Faithful to Britain
Loyalists were American colonists that remained faithful to the British Crown during the revolution. They were also called Tories, or King's Men. Ever felt like an outcast? The American Loyalist community was severely ostracized during the war - much of their property was confiscated and sold by the States.
Many Loyalists faithfully fought for the Crown during the war. With Britain's surrender and the negotiation of the Treaty of Paris, they expected some type of retribution for their sacrifices. They were shocked to find that the Treaty of Paris mentioned nothing more about the Loyalists than "The Congress of Confederation would recommend that each state legislature provide restitution for property taken from Loyalists."
Their property was not reimbursed. Worse still, the States passed laws aiming for the punishment of Tories. The Loyalists were treated terribly - for example, the concept of a "test oath" was passed out in the States. The oath-takers must swear loyalty to the Patriots, not aid the enemy, and denounce the British Crown. Anyone that failed to take the oath would face imprisonment, confiscation of property and even execution. Doctors and lawyers who refused to take the oath lost their right to practice. Tories who did not take the oath did not even have the right of foreigners in court.
In most states, the Tories were made to pay much higher taxes and exiled from office. Some passed laws for the exile of Loyalists.
The negotiators of the Treaty of Paris were well aware of the effect the Treaty would have on the Loyalist communities. Britain failed to put any emphasis on the treatment and reimbursement of the King's Men, who had served them faithfully in the war. They just wanted peace to be reached and a treaty to be signed, not willing to create dispute over the rights of Loyalists.
Many Loyalists faithfully fought for the Crown during the war. With Britain's surrender and the negotiation of the Treaty of Paris, they expected some type of retribution for their sacrifices. They were shocked to find that the Treaty of Paris mentioned nothing more about the Loyalists than "The Congress of Confederation would recommend that each state legislature provide restitution for property taken from Loyalists."
Their property was not reimbursed. Worse still, the States passed laws aiming for the punishment of Tories. The Loyalists were treated terribly - for example, the concept of a "test oath" was passed out in the States. The oath-takers must swear loyalty to the Patriots, not aid the enemy, and denounce the British Crown. Anyone that failed to take the oath would face imprisonment, confiscation of property and even execution. Doctors and lawyers who refused to take the oath lost their right to practice. Tories who did not take the oath did not even have the right of foreigners in court.
In most states, the Tories were made to pay much higher taxes and exiled from office. Some passed laws for the exile of Loyalists.
The negotiators of the Treaty of Paris were well aware of the effect the Treaty would have on the Loyalist communities. Britain failed to put any emphasis on the treatment and reimbursement of the King's Men, who had served them faithfully in the war. They just wanted peace to be reached and a treaty to be signed, not willing to create dispute over the rights of Loyalists.
The Road to Canada
It is estimated that around 100,000 Loyalists left the harsh treatment of the states and sought refuge in Canada. Among them were about 8,000 free, black slaves. Most of them arrived in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec. This had tremendous impact on cultural and economic levels. For example, most of these Loyalists were English-speakers who were only familiar with farming.
In Nova Scotia, the Loyalist refugees kept to their own way. They preferred not to mingle with the original inhabitants - socially, they were also weary of the Nova Scotians. This was because Nova Scotia had remained neutral in the war, not taking a stance on the allegiance to the Crown. This led to a demand that the British government separate Loyalist estanblishments by the Saint John River from those located on the island. In 1784, the Loyalists actually convinced the British overnemtnt to divide Nova Scotia into three separate colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton Island.
The Loyalists found themselves to often to culturally separate from the rest of Canada. For example, adding to the one above, the Loyalists who had settled amongst the francophones of Quebec resented having to obey French law and to answer to French-speaking seigneurs. They wanted the establishment of Protestant schools and churches. Politically, the Loyalists had been used to self-government in America. There was no elected assembly in Quebec, causing the Tories to protest the fact that the decision makers were not elected officials. Both the Loyalists and other English speakers pressured the Government of London to reform the colony in their favor and in 791, Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. This topic is covered further in the page titled "The Constituional Act".
On the brighter side, St. John Island benefited economically from the immigration of these refugees. There had been a lot of dispute over the Scottish immigrants, the Acadians and the Irish who couldn't find common ground between government, land and religion.
However, when the Loyalists arrived in 1784 (there were about 500 of them), they founded Summerside. To this day, it is the island's second largest city. The Tories saw to the growth of the colony's small population, increasing its prosperity in the timber trade, naval construction, fishing and farming.
In Nova Scotia, the Loyalist refugees kept to their own way. They preferred not to mingle with the original inhabitants - socially, they were also weary of the Nova Scotians. This was because Nova Scotia had remained neutral in the war, not taking a stance on the allegiance to the Crown. This led to a demand that the British government separate Loyalist estanblishments by the Saint John River from those located on the island. In 1784, the Loyalists actually convinced the British overnemtnt to divide Nova Scotia into three separate colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton Island.
The Loyalists found themselves to often to culturally separate from the rest of Canada. For example, adding to the one above, the Loyalists who had settled amongst the francophones of Quebec resented having to obey French law and to answer to French-speaking seigneurs. They wanted the establishment of Protestant schools and churches. Politically, the Loyalists had been used to self-government in America. There was no elected assembly in Quebec, causing the Tories to protest the fact that the decision makers were not elected officials. Both the Loyalists and other English speakers pressured the Government of London to reform the colony in their favor and in 791, Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. This topic is covered further in the page titled "The Constituional Act".
On the brighter side, St. John Island benefited economically from the immigration of these refugees. There had been a lot of dispute over the Scottish immigrants, the Acadians and the Irish who couldn't find common ground between government, land and religion.
However, when the Loyalists arrived in 1784 (there were about 500 of them), they founded Summerside. To this day, it is the island's second largest city. The Tories saw to the growth of the colony's small population, increasing its prosperity in the timber trade, naval construction, fishing and farming.
Effects down the road: Canada Today
Though there was much difficulty when the Loyalists arrived in Canada, they have influenced our nation in many ways. The population of Nova Scotia had doubled, while the Province of Quebec became, for the first time, home to a large number of English Speakers. Modern Canada inherited a certain conservatism from the Loyalists, and in matters of government , a preference for "evolution" rather than "revolution. The arrival of the Tories shaped Upper and Lower Canada as well has numerous other establishments, recognized the English language in the francophone community of quebec, and built foundations for the heterogeneous mix of diverse society we see in Canada today.