Revolutionary Ideas: Patriots vs. Loyalists

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Revolutionary Ideas: Patriots vs. Loyalists In early America, there were three factions that developed within the colonies- Loyalists, Patriots, and fence-sitters (neutral). This melting pot of different ideas, goals, and outlooks is what made pre-Revolutionary War America so volatile. These three factions seem easy to identify, Patriots wanted freedom from the crown all together, Loyalists want to stay British, and fence-sitters want to stay out of the political battle all together. However, it goes much farther than that, many different backgrounds and goals drove these people forward. Many did not take up the title of Loyalist or Patriot unless the struggles affected them directly, many more only took sides when it was profitably to them and for some it was because they had no choice in the matter. The Loyalist party has existed since the founding of the British colonies. As the colonies grew into strong political and economic entities the attachment to England intensified. The only way to build wealth and political power in the beginning was to support the Crown so they would be granted economical favors or political postings. “Historians have investigated the backgrounds of known Tories and have revealed that persons who favored the cause of the king were commonly officeholders and frequently Church of England clergymen” (Patriots and Loyalists, 283). The Loyalist did not understand the Patriots desire for independence, because the loss of money and the threat of war was an invitation to ruin. The Loyalist viewed the actions of the British government and the use of military force as justified in order to quell the uprising that interfered with the building of wealth and power. “Can there be a zealot for prolonging these unnat... ... middle of paper ... ...ies to the British crown, such as officials and soldiers, whose economics relied on the British Crown. This was true, but in many cases, their reasons were much simpler. Many Loyalists were simply happy with the status quo; this was the government in which they were accustomed. Others saw the Patriots as hooligans and outlaws, while others had invested heavily in British goods, and others still did not want the prospect of war. Many consider the power that the British soldiers, or “Red Coats”, had in the American colonies as justified under the British Crown. They were the police force, arresting and upholding the British laws. Many people who held the title of Loyalist saw the frequently violent actions of the Patriots as criminal in nature instead of heroic as the Patriots saw them, and as such refused to assist them even if some agreed with them to an extent.

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