" often is used as a synonym but refers in the eighteenth-c War Of Independence, The War of Independence, also known as the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War, was fought from 1775 to 1783 between Great Britain and the Thomas Gage, Gage, Thomas Born c. 1721 Firle, England . The American Revolution was principally caused by colonial opposition to British attempts to impose greater control over the colonies and to make them repay the crown for its defense of them during the French and Indian War (175463). are rarely seen today, but the influence of the Loyalists on the evolution of Canada remains. About 4500 white Loyalists left when the war ended, but the majority remained behind. The African-American soldiers made an. About 800 did so; some helped rout the Virginia militia at the Battle of Kemp's Landing and fought in the Battle of Great Bridge on the Elizabeth River, wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves", but this time they were defeated. The second involved the issue of Independence and the the war to win it. 2. The departure of families such as the Ervings, Winslows, Clarks, and Lloyds deprived Massachusetts of men who had hitherto been leaders of networks of family and clients. However, it is doubtful that the Colonial Army could have survived Elsewhere there were few British troops and the Patriots seized control of all levels of government, as well as supplies of arms and gunpowder. Following these actions, support for the Revolutionist grew to about 40 to 45 percent of the colonial population. Nevertheless, the vast majority never returned. Your email address will not be published. Also known as the American Revolution and the United States War of Independence, the conflict would quickly grow from a small civil war to a full-blown international conflict. What did Paul Revere do when he saw the British crossing the Charles River in Boston? Slavery began with the purchase of indentured slaves in Virginia in 1619. In an interesting historical twist Peter Matthews, a son of Loyalists, participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion which sought relief from oligarchic British colonial government and pursued American-style Republicanism. ", Smith, Paul H. "The American Loyalists: Notes on Their Organization and Numerical Strength,", Gainey, Joseph R. "Rev. Several hundred who had left for Florida returned to Georgia in 178384. According to Jasanoff, the majority of these Loyalists 36,000 went to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, while about 6,600 went to Quebec and 2,000 to Prince Edward Island. At that date, 293,000 slaves lived in Virginia alone, making up 42 percent of all slaves in the U.S. at the time. In reality, Britain might well have won the war. Their ties to Britain and/or their antipathy to the United States provided the strength needed to keep Canada independent and distinct in North America. The. In terms of numbers: 40,000 soldiers fought in the Battle of Long Island, making it the largest battle. John Brown, an agent of the Boston Committee of Correspondence,[42] worked with Canadian merchant Thomas Walker and other rebel sympathisers during the winter of 17741775 to convince inhabitants to support the actions of the First Continental Congress. Americans were not only rebelling against the mother country, they were fighting each other. Most were compensated with Canadian land or British cash distributed through formal claims procedures. An estimated 60,000 left the new nation, representing about 2% of the total American population. As more colonies across the globe fought for independence, particularly in . Eventually the camp that they had set up there suffered an outbreak of smallpox and other diseases. Traditionally, it has been understood that roughly 1/3 of the population strongly supported the Revolution, 1/3 strongly opposed it, and 1/3 were indifferent. There are still British loyalists in North America, yes. around the world. An imperial law in 1790 assured prospective immigrants to Canada that their slaves would remain their property. A group of African-American Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia but emigrated again for Sierra Leone after facing discrimination there. After the American Revolution, the Southern slave population exploded, reaching about 1.1 million in 1810 and over 3.9 million in 1860. Once the war was over most of the estimated half million who had sided with the British resumed their lives as Americans. About 5,090 white Loyalists went to Florida, bringing along their slaves who numbered about 8,285 (421 whites and 2,561 blacks returned to the States from Florida). The bases of the men who replaced them were much different. Calhoon, "Loyalism and neutrality", p. 235; Middlekauff (2005) pp. We get these figures by reading writings such as journals. [36][37], While men were out fighting for the Crown, women served at home protecting their land and property. Our service was something to be proud of, not something to be ashamed of, as some on the fringes would lead us to believe. A representation of Lord Dunmore's Loyalist regiment, many of whom were African-Americans. Another theory is a hybrid between American interest in current events and a sense of American values. [citation needed] The new British North American provinces of Upper Canada (the forerunner of Ontario) and New Brunswick were founded as places of refuge for the United Empire Loyalists. Most States had rescinded anti-Tory laws by 1787, although the accusation of being a Tory was heard for another generation. Something might not be right about those American numbers. Colonists had various reasons for whichever side that they chose. The "well-known" letter of Adams was to James Lloyd, dated January, 1813. Did all colonists support the American Revolution? They felt themselves to be weak or threatened within American society and in need of an outside defender such as the British Crown and Parliament. The Significance of the Pequot War of 1637, timeline of the history of the United States. In such struggles, a "loss of legitimacy" is a key event as has happened to American forces recently in Iraq. For one thing, there were a number of seriously conflicted individuals. Some information about the incomes of colonists shows that there was generally a wide income gap. If an army was spotted, the servant was charged with identifying the colors and raising the corresponding flag to keep soldiers from burning down the inn. Most history experts today think that about twenty percent of the colonists supported Britain. Sivapragasam, Michael, "Why Did Black Londoners not join the Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme 17831815?" The Massachusetts political leader, John Adams, thought about thirty-three percent of the colonists supported independence, thirty-three percent supported Britain, and thirty-three percent supported neither side. Who opposed the American Revolution? Historian Maya Jasanoff calculated 60,000 in total went to British North America, including about 50,000 whites, however Philip Ranlet estimates that only 20,000 adult white Loyalists went to Canada,[52] while Wallace Brown cites about 80,000 Loyalists in total permanently left the United States.[53]. [56] The vast majority of the half-million white Loyalists, about 20-25% of the total number of whites, remained in the US. Life for the loyalists became increasingly difficult during the war. A brief siege at Ninety Six, South Carolina in the fall of 1775 was followed by a rapid rise in Patriot recruiting. American Loyalists, or "Tories" as their opponents called them, opposed the Revolution, and many took up arms against the rebels. Loyalists in the southern colonies were suppressed by the local Patriots, who controlled local and state government. Containing coverage before, during, and after the war, as well as the effect of the revolution on a global scale, this major reference to the period is ideal for any student, scholar, or general reader seeking a complete reference to the field. For another thing, you have to take account of geographical differences. The Loyalists rarely attempted any political organization. "How Many American Loyalists Left the United States?. It is tragic that this celebration is giving added emphasis in the mind of the general public to at least one myth whic Patriots were active supporters of independence, and willing to fight for it. [60], The post-nominals "U.E." Many outspoken or militarily active Loyalists were forced to flee, especially to their stronghold of New York City. Realizing the importance of some type of consideration, on November 9, 1789, Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec, declared that it was his wish to "put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire." Originally our estimates were based on John Adams who wrote that 1/3 supported independence 1/3 supported the crown and 1/3 were uncommitted. "[71], John Copley's "The Death of Major Pierson". Originally our estimates were based on John Adams who asserted that 1/3 supported independence 1/3 supported the crown and 1/3 were uncommitted. Historian John Ferlingfinds that the Continental Army size was actually 100,000, not counting the militia. In 1777, 1,500 Loyalist militia took part in the Saratoga campaign in New York, and surrendered with General Burgoyne after the Battles of Saratoga in October. Additionally, the top 10 percent of income earners in New England owned 46.8 percent of the wealth. A close reading, however, of Adams' letter indicates just the opposite. How many British soldiers fought in American Revolution? Religious practice suffered in certain places because of the absence of ministers and the destruction of churches, but in other areas, religion flourished. Why Was the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto Important? This chart goes to show that at the very most, Patriots had a slim majority in the colonies in their support for the American Revolution. population was living below the poverty line in the 1920's. Loyalists constituted about one-third of the population of the American colonies during that conflict. [51], Estimates for how many Loyalists emigrated after the war differ. The Germans in Pennsylvania tried to stay out of the Revolution, just as many Quakers did, and when that failed, clung to the familiar connection rather than embrace the new. of allegiance to the King. Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser: Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain. [8] Most Americans hoped for a peaceful reconciliation but were forced to choose sides by the Patriots who took control nearly everywhere in the Thirteen Colonies in 177576. Americans who embraced both beliefs and could not choose a side were called Neutrals. 868 Words4 Pages. But it was never about the money. However, the long period of waiting time to be officially given land grants that were given to them and the prejudices of white Loyalists in nearby Shelburne who regularly harassed the settlement in events such as the Shelburne Riots in 1784, made life very difficult for the community. Vocal Loyalists recruited people to their side, often with the encouragement and assistance of royal governors. [68], The departure of so many royal officials, rich merchants and landed gentry destroyed the hierarchical networks that had dominated most of the colonies. Modern scholarship suggests John Adams may have been referring to the French rather than American revolution. They were often passive unless regular British army units were in the area. It is not valid to average New England together with the South. [32], Americans who gained their freedom by fighting for the British became known as Black Loyalists. Determining the varying allegiances of the several million colonists with any precision is probably impossible, but the recent scholarship I've read has revised the Adams 1/3 rule. this group would be considered as unenthusiastic at best. It could be a bit lower, but that figure a lot closer to Robert Allisons numbers, which are 375,000 serving, or almost 15 percent of the population. Introduction | History Cambridge", "Jamaica Plain Historical Society - 'Colonial Era' Editor - - Capt Benjamin Hallowell Homestead", "Black Loyalists in New Brunswick, 1783-1854: 'The Death of Major Peirson', John Singleton Copley", "Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War", "Black Loyalists in New Brunswick, 1783-1854: 'John Eardley Wilmot' by Benjamin West", "The View at Two Hundred Years: The Loyalists of the American Revolution", Guide to the New York Public Library Loyalist Collection, The American Loyalists: Or, Biographical Sketches of Adherents to the (1847) by Lorenzo Sabine, Benjamin Franklin to Baron Francis Maseres, June 26, 1785, Bibliography of the Loyalist Participation in the American Revolution, United States Army Center of Military History, "Black Loyalists: Our History, Our People", James Chalmers and "Plain Truth" (A Loyalist Answers Thomas Paine), The Loyalist Link: The Forest and The Sea Port Roseway Loyalists, The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies, "Remembering Black Loyalists, Black Communities in Nova Scotia", "Salem Loyalists-unpublished letters" THE NEW-ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GEUEALOGICAL REGISTER AND ANTIQUARIAN JOURNAL 1872 pp.243-248, "A Short History of the United Empire Loyalists" Ann Mackenzie, United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada (UELAC), What is a Loyalist? 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In New York, powerful families had assembled colony-wide coalitions of supporters ; men associated! The last of any discriminatory laws had been repealed for a company 's responsible... Than 5 percent of them were free the Loyalists with intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution United... Population died in the U.S. at the height of the trip would be. people in. Reasons for whichever side that they chose recent immigrants, or 20 percent of the property Loyalist,. Provided the strength needed to keep Canada independent and distinct in North America hundred., '', Ranlet, Philip, that gives US 2.96 percent of the colonies Tory heard... Michael, `` an Imperial Disaster of Loyalist Historians, '' Jacinto Important myth is out... Estimates for How many American Loyalists: Notes on their Organization and Numerical strength ''. Colonists to support separation from Britain excellent opportunity for a decisive victory of Loyalists range high! This map shows the plan of Boston 's wealthiest families to flee, especially to side! Another theory is a hybrid between American interest in current events and a sense of American values the 228th of! Canadian land or British cash distributed through formal claims procedures date, 293,000 slaves lived in areas by... This site ranked as supporters but it is not valid to average New England together with British... British Crown British cash distributed through formal claims procedures American Loyalist Diaspora and the the war History the... Half million who had left for Florida returned to the United States wrote that 1/3 supported the and! The residents of the Constitution itself Birchtown, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Island. Unlikely to support colonial independence when the war, `` the Problem of the claim that only 80,000 served... He worked to build Loyalist military units to fight in the South 4 ] the southern were! Often passive unless regular British Army units were in the area others were required pay. Colonists were none too pleased to have their say people who have difficulty with basic math side were called.. `` Loyalism and neutrality '', p. 235 ; Middlekauff ( 2005 ) pp the Sierra Leone facing! In current events and a sense of American values vocal Loyalists recruited people to their of! This three percent myth is born out of the wealth US 2.96 percent of the back country what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution leadership a! Who lived in areas controlled by the local what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution, who controlled local and state....
what percentage of colonists supported the american revolution