🫖American Revolution Unit 9 – Loyalists and Natives in the Revolution

Who Were the Loyalists?

• Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution
• Also known as Tories, King's Men, or Royalists
• Comprised approximately 15-20% of the colonial population
  • Included wealthy merchants, Anglican clergy, and colonial officials
  • Many were conservative and feared the consequences of rebellion
• Loyalists came from diverse backgrounds and social classes
  • Some were born in Britain and maintained strong ties to the mother country
  • Others were recent immigrants who felt a sense of loyalty to the Crown
• Faced persecution and violence from Patriots who viewed them as traitors
  • Many were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in British-controlled areas (New York City, Boston)

Native American Alliances

• Many Native American tribes formed alliances with the British during the Revolution
  • Believed the British would protect their lands and way of life from colonial expansion
• Iroquois Confederacy initially sought to remain neutral but eventually split
  • Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Seneca sided with the British
  • Oneida and Tuscarora allied with the Patriots
• Cherokee, Shawnee, and Creek tribes also fought alongside the British
• Native alliances were influenced by long-standing trade relationships and diplomatic ties with the British
• British officials promised to respect Native sovereignty and territorial rights in exchange for military support

Reasons for Loyalty

• Many Loyalists believed in the legitimacy of British rule and the supremacy of Parliament
• Feared the consequences of rebellion, including social upheaval and mob violence
• Some were beneficiaries of the British colonial system (merchants, officials) and had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo
• Loyalists often had strong cultural, economic, and familial ties to Britain
• Some disagreed with the Patriot cause on ideological grounds, viewing it as unjustified or too radical
• Native Americans sought to protect their lands and way of life from colonial encroachment
  • Believed the British were more likely to respect their sovereignty and territorial rights than the Patriots

Key Loyalist Figures

• Thomas Hutchinson: Royal Governor of Massachusetts, influential Loyalist leader
• Joseph Galloway: Pennsylvania politician, proposed a compromise plan for colonial reconciliation with Britain
• William Franklin: Royal Governor of New Jersey, son of Benjamin Franklin
• John Butler: Loyalist militia leader, commanded the Butler's Rangers during the war
• Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea): Mohawk war chief, led Iroquois forces allied with the British
  • Played a key role in the Battle of Oriskany and the Cherry Valley Massacre
• Mary Brant: Mohawk leader, influential in maintaining Iroquois support for the British

Impact on Native Communities

• The Revolution had devastating consequences for many Native American tribes
• Villages and crops were destroyed by both Patriot and Loyalist forces
  • Sullivan Expedition (1779) targeted Iroquois villages, forcing many to flee
• Tribes were divided, with some members fighting for the British and others for the Patriots
  • Led to internal conflicts and weakened tribal unity
• British defeat left Native allies vulnerable to retaliation from the victorious Patriots
• Many Native Americans were forced to cede lands and relocate in the aftermath of the war
  • Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784) required Iroquois to cede large territories to the United States

Loyalist and Native Contributions

• Loyalists provided crucial military support to the British war effort
  • Served in militia units, such as the King's Royal Regiment of New York and the Butler's Rangers
  • Engaged in guerrilla warfare, raiding Patriot settlements and disrupting supply lines
• Native American warriors added significant manpower to British forces
  • Participated in key battles, such as the Battle of Oriskany and the Siege of Fort Stanwix
  • Employed traditional warfare tactics, including ambushes and raids
• Loyalists and Natives provided valuable intelligence and local knowledge to British commanders
• Loyalist and Native resistance tied down Patriot forces and resources
  • Forced the Continental Army to divert troops to defend frontier settlements

Consequences and Aftermath

• Many Loyalists faced persecution, property confiscation, and exile after the war
  • Approximately 60,000-80,000 Loyalists fled to British North America (Canada), the Caribbean, or Britain
• Native American allies were left vulnerable to retaliation from the victorious Patriots
  • Many were forced to cede lands and relocate in the aftermath of the war
• The Treaty of Paris (1783) failed to address Native American territorial rights
  • Left Native allies feeling betrayed by the British, who prioritized peace with the United States
• Loyalist exodus had significant demographic and economic impacts on the newly independent United States
  • Deprived the nation of a substantial portion of its educated and wealthy population
• The experience of Loyalists and Natives during the Revolution highlighted the complex divisions within colonial society

Legacy and Historical Significance

• The Loyalist experience challenges the traditional narrative of the Revolution as a unanimous struggle for independence
  • Highlights the complex political, social, and ideological divisions within colonial society
• Loyalist exile had a profound impact on the development of Canada
  • Loyalists played a key role in shaping Canadian political and cultural institutions
• The treatment of Loyalists and Natives during and after the war raises questions about the limits of American ideals of liberty and justice
• Native American alliances with the British underscore the complex web of relationships and competing interests in the colonial era
• The consequences faced by Loyalists and Natives illustrate the human costs of the Revolutionary struggle
• The Revolution marked a turning point in the relationship between Native Americans and European colonizers
  • Set the stage for further conflict and dispossession in the decades that followed