The United Empire Loyalists British North America & The Aftermath of the American Revolution

Who were the Loyalists? 50 000 came to remaining British colonies during/after the American Revolution Very diverse group - white, African, native Varied backgrounds - wealthy/ poor, business/ agriculture, urban/rural various political beliefs, from strong monarchists to supporters of the "rights of Englishmen"

Who were the Loyalists? Common bond: decision to remain loyal to Britain during/ after American Revolution Common experience: persecuted, jailed, property confiscated during revolution Common sense of identity and a feeling that Britain owed them something because of their suffering and sacrifice 50 000 took shelter in New York as revolution ends (evacuated by Quebec Governor Sir Guy Carleton, later named Lord Dorchester) Most travel north to the remaining British colonies

The Loyalist arrival: New Brunswick 1783: 15 000 Loyalists settle along St. John River Distant from colonial government in Halifax Lacked supplies during first winter (hardship, pioneer wilderness) 1784: Britain creates colony of New Brunswick, with separate colonial government & capital at Fredericton Fledgeling "loyalist" colony gradually carved out of wilderness

The Loyalist arrival: Nova Scotia 20 000 Loyalists enhance an equal number of Acadian, English & German settlers Major settlement: Port Roseway (Shelburne) - 10 000 Loyalists Poor soil forced most to move elsewhere 3000 Black Loyalists settle throughout Nova Scotia 1792: one-half leave for Sierre Leone Remaining Black Loyalists provide basis of Nova Scotia's present day African Canadian population

The Loyalist arrival: Nova Scotia Northeastern Nova Scotia also settled by Loyalists Guysborough founded by Loyalist pioneers Dorchester (Antigonish) settled by Loyalist regiment led by Colonel Timothy Hierlihy Black Loyalist settlements created at Lincolnville, Sunnyville & Upper Big Tracadie

The Loyalist arrival: Quebec Most Loyalists travelled overland from neighboring New York during American Revolution Settled south and west of Montreal, separate from French Catholic population Others settled along northern shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Peninsula 10 000 arrived by 1783 Native Loyalists among immigrants, particularly Joseph Brant and the Mohawk (Brantford) Other Six Nations (Iroquois) tribes move north into Quebec

The Loyalist arrival: Quebec 1791: British Parliament passes Constitutional Act, creating separate colonies of Upper (English Loyalist) & Lower (French Catholic) Canada Excellent farmland in Upper Canada - great potential for agriculture (wheat) and export via St. Lawrence River Most Loyalists were pioneer settlers used to wilderness conditions of colony

The Loyalist Legacy A) Transformation of British North America Creation of new colonies: New Brunswick (1784), Upper & Lower Canada (1791) First large English immigration to British North America: basis of colonial population Reinforced British system of government, land distribution, and culture

The Loyalist Legacy B) Reinforced and personalized Canada's complex relationships with Britain and the United States Loyalists preferred British institutions and imperial ties Loyalists also determined to assert their political rights Linked by family ties, historical roots, and geography to the United States

The Loyalist Legacy C) Beginning of Loyalist tradition in Canada Loyalism linked to strong conservatism in politics and society Loyalty to British Empire forms basis of political beliefs Essential basis and focus of English Canadian society created by Loyalist migration