Michael Brooks
The term 'Loyalist' has been used in various contexts throughout history, including the American Revolution, Irish politics, and Northern Ireland's conflict. In the American Revolution, Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and remained loyal to the British Crown, including royal officials, Anglican clergymen, wealthy merchants, and ordinary colonists with conservative views. Many Loyalists fled to other parts of the British Empire, while those who stayed retained their property and became American citizens. In Irish politics, the term 'Loyalist' was first used in the 1790s to refer to Protestants who opposed Catholic Emancipation and Irish independence from the British Empire. Ulster Loyalism emerged in the late 19th century in response to the Irish Home Rule movement and Irish nationalism, emphasizing their British Protestant heritage. During the Northern Ireland conflict, Loyalists were associated with working-class Ulster Protestants who supported Northern Ireland's continued existence within the United Kingdom and opposed a united Ireland. Loyalist paramilitaries were involved in attacks on Catholics and republican groups, contributing to the deepening of sectarianism and violence during the Troubles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | In the context of the American Revolution, Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and chose to remain loyal to the British Crown. In the Irish context, Loyalists are Protestants who opposed Catholic Emancipation and Irish independence from the British Empire. |
| Population | Historians estimate that Loyalists constituted 15-20% of the white colonial population during the American Revolution, with Patriots making up 40-50% and the rest being neutrals. |
| Migration | After the American Revolution, about 15% of Loyalists (65,000-70,000 people) migrated to other parts of the British Empire, particularly Britain and British North America. |
| Compensation | Loyalists who left the US received financial compensation from the British government, totaling over £3 million or about 37% of their losses. |
| Property | Loyalists who remained in the US were generally able to retain their property and became American citizens. |
| Religion | Loyalists are primarily loyal to the Protestant British monarchy and emphasize their British Protestant heritage. They are often opposed to Catholic civil rights movements and Irish republicanism. |
| Political Affiliation | Loyalists support the continued existence of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom and oppose a united independent Ireland. |
| Nationalism | Loyalists exhibit a form of ethnic nationalism, emphasizing their Ulster Protestant identity and heritage. |
| Paramilitary Associations | Loyalist paramilitaries, such as the UVF and UDA, have been involved in attacks on Catholics and republican groups. |
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What You'll Learn
- During the American Revolution, Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and remained loyal to the king
- Loyalists included royal officials, Anglican clergymen, wealthy merchants with ties to London, demobilised British soldiers, and recent arrivals
- In the 1970s, Loyalist paramilitaries killed over 370 Catholic civilians in Northern Ireland
- Loyalists opposed the Catholic civil rights movement, accusing it of being a republican front
- Historians estimate that between 15% and 20% of the white colonial population were Loyalists
During the American Revolution, Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and remained loyal to the king
Many Loyalists were forced to flee to other parts of the British Empire, especially to the Kingdom of Great Britain or British North America, where they became known as United Empire Loyalists. They were compensated with Canadian land or British cash distributed through formal claims procedures. Those who remained in the US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens, and many eventually returned after the war.
The Loyalist communities were rarely unanimous in their politics, and historians estimate that Loyalists made up between 15-20% of the colonial population, while Patriots accounted for about 40-50%, and the rest remained neutral. This high level of political polarisation leads historians to argue that the American Revolution was as much a civil war as it was a war of independence.
The term 'Loyalist' has also been used in the context of Northern Ireland to refer to those who support the continued existence of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom and oppose a united Ireland independent of the UK. Loyalists in Northern Ireland are typically associated with militant opposition to Irish republicanism and Roman Catholicism, emphasising their Ulster Protestant identity and heritage. This has resulted in communal violence between Loyalists and Catholics, with Loyalist paramilitaries carrying out attacks on Catholic civilians.
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Loyalists included royal officials, Anglican clergymen, wealthy merchants with ties to London, demobilised British soldiers, and recent arrivals
The American Revolution saw colonists with Loyalist views account for 15-20% of the white colonial population. Loyalists included royal officials, Anglican clergymen, wealthy merchants with ties to London, demobilised British soldiers, and recent arrivals.
Royal officials and Anglican clergymen were among those who remained loyal to the crown. The British military strategy during the revolution relied on mobilising loyalist soldiers, and over 19,000 loyalist line regiments were formed, with a total strength of 50,000 including militia and marine forces. Demobilised British soldiers who had served in these regiments would have been among the Loyalist ranks.
Wealthy merchants with ties to London were also among the Loyalists. The revolution saw the rise of new rich merchants who shared a spirit of republican equality. However, some wealthy merchants remained loyal to the crown, and some of Boston's wealthiest families, such as the Ervings, Winslows, Clarks, and Lloyds, were banished from Massachusetts in 1778.
Recent arrivals, especially from Scotland, were more likely to be Loyalists. Highland Scots in the Carolinas and recent immigrants to the colonies were among those who remained loyal to the king.
The Loyalists who left the US received financial compensation from the British government, and many became the founders of modern English-speaking Canada. Those who stayed in the US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens.
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In the 1970s, Loyalist paramilitaries killed over 370 Catholic civilians in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland conflict, also known as 'The Troubles', was a violent and complex conflict that lasted from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. The conflict involved multiple armed and political actors, including republican and loyalist paramilitaries, the British state and its security forces, and political activists. Loyalist paramilitaries, such as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), were responsible for the deaths of over 370 Catholic civilians in the 1970s.
Loyalists in Northern Ireland are generally characterised by their militant opposition to Irish republicanism and Roman Catholicism, and their strong support for the political union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The term loyalist was first used in Irish politics in the 1790s to refer to Protestant Irishmen who opposed Catholic Emancipation and Irish independence from the British Empire. In the context of the Northern Ireland conflict, loyalists were predominantly Protestant and unionist, and their violence targeted Catholic civilians, although they also claimed to be halting republican violence against the state.
The 1970s saw a rise in membership of loyalist paramilitary organisations, with groups like the UDA and UVF growing in numbers. Loyalist paramilitaries became increasingly indiscriminate during the period 1974-1976, carrying out shootings and bombings that resulted in the deaths of Catholic civilians. The Dublin and Monaghan bombings in May 1974, for example, killed 33 people and were carried out by the UVF, although they did not admit responsibility until 1993. Loyalist paramilitaries also imported weapons and explosives from outside sources, including Canada and South Africa, and received support from Protestant groups in Canada, England, and Scotland.
The conflict caused a deepening of sectarianism, particularly in working-class urban areas, where peace walls were built to separate Catholic and Protestant communities. The violence perpetrated by loyalist paramilitaries resulted in the killing of significant numbers of Catholic civilians, with far fewer loyalist militants imprisoned compared to republicans. There have also been persistent allegations of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and state forces, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the Ulster Defence Regiment, and British Army intelligence.
The latter half of the 1970s and the 1980s witnessed a shift towards assassinations and acts of terrorism carried out by loyalist paramilitaries, with a focus on targeting Catholic civilians in Ireland. Despite a lull in loyalist activity in the late 1970s, the killing of large numbers of Catholics resumed in the 1980s. The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 marked the end of The Troubles, with both loyalist paramilitaries and the IRA calling ceasefires and engaging in multi-party talks about the future of Northern Ireland.
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Loyalists opposed the Catholic civil rights movement, accusing it of being a republican front
The term 'Loyalist' has been used in different historical contexts, one of which is in reference to the American Revolution, where Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and chose to remain loyal to the British Crown. In this context, Loyalists were often associated with Anglican clergymen, royal officials, wealthy merchants with ties to London, demobilized British soldiers, and recent arrivals, particularly from Scotland.
In the context of Northern Ireland, Loyalists typically refer to Ulster Loyalists, who are associated with militant opposition to Irish republicanism and Roman Catholicism. They strongly support the political union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and emphasize Ulster Protestant identity.
During the Northern Ireland conflict, Loyalist paramilitaries, such as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), were responsible for attacks on Catholics, often claiming them as retaliation for republican actions. Loyalists accused the Catholic civil rights movement of being a republican front and opposed it through counter-protests, attacks on marches, and false flag bombings. This unrest culminated in the August 1969 riots, which are often seen as the beginning of the Troubles.
The Troubles in Northern Ireland witnessed a deepening of sectarianism, particularly in working-class urban areas, where 'peace walls' still separate Catholic and Protestant communities. Loyalist paramilitaries targeted Catholic civilians, often justifying their actions as retaliation for IRA activities, given the Catholic community's support for the IRA. This violence resulted in a significant death toll among Catholic civilians.
The conflict in Northern Ireland was complex, involving multiple armed and political actors, including state forces such as the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the British Army, and the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). The Loyalist opposition to the Catholic civil rights movement, accusing it of being a republican front, was a significant aspect of the sectarian tensions during this tumultuous period in Northern Ireland's history.
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Historians estimate that between 15% and 20% of the white colonial population were Loyalists
Loyalists included a diverse range of individuals, from royal officials and wealthy merchants to ordinary colonists with conservative views or a belief in the protection offered by Britain. Many Loyalists fled to other parts of the British Empire, particularly the Kingdom of Great Britain and British North America, where they became known as United Empire Loyalists. They were compensated with Canadian land or British cash.
The migration of Loyalists led to the founding of modern English-speaking Canada, and their descendants still identify with the nominal hereditary title "UEL" (United Empire Loyalist). The term "Loyalist" has also been used in other contexts, such as in Northern Ireland, where it refers to militant opposition to Irish republicanism and, often, Roman Catholicism.
In the context of the American Revolution, the high level of political polarisation between Loyalists and Patriots (those supporting the revolution) led historians to argue that the conflict was as much a civil war as it was a war of independence from the British Crown. The polarisation caused divisions within families, with some members remaining loyal to the Crown while others supported the revolution.
It is worth noting that, while Loyalists were a significant minority, the majority of white colonists were not actively involved in the struggle. Approximately half of the colonists of European ancestry tried to avoid involvement, including deliberate pacifists, recent immigrants, and apolitical individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
In the context of the American Revolution, Loyalists were colonists who rejected the revolution and chose to remain loyal to the British king. Loyalists included royal officials, Anglican clergymen, wealthy merchants with ties to London, demobilized British soldiers, and recent arrivals from Scotland, as well as many ordinary colonists who were conservative or felt they needed Britain's protection.
Many Loyalists fled to other parts of the British Empire, especially to the Kingdom of Great Britain or British North America. Those who left the US received compensation from the British government in the form of Canadian land or British cash. Loyalists who stayed in the US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens.
Ulster Loyalism emerged in the late 19th century in response to the Irish Home Rule movement and the rise of Irish nationalism. Ulster Loyalists are working-class Protestants in Northern Ireland who support Northern Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom and oppose a united Ireland independent of the UK. They emphasize their Ulster Protestant heritage and are often militantly opposed to Irish republicanism and Roman Catholicism.
During the Northern Ireland conflict, Loyalist paramilitaries often attacked Catholics, leading to a deepening of sectarianism. Loyalist paramilitaries killed over 370 Catholic civilians between 1974 and 1976. However, some sources note that for individuals who were once Loyalist paramilitaries, being Catholic was never an issue in their interactions.
