Final answer:
Tories during the American Revolution were colonists known as Loyalists who remained loyal to the Crown of England, making up about one-third of the population and coming from various backgrounds with a variety of reasons for their loyalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the American Revolution, Tories, also known as Loyalists, were those colonists who remained loyal to the Crown of England. They represented about one-third of the American population and their loyalty was often rooted in a variety of personal, political, social, and economic interests. Loyalists included royal officials, merchants with strong business ties to Britain, and others who feared the loss of land or protection should the revolutionaries succeed. After the war, many Loyalists were compelled to flee, moving to England, Canada, or the West Indies.
In contrast to the Tories, the revolutionaries, also referred to as Patriots or Whigs, encompassed a wide cross-section of colonial society and were united by their desire for independence from British rule. The term that describes German soldiers hired by Great Britain during the American Revolution is not related to the Tories; thus the correct answer to the given question is D. loyal to the Crown of England.