Theme: The Loyalists 1775-1783 By Ms. Sally M. JOHNSON © 2013

Introduction The main objective of this presentation is talk about the Loyalist and the impact they had on the Bahamas. Areas we are going to cover are Who were the Loyalists? And the immediate effects the American War of Independence had on them

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies on the North American continent allied with Foreign nations. Not all Americans wanted to break away from Britain as they felt that Britain was a major power that could not be defeated. Therefore America became divided In favour of independence: was called the Rebels Opposed to independence was called the Loyalists

(Who were the Loyalist? The Loyalist also known as the Tories. In 1776 America declared independence from England. People of America did not want to be ruled by England anymore. The Loyalist were those people who wanted to remain under British Rule The Loyalists were those who favoured or sided with the British during the American war of Independence. They were North American colonists who remained loyal subjects of the British crown during the American Revolutionary War.’ They were often referred to as Tories , "Royalists or King's Men". Later after the war those Loyalists that did not want to remain in the new USA and settled in what would become Canada were given the hereditary title of United Empire Loyalists.

They were North American colonists who remained loyal subjects of the British crown during the American Revolutionary War. They were often referred to as Tories , "Royalists or King's Men". Later after the war those Loyalists that did not want to remain in the new USA and settled in what would become Canada were given the hereditary title of United Empire Loyalists. Their colonial opponents, who supported the Revolution, were called Rebels, Patriots or Whigs, but generally just thought of themselves as free Americans

Why Remain Loyal to a Cause? The Loyalists opposed the Revolution for a number of reasons. Some believed that the British government had the right to ask the colonies to pay half the cost of their own defence even without having direct representation in the British Parliament Loyalists also opposed parliamentary taxation, but did not consider violent opposition justified. Even if they had some sympathy with the revolutionaries, they often became Loyalists out of outrage at the excesses of the "rebels" and the persecutions they suffered for refusing to actively support the rebellion They were older, better established, and resisted radical change. They felt that rebellion against the Crown—the legitimate government—was morally wrong. .

They were alienated when the Patriots resorted to violence, such as burning houses and tarring and feathering They wanted to take a middle-of-the road position and were angry when forced by the Patriots to declare their opposition. They had a long-standing sentimental attachment to Britain (often with business and family links). They were procrastinators who realized that independence was bound to come some day, but wanted to postpone the moment, They felt that the colonial assemblies and Parliament were the only legal channels of democracy, government and reform.[citation needed] They felt themselves to be weak or threatened within American society and in need of an outside defender such as the British Crown and Parliament.[12] They lived on the frontier and relied on the peaceful land negotiations and treaties that the British Government had contracted between European settlers and Native Americans.

References Bahamian Loyalist & their Slaves Gail Saunders Bahamian Highlights Allen. G. Murray Bahamian History Book 1 & 2 Gillian Bain Bahamian Social Studies for Secondary Schools Chris Curry & Neil Sealy The Internet Google search/ Bahamian History The Making of The Bahamas Don Maples

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