Final answer:
Loyalists during the American Revolution had their loyalties and identities tied with Britain, hence the expression about their heads being in England. Many had significant material and political ties to Britain which influenced their stance during the conflict. After the war, a significant number of Loyalists chose to leave the new United States, unable to align their allegiance with the independent nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Loyalists during the American Revolution were described as "having their heads in England" because while they were physically present in the American colonies, their loyalties, cultural affinities, and often their economic interests remained closely tied with Great Britain. This expression metaphorically captures the conflicted state of Loyalists who were living in America but whose allegiance and sense of identity were strongly connected to the British crown and the British constitution.
Many Loyalists included royal officials and merchants who stood to lose materially and politically from a break with Britain. Others simply disliked their local rivals who supported the Revolution, feeling these revolutionaries were self-serving and would abuse the political change for their own gain. In different regions, such as New York's Hudson Valley, social dynamics, like resentment among tenants towards Revolutionary landlords, turned some towards loyalty to the British Empire.
After the war, approximately 80,000 Loyalists chose to evacuate with the British forces because they could not reconcile their allegiance to Britain with living in the newly independent United States. Despite efforts to ensure fair treatment post-war, such sentiments persisted, demonstrating the depth of the Loyalists' convictions. Their crucial contributions to the British cause, whether it be in the form of military service, civil unrest, or espionage, highlight the complexity of the American War of Independence and its aftermath.