Transcript Patriot, Loyalist, or Neutral?

 Minority Movement: 30-40%
 Younger
 Felt recent British laws on
violated their rights as British
citizens (e.g. taxing without
consent, quartering soldiers in
citizens’ homes, and denying
colonists the right to a trial,
trade restrictions).
 Many live in the New
England Colonies, especially
Massachusetts
 Most numerous in
Presbyterian &
Congregationalist areas
 About 20%- 30%
 Educated
 Aristocratic (wealthy)
 Older
 Wealthy landowners
 People who benefitted
from the crown: Anglican
clergymen, king’s
officers
 People with close
business or political ties
to Britain
 High number of Loyalists in New York City,
Quaker Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and in the
Southern Colonies (Charleston).
 Least numerous in New England
 Many agreed that the American colonists had
suffered at the hands of the British but the
Loyalists hoped that a peaceful reconciliation
with British government was possible.
 Most numerous where the Anglican Church
(Church of England) was strongest- taught to
obey the king
 The Iroquois Confederation: had a working
relationship with British officials and was
angered by colonists encroaching into their
territory, sided with British.
 Tenant farmers: often choose their position
based on which side their landowner
supported.
 For example, if a Patriot landowner was
cruel and always raised the rent, the tenant
would be a Loyalist, but if the Patriot
landowner was kind and collected a fair
rent, the tenant would be a Patriot.
 Non-English speaking colonists: Viewed the
conflict between the British government and
the Patriots as family quarrel among the
English. They wanted to stay out of it and be
left alone.
 Colonists in debt with British creditors: Often
became Patriots because it could get them out
of paying back their debt.
 Feared that violent change would make things worse
 During the Revolution taking a Loyalist stance was
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dangerous, especially in the New England colonies
Many Loyalists were brutally attacked and killed.
Their property was destroyed or confiscated.
About 80,000 fled the American Colonies for their own
safety. Some Loyalists moved to England and many
more moved to nearby Canada.
50,000 volunteered to serve in British cause
Served as spies, incited Indians, attacked Patriot
homes
 Both sides used propaganda during the war to garner
support
 Propaganda: information, especially of a biased or
misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a
particular political cause or point of view.
Sometimes, the
propaganda was in
poster form.
This engraving from
the Boston Massacre
was used to garner
support for the
Patriots.
Other times, the propaganda
was in the form of written
essays that were printed and
distributed.
 Here is an example:
Thomas Payne’s Common
Sense
 You have a sheet of paper that has Advertising
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Techniques on one side and Propaganda War on the
other
First read over the advertising techniques
Then use the other side to plan what kind of
propaganda you will create.
You can create a poster, an essay like Thomas Payne’s,
or even write out a speech
Your propaganda should include a minimum of 3 facts
about Patriots or Loyalists that would convince your
audience to join your side.