What was a Patriot?

Patriots were people who wanted the American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. They wanted their own country called the United States.

Why did people become patriots?

People in the Americas felt they weren't being treated fairly by the British. They were being taxed without any say or representation in the British government. Soon cries for "liberty" were being heard throughout the colonies. The patriots wanted freedom from British rule.

Famous Patriots

Who was a Loyalist?

Not everyone who lived in the American colonies wanted to break away from the British. There were many people who wanted to stay part of Britain and remain British citizens. These people were called loyalists.

Why did some people remain loyal?

Many people felt that their lives would be better off if the colonies remained under British rule. Some of these people were simply afraid to go up against the might of the British army. Others had business interests in England and knew that English trade was important to the economy. Still others thought that British rule would be better than patriot rule.

Famous Loyalists