Patriots- colonists who wanted to break away from British rule
Loyalists- colonists who wanted to remain part of the British empire
As the colonists approached revolution against the British, many colonists were still undecided on whether they were patriots or loyalists. Some people, especially those in Boston, where British taxes and other laws were felt the most, were very much in support of protesting British laws and the possibility of breaking away from the British altogether. Other colonists were very happy to be part of the British empire, and had no desire to fight a war against the most powerful country in the world.
If you lived during this time period, would you have been a loyalist or a patriot?
Explain why- What might you say to convince people of the opposite view point to join your side? Be specific (Think about class discussions and the webquest).
***Remember: Not everyone lived in Boston. People further away from busy port cities like Boston barely noticed or cared about the taxes imposed by the British, especially in the Southern Colonies. Life in the colonies was pretty good for most of the people- Taxes were actually lower than the taxes people living in England paid, you had a steady trading partner in England, you were allowed to practice your own religion, you had your own land.
