American Revolution

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Student Question

How did different colonial groups respond to the Revolution, and did it increase conflict between rich and poor?

Quick answer:

Colonial responses to the Revolution varied: Patriots, who opposed British rule, were the largest group, influenced by long-standing tensions and works like Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Loyalists, about 20% of the population, included wealthy individuals and civil servants, and often required British military support. "Fence-sitters" tended to favor the dominant local side. Class divisions among whites lessened, but the status of women and black people did not improve significantly.

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Americans were divided into three groups during the war: Patriots, Loyalists, and fence-sitters. Also, by the end of the war, class divisions (among white people) had lessened in both social and economic spheres as egalitarianism became more pronounced. The war did not enhance the status of women or black people.

The Patriots were the largest group. There had been tensions with Britain for many years, and Patriots detested King George III. Also, they were influenced by Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Militarily, some contributed as militia, as at Lexington and Concord. Others fought in the Continental Army for George Washington.

Loyalists probably comprised about twenty percent of the total population, and they were a fairly diverse group. Those individuals who supported the status quo were Loyalists; this included many wealthy individuals. Civil servants employed by the Crown and Anglican ministers also tended to support London. But Loyalists came from all walks of life. The British often overestimated the number of Loyalists in an area. New York City and Philadelphia had large numbers of Loyalists; however, Loyalists were never numerous enough to control an area without the support of British troops. About 80,000 Loyalists left the American colonies during or after the war, and they were not compensated for lost properties and possessions.

Fence-sitters supported whichever side held sway in their area, but most of these leaned toward the Patriots. Colonists that were suspected of pro-London sympathies were often punished savagely.

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