Unnatural Rebellion: Loyalists in New York City During the Revolution

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Thousands of British American mainland colonists rejected the Warfor American Independence. Shunning rebel violence as unnecessary, unlawful, andunnatural, they emphasized the natural ties of blood, kinship, language, andreligion that united the colonies to Britain. They hoped that British militarystrength would crush the minority rebellion and free the colonies to renegotiatetheir return to the empire. Of course the loyalists were tooAmerican to be of one mind. This is a story of how a cross-section of colonistsflocked to the British headquarters of New York City to support their ideal ofreunion. Despised by the rebels as enemies or as British appendages, New York'srefugees hoped to partner with the British to restore peaceful government in thecolonies. The British confounded their expectations by instituting martial law inthe city and marginalizing loyalist leaders. Still, the loyal Americans did notsurrender their vision but creatively adapted their rhetoric and accommodatedmilitary governance to protect their long-standing bond with the mother country.They never imagined that allegiance to Britain would mean a permanent exile fromtheir homes.