17,394
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 11:
Line 11: + + +
no edit summary
After Britain's defeat in 1783, Seabury remained in America and declared his loyalty to the new nation, as did over 75% of the Loyalists. Indeed, he became the first Episcopal bishop in America. From the Loyalist perspective in 1775, the Loyalists were the honorable ones who stood by the Crown and the British Empire. However once independence was declared in 1776 Loyalists who continued to support the Crown were treated by the Patriots as traitors who turned against their fellow citizens and collaborated with a foreign army.
After Britain's defeat in 1783, Seabury remained in America and declared his loyalty to the new nation, as did over 75% of the Loyalists. Indeed, he became the first Episcopal bishop in America. From the Loyalist perspective in 1775, the Loyalists were the honorable ones who stood by the Crown and the British Empire. However once independence was declared in 1776 Loyalists who continued to support the Crown were treated by the Patriots as traitors who turned against their fellow citizens and collaborated with a foreign army.
The departure of so many royal officials, rich merchants and landed gentry destroyed the hierarchical networks that had dominated most of the colonies. In New York, the departure of key members of the DeLancy, DePester Walton and Cruger families undercut the interlocking families that largely owned and controlled the Hudson Valley. Likewise in Pennsylvania, the departure of powerful families--Penn, Allen, Chew, Shippen--destroyed the cohesion of the old upper class there. New men became rich merchants but they shared a spirit of republican equality that replaced the elitism and the Americans never recreated such a powerful upper class. One rich patriot in Boston noted in 1779 that "fellows who would have cleaned my shoes five years ago, have amassed fortunes and are riding in chariots."<Ref> Gordon Wood, ''The radicalism of the American Revolution'' (1991) pp. 176-77; quote on p 177.</ref>
==Loyalists in wartime==
==Loyalists in wartime==