Loyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists vs. Patriots

• The Revolutionary War split the people of the American colonies into two groups: the loyalists and the patriots.

  
  

What was a patriot?

• Patriots were people who wanted the American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. They wanted their own country called the United States.

Multiple Choice

Patriots wanted to gain independence from Britain, and become their own country.

• True

• False

Why did people become patriots?

• People in the Americas felt they weren't being treated fairly by the British. They were being taxed without any say or representation in the British government. Soon cries for "liberty" were being heard throughout the colonies. The patriots wanted freedom from British rule.

  
  

Famous Patriots

• There were many famous patriots. Such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, and George Washington.

  
  

• . Other patriots included Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Ben Franklin. They were are often called the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Multiple Choice

Patriots felt that the British taxes were fair.

• True

• False

What was a loyalist?

• Not everyone who lived in the American colonies wanted to break away from the British. There were many people who wanted to stay part of Britain and remain British citizens. These people were called loyalists.

  
  

Multiple Choice

People who wanted to stay a part of Britain and remain British citizens.

• Patriots

• Loyalists

Why did some people remain loyal?

• Many people felt that their lives would be better off if the colonies remained under British rule. Some of these people were simply afraid to go up against the might of the British army. Others had business interests in Great Britain and knew that British trade was important to the economy. Still others thought that British rule would be better than patriot rule.

  
  

Multiple Choice

Loyalists wanted to remain under British rule because...

• they were afraid to fight the British army.

• they thought British trade was important to the economy.

• they thought British rule would be better than Patriot rule.

• all of the above

Famous Loyalists

• Since the loyalists lost the war, there aren't as many famous loyalists as there are patriots. Benedict Arnold was a general in the Continental Army who went to fight for the British. Another famous loyalist was Joseph Galloway who was the Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress but later worked for the British army.

Interesting Facts

• Other names for patriots included Sons of Liberty, Rebels, Whigs, and Colonials.

• Other names for loyalists included Tories, Royalists, and the King's Friends.

•  Many loyalists lived in New York City. It was known as the Tory capital of America.

• Many Patriots lived in Boston.

• Not everyone picked a side. Many people tried to remain neutral so they could avoid conflict and the war.

  
  

Multiple Choice

George Washington was a famous...

• Patriot

• Loyalist

Multiple Choice

Benedict Arnold was a famous...

• Patriot

• Loyalist

Multiple Choice

Everyone picked a side. They chose either to be a Patriot or a Loyalist.

• True

• False