American historyLesson 1 of 1 in the course America's War for Independence, 1775-1783

Loyalists, Black Freedom, Native Nations, and Patriot Mobilization in the Revolution

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The American Revolution was not only a war between Britain and its colonies; it also created conflicts within colonial communities. This lesson explores why some colonists remained loyal to Britain, how revolutionary governments treated Loyalists, and what happened to many of them after the war.

Historians disagree about the exact percentage of colonists who were Loyalists. Estimates range from about 20 percent to more than 30 percent. A broad estimate suggests that roughly one-third supported Britain, one-third committed to independence, and one-third tried to avoid taking sides.

All flashcards

Confiscation acts
State laws authorizing the seizure of Loyalist land and possessions.
Emancipation
The act or process of freeing a person from slavery.
Continental currency
Paper money used by the revolutionary government to help finance the war.
Loyalist migration
The postwar departure of many Loyalists from the new United States.
Women’s wartime contributions
Work sustaining households, supplying troops, fundraising, protesting prices, and sometimes fighting.

Quiz questions

  1. What did the British offer enslaved people who reached British lines and supported their cause?Answer: Freedom from enslavement, though the offer did not guarantee safety or an easy escape.
  2. What effect did the Treaty of Paris have on Native territorial interests?Answer: It gave the United States claims to vast lands Native peoples inhabited and regarded as their own.
  3. By 1781, how much Continental currency was worth one dollar in gold?Answer: 146 Continental dollars
  4. How many colonists left the United States after the Revolution, according to the upper estimate?Answer: As many as 100,000
  5. How did George Washington initially respond to enslaved people seeking to serve in the Continental Army?Answer: He initially refused to let enslaved people serve, though he allowed free Black men to serve.

Based on U.S. History by P. Scott Corbett, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, Paul Vickery (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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