The United Empire The United Empire LoyalistsLoyalists

British North America & The Aftermath British North America & The Aftermath of the American Revolutionof the American Revolution

Who were the Loyalists?Who were the Loyalists?

50 000 came to remaining 50 000 came to remaining British colonies British colonies during/after the American during/after the American RevolutionRevolution

Very diverse group - Very diverse group - white, African, nativewhite, African, native

Varied backgrounds - Varied backgrounds - wealthy/ poor, business/ wealthy/ poor, business/ agriculture, urban/ruralagriculture, urban/rural

various political beliefs, various political beliefs, from strong monarchists from strong monarchists to supporters of the to supporters of the "rights of Englishmen""rights of Englishmen"

Who were the Loyalists?Who were the Loyalists?Common bond: decision to Common bond: decision to remain loyal to Britain during/ remain loyal to Britain during/ after American Revolutionafter American Revolution

Common experience: persecuted, Common experience: persecuted, jailed, property confiscated jailed, property confiscated during revolutionduring revolution

Common sense of identity and a Common sense of identity and a feeling that Britain owed them feeling that Britain owed them something because of their something because of their suffering and sacrificesuffering and sacrifice

50 000 took shelter in New York 50 000 took shelter in New York as revolution ends (evacuated by as revolution ends (evacuated by Quebec Governor Sir Guy Quebec Governor Sir Guy Carleton, later named Lord Carleton, later named Lord Dorchester)Dorchester)

Most travel north to the Most travel north to the remaining British coloniesremaining British colonies

The Loyalist arrival: New BrunswickThe Loyalist arrival: New Brunswick

1783: 15 000 Loyalists settle 1783: 15 000 Loyalists settle along St. John Riveralong St. John River

Distant from colonial Distant from colonial government in Halifaxgovernment in Halifax

Lacked supplies during first Lacked supplies during first winter (hardship, pioneer winter (hardship, pioneer wilderness)wilderness)

1784: Britain creates colony of 1784: Britain creates colony of New Brunswick, with separate New Brunswick, with separate colonial government & capital at colonial government & capital at FrederictonFredericton

Fledgeling "loyalist" colony Fledgeling "loyalist" colony gradually carved out of gradually carved out of wilderness wilderness

The Loyalist arrival: Nova ScotiaThe Loyalist arrival: Nova Scotia

20 000 Loyalists enhance an equal 20 000 Loyalists enhance an equal number of Acadian, English & number of Acadian, English & German settlersGerman settlers

Major settlement: Port Roseway Major settlement: Port Roseway (Shelburne) - 10 000 Loyalists(Shelburne) - 10 000 Loyalists

Poor soil forced most to move Poor soil forced most to move elsewhereelsewhere

3000 Black Loyalists settle 3000 Black Loyalists settle throughout Nova Scotiathroughout Nova Scotia

1792: one-half leave for Sierre 1792: one-half leave for Sierre LeoneLeone

Remaining Black Loyalists provide Remaining Black Loyalists provide basis of Nova Scotia's present day basis of Nova Scotia's present day African Canadian population African Canadian population

The Loyalist arrival: Nova ScotiaThe Loyalist arrival: Nova Scotia

Northeastern Nova Northeastern Nova Scotia also settled by Scotia also settled by LoyalistsLoyalists

Guysborough founded Guysborough founded by Loyalist pioneersby Loyalist pioneers

Dorchester (Antigonish) Dorchester (Antigonish) settled by Loyalist settled by Loyalist regiment led by Colonel regiment led by Colonel Timothy HierlihyTimothy Hierlihy

Black Loyalist Black Loyalist settlements created at settlements created at Lincolnville, Sunnyville Lincolnville, Sunnyville & Upper Big Tracadie& Upper Big Tracadie

The Loyalist arrival: QuebecThe Loyalist arrival: Quebec

Most Loyalists travelled overland Most Loyalists travelled overland from neighboring New York during from neighboring New York during American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Settled south and west of Montreal, Settled south and west of Montreal, separate from French Catholic separate from French Catholic populationpopulation

Others settled along northern shore Others settled along northern shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara of Lake Ontario and the Niagara PeninsulaPeninsula

10 000 arrived by 178310 000 arrived by 1783Native Loyalists among immigrants, Native Loyalists among immigrants, particularly Joseph Brant and the particularly Joseph Brant and the Mohawk (Brantford)Mohawk (Brantford)

Other Six Nations (Iroquois) tribes Other Six Nations (Iroquois) tribes move north into Quebecmove north into Quebec

The Loyalist arrival: QuebecThe Loyalist arrival: Quebec

1791: British Parliament passes 1791: British Parliament passes Constitutional Act, creating Constitutional Act, creating separate colonies of Upper separate colonies of Upper (English Loyalist) & Lower (French (English Loyalist) & Lower (French Catholic) CanadaCatholic) Canada

Excellent farmland in Upper Excellent farmland in Upper Canada - great potential for Canada - great potential for agriculture (wheat) and export via agriculture (wheat) and export via St. Lawrence RiverSt. Lawrence River

Most Loyalists were pioneer Most Loyalists were pioneer settlers used to wilderness settlers used to wilderness conditions of colonyconditions of colony

The Loyalist LegacyThe Loyalist Legacy

A) Transformation of British A) Transformation of British North AmericaNorth America

Creation of new colonies: New Creation of new colonies: New Brunswick (1784), Upper & Brunswick (1784), Upper & Lower Canada (1791)Lower Canada (1791)

First large English immigration First large English immigration to British North America: basis of to British North America: basis of colonial populationcolonial population

Reinforced British system of Reinforced British system of government, land distribution, government, land distribution, and cultureand culture

The Loyalist LegacyThe Loyalist Legacy

B) Reinforced and B) Reinforced and personalized Canada's personalized Canada's complex relationships with complex relationships with Britain and the United Britain and the United StatesStates

Loyalists preferred British Loyalists preferred British institutions and imperial tiesinstitutions and imperial ties

Loyalists also determined to Loyalists also determined to assert their political rightsassert their political rights

Linked by family ties, Linked by family ties, historical roots, and historical roots, and geography to the United geography to the United StatesStates

The Loyalist LegacyThe Loyalist Legacy

C) Beginning of Loyalist C) Beginning of Loyalist tradition in Canadatradition in Canada

Loyalism linked to strong Loyalism linked to strong conservatism in politics conservatism in politics and societyand society

Loyalty to British Empire Loyalty to British Empire forms basis of political forms basis of political beliefsbeliefs

Essential basis and focus Essential basis and focus of English Canadian of English Canadian society created by Loyalist society created by Loyalist migrationmigration