Patriots

Examples of Patriots in the following topics:

• The Patriots

  • Patriots were members of the 13 British colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution.
  • These Patriots rejected the lack of representation of colonists in the British Parliament and the imposition of British taxes.
  • During the Revolutionary War, Patriots sought to gain formal acknowledgment of this policy through independence.
  • Patriots were also known as American Whigs, Revolutionaries, Congress-Men, and Rebels.
  • The Sons of Liberty were the earliest Patriots and incited the Boston Tea Party.

• Equality and its Limits

  • Americans remained Loyalists or joined the Patriot cause based on which side they thought would best promote their interests.
  • As part of his study, he contrasted these traits to those characteristic of the Patriots.
  • Labaree also wrote that Loyalists were pessimists who lacked the confidence in the future displayed by the Patriots.
  • Like the Loyalists, the leaders of the Patriots were men of educated, propertied classes.
  • Most yeomen farmers, craftsmen, and small merchants joined the Patriot cause to demand more political equality.

• Burgoyne's Army and the Battle of Saratoga

  • General John Burgoyne, in an attempt to isolate the northern colonies, was defeated by Patriot troops in the Battle of Saratoga.
  • In the fall of 1777, the Battles of Saratoga changed the course of the American War of Independence, giving the Patriots the advantage.
  • The Patriots also destroyed food sources and other provisions, limiting British access to local resources.
  • Patriot militia forces continued to arrive, swelling the size of the American army to over 15,000 men.
  • In October 1777, General Burgoyne surrendered his Army to the Patriots at Saratoga.

• Britain's War

  • These German soldiers became known as "Hessians" to the Patriots and were viewed as mercenaries.
  • Many speculated that he harbored sympathies for the Patriots due to the influence of his American wife.
  • Therefore, many Patriot defeats were quickly reversed on the ground when Patriot militia occupied formerly captured land because British regulars could not sufficiently cover the area.
  • Because Loyalists came from the same communities as Patriots, extreme measures could not be taken on the ground for fear of alienating local support for the British crown.
  • Nonetheless, many neutral colonists were driven to the Patriot cause as a result of heavy brutality, making a single American victory on the battlefield more psychologically significant to Patriot morale and support than a string of British successes in the long term.

• The Loyalists

  • Although some Canadians took up arms in support of the Patriots, the majority remained loyal to the King.
  • The Patriots mirrored this tactic by offering freedom to slaves serving in the Continental Army.
  • By July 4, 1776, Patriots controlled the majority of territory within the 13 colonies and had expelled all royal officials.
  • For example, during early 1775 in South Carolina back-country, Loyalist recruitment outpaced that of the Patriots.
  • This image from the early 20th century depicts the friction between Loyalist and Patriot sympathizers.

• Nonconsumption and the Daughters of Liberty

  • They were recognized as patriotic heroines for their success, making America less dependent on British textiles.
  • In the countryside, while Patriots supported the non-importation movements of 1765 and 1769, the Daughters of Liberty continued to support American resistance.
  • In 1774, the Patriot women helped influence a decision made by the Continental Congress to boycott all British goods.
  • Patriotic women like this used their spinning and weaving skills to reduce the colonies' dependency on British textiles.

• Slavery and the Revolution

  • Freedom was the main motivation for the black slave whether joining either the Patriot or British army.
  • Some African Americans were captured from the Royal Navy and used by the Patriots on their vessels.
  • This action was adopted by the Continental Congress when they took over the Patriot Army.

• State Constitutions

  • Patriots, as they gained control of formerly Loyalist territories, devised constitutions to determine governance in these new states.
  • Following the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, Patriots had gained control of most of Massachusetts.
  • In all 13 colonies, Patriots had overthrown their existing governments, closing courts and driving British governors, agents, and supporters from their homes.

• Fighting for Liberty

  • In April 1775 at Lexington and Concord, blacks again responded to the call and fought with Patriot forces .
  • The Battle of Bunker Hill also had African American soldiers, fighting along the side of the white Patriots.
  • Many African Americans both enslaved and free wanted to join with the Patriots, believing that it would either lead to their freedom or expand their civil rights.
  • Some African Americans had been captured from the Royal Navy and used by the Patriots on their vessels.
  • This action was adopted by the Continental Congress when they took over the Patriot Army.

• Women in the Revolution

  • Housewives routinely used their purchasing power to support the Patriot cause by refusing to purchase British manufactured goods for use in their homes.
  • The tea boycott, for example, was a relatively mild way for a woman to identify herself and her household as part of the Patriot war effort.
  • In addition to boycotts of British goods, Patriot women participated in the Homespun Movement.
  • During the Revolution, buying American products became a patriotic gesture.
  • Notable Patriots who served in this manner include Deborah Champion, Sara Decker Haligowski, Harriet Prudence Patterson Hall, and Lydia Darraugh.