Loyalist v.s. Patriot Views on Independence
| Patriot | Loyalist |
|---|---|
| felt like a pawn in a game | subjected to the British |
| the government didn’t feel right (wanted a republic) | risk away everything if they become independent |
| not free enough | already have enough freedom |
| parliament doesn’t make up its mind → Proclamation | powerful army + perfect parliament |
| taxes were large or to make them forgive the British for other things | weak without government |
| had a lot to lose - being arrested, hanged, losing all freedom | like mind-controlled robots who just went along with everything Britain did |
| the only good thing about British rule was trade | religion as evidence made sense |
| could do anything else the British did | British politics were perfect |
| Nathan Hale: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” | Loyalists were rich though because of the British economy |
| funding came out of people’s pocketsHaym Salomanshowed passion |
After war
- Patriots: lost hope, but remembered what they were fighting for + Thomas Paine’s writings
- Loyalists: just fought for money and to control trade (didn’t really understand why they were fighting)
- some knew why they were fighting and actually cared, but not many people