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'''Loyalists''' were colonists who remained loyal subjects of the British crown as the 13 American colonies declared independence in 1776 and became the United States of America. Loyalists refused to support independence, and sometimes joined Loyalist regiments set up by the British to defeat the [[American Revolution]]. Loyalists at the time were also called '''[[Tories]]''', '''King's Men,''' or '''Royalists.''' Those Loyalists who left and resettled in [[Canada]] called themselves the [[United Empire Loyalists]]. Their colonial opponents, who supported the Revolution, were called Patriots, Whigs, Rebels, Congress Men, or, in view of their loyalty to the new United States of America, just Americans.  Historians have estimated that about 15-20% of the white population may have been Loyalists (that is, about 500,000), but there are no exact numbers. <ref> An 1813 statement by [[John Adams]], in which he said that one-third of the people supported the revolution, refers to the '''French''' revolution in the 1790s.[http://hnn.us/articles/5641.html] </ref>

'''Loyalists''' were colonists who remained loyal subjects of the British crown as the thirteen American colonies declared independence in 1776 and became the United States of America. Loyalists refused to support independence, and sometimes joined Loyalist regiments set up by the British to defeat the [[American Revolution]]. Loyalists at the time were also called '''[[Tories]]''', '''King's Men,''' or '''Royalists.''' Those Loyalists who left and resettled in [[Canada]] called themselves the [[United Empire Loyalists]]. Their colonial opponents, who supported the Revolution, were called Patriots, Whigs, Rebels, Congress Men, or, in view of their loyalty to the new United States of America, just Americans.  Historians have estimated that about 15-20% of the white population may have been Loyalists (that is, about 500,000), but there are no exact numbers. <ref> An 1813 statement by [[John Adams]], in which he said that one-third of the people supported the revolution, refers to the '''French''' revolution in the 1790s.[http://hnn.us/articles/5641.html] </ref>

The Loyalists were conservatives who rejected the radicalism of the new nation; those who went to Canada resisted democracy there and became famous for their loyalty to the British crown, their admiration of royalty and aristocracy, and their anti-Americanism.  The great majority of Loyalists remained in the United States, but their political beliefs had very little or no impact on the anti-aristocratic [[republicanism]] that became central to American values.

The Loyalists were conservatives who rejected the radicalism of the new nation; those who went to Canada resisted democracy there and became famous for their loyalty to the British crown, their admiration of royalty and aristocracy, and their anti-Americanism.  The great majority of Loyalists remained in the United States, but their political beliefs had very little or no impact on the anti-aristocratic [[republicanism]] that became central to American values.