Final answer:
Loyalists in colonial America were individuals who supported the British government during the American Revolution. They made up about one-third of the population and came from various backgrounds. Loyalists were concerned about the impact of the revolution on their personal rights and interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Loyalists in colonial America were individuals who chose to support the British government and opposed the patriot cause during the American Revolution. They made up about one-third of the American population and came from various backgrounds, including both American-born and European-born individuals. Loyalists tended to live in urban centers, especially port cities, and were often members of the Anglican Church. They saw the revolution as a threat to their personal political, social, and economic rights and feared the consequences of breaking with Britain.
Some loyalists, such as Highland Scots and Germans, were concerned about losing land granted by the crown if they sided with the revolutionaries. Merchants and shippers feared the economic consequences of terminating their relationship with Britain. Frontier farmers relied on the British army to protect them from Indians. Loyalists often found themselves in the minority within their communities and depended on the support of the royal government.
For example, some loyalists opted to support the British government during the war because they believed it would protect their interests and ensure their rights. Many loyalists, including royal officials and merchants with business ties to Great Britain, viewed themselves as defenders of the British constitution. Some loyalists were motivated by resentment towards local business and political rivals who supported the revolution. They saw the rebels as hypocrites and schemers who used the break with the British Empire to further their own fortunes.