Final answer:
High-profile colonists loyal to the British Crown were known as Loyalists or Tories, constituting around one-third of the American population during the Revolution. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
High-profile colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War were known as Loyalists or Tories, as they were termed by the Patriots. Loyalists included a broad cross-section of the population and accounted for about one-third of the American population at the time, though estimates vary.
Their choice to remain loyal was based on various reasons, including fear of losing land, the economic consequences of breaking away from Britain, and the protection provided by the British army against Native American threats. Loyalists often faced being a minority in their communities, and after the war, many fled to England, Canada, or the West Indies.