Loyalist or Rebel?
During the American Revolution, North America was divided into 2 large groups - the Loyalists and the Rebels. The Loyalists, for various reasons, “stay true” to the British Crown. The rebels, for their own reasons, want to form a new country independent of England.
The purpose of this exercise is to determine who would be a Loyalist and who a Rebel. In answering the questions below for each of the people, you will need to form an image of who remain loyal and who wanted a rebellion.
A. A rich merchant of New York, responsible for an import/export company
B. A rich farmer in Virginia, responsible for a huge plantation with 200 slaves.
C. A poor farmer of the South Carolina , working very hard but is still poor.
D. A slave who work on a huge plantation, who was whipped for looking at "the master" in the eyes.
E. A slave who work in the House of a rich farmer. A slave, she still has a pleasant life and is a close friend of the mistress of the House (wife of the farmer).
F. A native who lives near the Great Lakes, fears the dramatic growth and magnitude and expansion of the 13 colonies.
G. An immigrant from Boston, who lives in Quebec as a merchant between Boston and Quebec. He is middle class.
1. Why would a Loyalist remain loyal?
(a) personal reasons (family)
(b) economic reasons
(c) other
2. Why would a Rebel be ready to risk everything to form a new country.
(a) personal reasons (family)
(b) economic reasons
(c) others
3 What do you think the division (a %) between Rebel and Loyalist in the Americas during the revolution would be? Why?