Title: Patriots vs. Loyalists: A Whole New Ballgame!
Created by: Mike Clemens
Grade Level: High School, AP
Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the differences between a Patriot and a
Loyalist
2. Create a “Dueling Voices” poem based on the poem “Booker T. and
W.E.B. by Dudley Randall
3. Can discuss consequences of being a Loyalist in the colonies
4. Students will complete a persuasive letter to a colonist or Englishman
from the viewpoint of a Patriot or Loyalist
Materials:
1. Copy of the poem by Dudley Randall
2. Primary and secondary sources
3. Copy of letter process
Rational:
“America’s First Civil War” This phrase underscores the divisive internal conflict
that separated the inhabitants of British North America from one another between
1775 and 1783. By studying primary and secondary sources students will be able
to arrive at a satisfactory definition for the term Patriot and Loyalist. They will
consider the reasons and motivations behind Patriot and Loyalist social and
political activity. With a partner they will complete a “Dueling Voices” poem
demonstrating their understanding of each term. And finally demonstrate a deeper
understanding by writing a persuasive letter to a colonist or Englishman from the
viewpoint of a Patriot or Loyalist. Many of the above activities should enable the
students to formulate an opinion as to the results of the internal social upheaval
that shook the American colonies, creating a new social order that was spawned by
the rebellion. And in the final analysis, whose interests were served by the
Revolution.
Procedure:
1. Introduce the topic by placing a transparency on the overhead showing
the tar and feathering of a British Tax Collector. Ask the students to
identify the characters in the overhead and introduce two new terms:
Patriot and Loyalist by placing them on the board. Hold a brief
discussion asking student to define these terms. Explain to the students
that these terms represent more than just definitions, that they represent a
social upheaval in America. Assign appropriate reading in the textbook
as background knowledge.
2. Introduce the writing of the poem:
a. Ask students to define the word “dueling”, list responses on the
board and discuss.
b. Explain that the students will be writing “Dueling Poetry”
c. The “Duel” will be between pairs of students – in each pair, one
student will represent a Patriot, who will discuss his loyalty to the
13 Colonies, while the other will be a Loyalist and explain their
loyalty to the Crown.
d. The poem will follow the format of “Booker T. and W.E.B.” which
lends its structure to dueling voices. Distribute the poem and chose
two students to read to the class.
e. Discuss the poem making clear to the students that content, as well
as voice and word choice, is important in this style of poetry.
f. Distribute basic knowledge information to all students.
g. Answer and questions, then allow students to work, remainder of
class period
3. The next class meeting should allow time for pairs to meet, discuss and
fine tune their poems.
4. Have volunteers read their poems, when all groups have finished list
reasoning on the board and discuss.
5. Introduction of writing activity (Extension #1)
a. Discuss the topic of Persuasive Writing; make sure to point out the
difference between reason/logic and emotion. Use examples from
real life.
b. This follow-up activity will take several days to complete as
several steps are involved
c. Distribute to students the hand-outs and web sites:
The Case of The American Loyalists briefly stated.
Loyalist vs. Patriot
Document Set 3 The Fate of the Loyalists: The Other
American, pages at end of document
http://www.zuska.simplenet.com/USProjects/DBQs1999/MyD
BQ-1999-RevolutionAsCivilWar.htm
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/seminar/unit1/part3.html
The Patriots and General American Revolution Sites
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/mcchtml/corhome.html Words
and Deeds in American History
6. Rough Draft #1(Focus-Ideas to Paper/Brainstorming)
a. Students are to write a letter (as either a Patriot or Loyalist) to
someone on the other side, in order to convince them that their side
is the side to be on when the Revolution starts.
b. Step One; Create a list of examples/details/evidence to help
support your point of view
c. Read through your notes on Persuasive Writing
d. Write your letter using proper format
e. In class student will read their rough draft and pull out the key
points using the Persuasive Letter Outline. Students are to jot down
a few notes about their weaknesses on this draft. Students will then
turn in this draft and write a brand new rough draft. It may be very
similar. It can be different.
7. Rough Draft #2 (Focus-Ideas to Paper)
a. Write another draft from the same perspective ( 1 evening)
b. Complete persuasive letter outline for draft #2
8. Rough Draft #3(Focus-Revision/Self and Peer)
a. Using rough draft #1 and rough draft #2, combine best elements to
create rough draft #3 (1 evening)
b. Use Persuasive Letter Rubric (see Handouts) to check rough draft
#3
c. Use Persuasive Letter Rubric to have students peer review draft #3.
Peer reads silently to self, uses rubric to revise.
d. Write rough draft #4 using suggestions and changes from self and
peer revisions.(1 evening)
9. Rough Draft #4 (Focus-Editing)
a. Follow Editing guidelines – Read backwards for spelling, highlight
all verbs- show action, appositives and adding more info.
b. Have peer edit paper for same items
c. Peer discussion about last minute changes, ideas, questions
10. Final Copy
a. Type or handwrite (Legible) your final copy. (I evening)
11. As a culminating activity (Extension #2)
using Document Set 3 students should answer the following questions:
a. If, as one classical scholar writes, “loyalty is the holiest good in the
human breast,” why were American loyalists vilified and regarded
with contempt?
b. How do you react to the actions taken, both official and private,
against the Tories (Loyalists)? To what extent were the patriots
justified in their behavior? In what ways to the documents clarify
the reasons for the patriots’ decisions?
c. What was the responsibility of England to those loyal subjects who
supported the crown during the Revolution? To what extent did the
British government accept that obligation? What were the
consequences for the Tories? In what ways were their needs met in
the post-Revolutionary era? With what results?
d. All answers will be collected, graded, and discussed in class as a
final activity.
Evaluation: One well written, well organized, and well reasoned essay. As an
extension students are evaluated on a follow-up activity by answering question
concerning the fate of the Loyalists.
TAH Grant Reference: this lesson was adopted from a lesson presented by
Christine Sink in her teaching of “Manifest Destiny: A Clash Of Cultures”. I used
the Dueling Poetry portion and adopted it to Patriot vs. Loyalist and added the
extension by having my student write a persuasive letter and doing a follow-up by
answering questions concerning The Fate of the Loyalists.
Standards: Using The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
SS.912.A.1.1
SS.912.A.1.1
Habits of the Mind:
*What’s Important and What’s Not
*Historical Empathy
*Change and Consequences
*Evaluating Evidence
SS.912.A.1.6
Booker T. and W.E.B.
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois
By Dudley Randall
“It seems to me,” said Booker T.,
“It shows a mighty lot of cheek
To study chemistry and Greek
When Mister Charlie needs a hand
To hoe the cotton on his land
And when Miss Ann looks for a cook,
Why stick your nose inside a book?”
“I don’t agree,” said W.E.B.
“If I should have the drive to seek
Knowledge of Chemistry or Greek,
I’ll do it. Charles and Miss can look
Another place for hand or cook,
Some men rejoice in skill of hand,
And some in cultivating land,
But there are others who maintain
The right to cultivate the brain”
“It seems to me,” said Booker T.,
“That all you folks have missed the boat
Who shout about the right to vote,
And spend vain days and sleepless nights
In uproar over civil rights.
Just keep your mouth shut, do not grouse,
But work, and save, and buy a house.”
“I don’t agree,” said W.E.B.
“For what can properly avail
If dignity and justice fail?
Unless you help to make the laws,
They’ll steal your house with trumped-up clause.
A rope’s as tight, a fire as hot,
No matter how much cash you’ve got.
Speak soft, and try your little plan,
But as for me, I’ll be a man.”
“It seems to me,” said Booker T“I don’t agree,”
Said W.E.B.
Document # 1, Set 3
A Maryland Preacher Resists the Patriots,
1775
… In the usual and regular course of preaching, I happened one Sunday to
recommend peaceableness; on which Mr. Lee and sundry others, supposing my
sermon to be what they called a stroke at the times, rose up and left the church.
This was a signal to the people to consider every sermon of mine as hostile to the
views and interests of America; and accordingly I never after went into a pulpit
without something very disagreeable happening. I received sundry messages and
letters threatening me with the most fatal consequences if I did not (not desist from
preaching at all, but) preach what should be agreeable to the friends of America.
All the answers I gave to these threats was in my sermons, in which I
uniformly and resolutely declared that I never could suffer any merely human
authority to intimidate me from performing what in my conscience I believed and
knew to be my duty to God and his Church. And for more than six months I
preached, when I did preach, with a pair of loaded pistols lying on the cushion;
having given notice that if any man, or body of men, could possibly be so lost to all
sense of decency and propriety as to attempt really to do what had been long
threatened, that is, to drag me out of my own pulpit, I should think myself justified
before God and man in repelling violence by violence.
Jonathan Boucher, ed., Reminiscences of an American Loyalists (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1925), p. 113
Document #2 Set 3
A New Jersey Artisan is Tarred and Feathered, 1775
From the Records of the Committee of Safety
New York, December 28, 1775
The 6th of December, at Quibbletown, Middlesex County, Piscataway Township,
New-Jersey, Thomas Randolph, cooper, who had publickly proved himself an enemy to his
country, by reviling and using his utmost endeavours to oppose the proceedings of
the Continental and Provincial Conventions and Committees, in defence of their rights
and liberties; and he, being judged a person of not consequence enough for a severer
punishment, was ordered to be stripped naked, well coated with tar and feathers, and
carried in a wagon pubickly round the town; which punishment was accordingly inflicted.
And as he soon became duly sensible of his offence, for which he earnestly begged
pardon, and promised to atone, as far as he was able, by a contrary behaviour for the
future, he was released, and suffered to return to his house in less than half an hour.
The whole was conducted with that regularity and decorum that ought to be observed in all
publick punishments.
“From the Records of the Committee of
Safety,” New York, December 28, 1775, in
Peter Force, ed., American Archives: Fourth
Series (Washington, D.C.: St. Claire Clarke
and Peter Force, 1837-1846), Vol. 4, p. 203.
Document #3 Set 3
The Legislative Attack on the Loyalists, 1777-1782
Laws Amercing, Taxing or Confiscating the Estates of Loyalists or Anticipating such Action
New Hampshire
November 29, 1777.
An act to p r e v e n t the transfer or conveyance of the estates and property of all
such persons who have been or shall be apprehended upon suspicion of being guilty
of treason, misprision of treason, or other inimical practices respecting this State, the
United States, any or either of them, and also for securing all lands within this State as well
of such persons as have traitorously deserted, or may hereafter desert the common cause of
America, and have gone over to, or in any way or manner joined our enemies, as of those who
belong to, or reside in Great Britain….
December 26, 1778.
An Act to make void all attachments which have been or hereafter shall be laid or made
on the estates of persons who have left this State or any of the United States, and have gone over
to the enemies of said States since the commencement of hostilities by Great Britain; or on the
estates of any inhabitant or subjects of Great Britain.
Preamble.- Whereas such attachments may be made by the collusion of the parties in
order to defeat this State of the benefit which may arise from the confiscation of such estates, and
to defraud just creditors of their honest demands against such persons….
Rhode Island
October, 1775.
Act to confiscate and sequester estatres and banish persons of a certain description.
(Special acts confiscating special estates are to be found in the Rhode Island records from this
date to October of 1783.)
October, 1779.
An act for confiscating the estates of certain persons therein described. (See “Records of
Rhode Island,” Vol. IX., p.461.)
New York.
October 22, 1779.
Act for forfeiture and sales of the estates of persons who have adhered to the enemies of
this state….
March 10, 1780.
Act for the immediate sale of part of the confiscated estates. (Amended October 7, 1780.)
New Jersey.
April 18, 1778.
An act for taking charge of and leasing real estates and for forfeiting personal estates of
certain fugitives and offenders…
December 11, 1778.
Act for forfeiting to and vesting in the State the real estates of certain fugitives and
offenders….(June 26, 1781, an act to suspend the sales, and December 16,1783, an act to
continue the sales.) (Supplemented, December 23, 1783)
Pennsylvania
March 18, 1779
(Provides for the disposition of Joseph Galloway’s house.)
North Carolina
November, 1777.
An act for confiscating the property of all such persons as are inimical to the United
States, and of such persons as shall not within a certain time therein mentioned, appear and
submit to the State whether they shall be received as citizens…
Georgia
March 1, 1778.
An act for attainting such persons as are herein mentioned, of high treason and for
confiscating their estates… for establishing boards of commissioners for the sales of such
estates…. (Amended October 30, 1778.)
November 15, 1778.
An act to compel non-residents to return within a certain time, or in a default…. Their
estates to be confiscated.
January 11, 1782.
An act for the confiscating of the estates of certain persons… and for providing funds for
defraying the contingent expenses of this State.
Claude Halstead Van Tyne, The Loyalist in the American Revolution (Gloucester, Mass.: Peter
Smith, 1959, Appendix C, pp. 335-340.
Document #4 Set 3
Grace Growden Galloway Defies the Radicals in Philadelphia, 1778-1779
… (July 22, 1778) SENT FOR Mr Dickison last Night & he told Me he wou’d look over ye law
to see if I cou’d recover My own estate & this evening he came & told Me I cou’d Not recover
dower & he fear’d my income in My estate was forfeited likewise & yt no trial wou’d be of
service: but advised Me to draw up a peti’on to ye Chief Justice Mccean for the recovery of my
estate & refused a fee in ye Politest Manner….So I find I am beggar indeed I expect every hour
to be turn’d out of doors & where to go I know not. No one will take me in & all ye Men keeps
from Me. Was I assured that My husband & child were happy nothing cou’d make me very
wretched but I am fled from as a Pestilence. Mrs Jones here in the morn: sent nurse to Parson
Combs to desire him to [tell] Mr G of my unhappy situation.
[August 10, 1778] Peggy Johns & Becky Redman came in ye Morn, Lewis sent Me word
Smith had gave his honour not to Molest Me till the Opinion of ye executive council was known
but in a short time after came Peel, Will, & Shriner with a Spanish Merchant & his attendants &
took Possession of My house. I was taken very ill & obliged to Lay down & sent them word I
cou’d not see them; they went every Where below stairs & ye Spaniard offer’d to let Me chuse
My own bed chamber; but I sent them no message but was very ill Up stairs. But between 2 & 3
o’clock the last went away. Peel told Nurse now they have given the Spanish Gentle Man
possession they had nothing More to do with it. But they took the Key out of ye parlor door &
locked me out…
[August 16, 1778]… As I have No friends they [patriot Quakers] treat me as they please.
So much for Mr G[Galloway’s] great friends. He has not one who will go out of ye way to serve
him. I am in hopes they will let me have my Estate but that will be on my own Account. No
favour shown to JG[Joseph Galloway] or his child: Nor has he a friend that will say one word in
his favour. I am tired with sending a set of men that always keeps from me when I most need
them. Am vex’d.
[August 20, 1778] Mrs Edwin & Sideny Howell & Peggy Johns came in ye morn: but
cou’d get No man to bear evidence. Lewise sent me word thay I must shut my doors & windows
& if they wou’d come to let them Make a forcible Entry. Accordingly I did so & a little after 10
o’clock they Knocked Violently at the door three times. The Third time I sent Nurse & call’d out
myself to tell them I was in possession of my own House & wou’d keep so & that they shou’d
gain No admittance Hereupon which they went round in ye yard & try’d every door but cou’d
None Open. Then they went to the Kitchen door & with a scrubbing brush which they broke to
pieces they forced that open, we Women standing in ye Entry in ye Dark. They made repeated
strokes at the door & I think was 8 or 10 minutes before they got it open. When they came in I
had ye windows open’d they look’d very Mad. Their was Peel, Smith, ye Hatter, & a Col Will, a
pewterer in second street in second street. I spoke first & told them I was Used ill: & show’d
them the Opinion of ye Lawyers. Peel read it; but they all despised it & Peel said he had studied
ye Law & knew they did right. I told them Nothing but force shou’d drive me out of it. He said it
was not ye first time he had taken a Lady by the Hand an insolent wretch. This speech was made
some time in the room; al last he becon’d for ye Chariot for ye General wou’d not let it come till
I wanted it & as the Chariot drew up Peel fetched My Bonnets & gave one to me ye other to Mrs
Craig: then with greatest air said come Mrs Galloway give me your hand. I answer’d indeed I
will not nor will I go out of my house but by force. He then took hold of my arm & I rose & he
took me to the door. I then Took hold of one side & Look around & said pray take Notice I do
not leave my house of my own accord or with my own inclination but by force & Nothing but
force shou’d have Made Me give up possession. Peel said with a sneer very well Madam & when
he led me down ye step I said now Mr Peel let go My Arm I want nbot your assistance. He said
he cou’d help me to ye Carriage. I told him I cou’d go without & you Mr Peel are the last man on
earth I wou’d wish to be Obliged to. Mrs Craig then step’d into ye Carriage & we drove to her
house where we din’d… Distress’d in ye afternoon when I reflected on the Occurences of ye day
& that I was drove out of my house destitute & without any maintenance… Sent for Mr. Chew.
He came and told me I must sue them for a forcible Entry. I am just distracted but Glad it is over.
[April 20,1779] Went to Billy Turners. The two Mrs Bonds there. Ye Widdow & I very
sociable but Mrs Bond rather shy but did not Mind her but got My spirits at command &
Laughed at ye whole wig party. I told them I was ye happiest woman in town for I had been
stripped & Turn’d out of Doors yet I was still ye same & must be Joseph Galloways Wife &
Lawrence Growdons daughter & that it was Not in their power to humble Me for I shou’d be
Grace Growdon Galloway to ye last & as I had now suffer’d all that they can inflict Upon Me…
Raymond C. Warner, ed., “Dairy of Grace Growdon Galloway, Kept at Philadelphia,”
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 55 [1931], pp.41, 47-48, 50-53, 75-76, in
Nancy Woloch, ed., Early American Women: A Documentary History, 1600-1900 [Belmont,
Calif.: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1992], pp. 172-174
Document #5 Set 3
Pennsylvania Radicals Attacks Loyalism
A.A Patriot Demand for the Banishment of Torries, ca 1778
JUNE 1. -- AMONG the many errors America has been guilty of during her contest with Great
Britain, few have been greater, or attended with more fatal consequences to these
States, than her lenity to the Tories. At first it might have been right, or perhaps political; but is it
not surprising that, after repeated proofs of the same evils resulting there from, it should still be
continued? We are all crying out against the depreciation of our money, and entering into measures to restore it to its value; while the Tories, who arc one principal cause of the depreciation,
are taken no notice of, but suffered to live quietly among us. We can no longer be silent on this
subject, and see the independence of the country, after
standing every shock from without, endangered by internal enemies. Rouse, America! your
danger is great -- great from a quarter where you least expect it. The Tories, the Tories
will yet be the ruin of you! 'Tis high time they were separated from among you. They are now
busy engaged in undermining your liberties. They have a thousand ways of doing
it, and they make use of them all. Who were the occasion of this war? The Tories! Who
persuaded the tyrant of Britain to prosecute it in a manner before unknown to civilized nations,
and shocking even to barbarians? The Tories! Who prevailed on the savages of the wilderness to
join the standard of the enemy? The Tories! Who have assisted the Indians
in taking the scalp from the aged matron, the blooming fair one, the helpless infant, and the
dying hero? The Tories? Who advised and who assisted in burning your towns, ravaging
your country, and violating the chastity of your women? The Tories! Who are the occasion that
thousands of you now mourn the loss of your dearest connections? The Tories!
Who have always counteracted the endeavors of Congress to
secure the liberties of this country? The Tories! Who refused their money when as good as
specie, though stamped with the image of his most sacred Majesty? The Tories!
Who continue to refuse it? The Tories! Who do all in their power to depreciate it? The Tories!
Who propagate lies among us to discourage the Whgs? The Tories! Who corrupt the minds of the
good people of these States by every species of insidious counsel? The Tories! Who hold a
traitorous correspondence with the enemy? The Tories! Who daily sends them intelligence? The
Tories! Who take the oaths of allegiance to the States one day, and break them the next? The
Tories! Who prevent your battalions from being filled? The Tories! Who dissuade men from
entering the army? The Tories! Who persuade those who have
enlisted to desert? The Tories! Who harbor those who do desert? The Tories! In short, who wish
to see us conquered, to see us slaves, to see us hewers of wood and drawers of
water? The Tories!
And is it possible that we should suffer men, who have been guilty of all these and a thousand
other calamities which this country has experienced, to live among us! To live
among us, did I say? Nay, do they not move in our Assemblies? Do they not insult us with their
impudence? Do they not hold traitorous assemblies of their own? Do they not
walk the streets at noon day, and taste the air of liberty? In short, do they not enjoy every
privilege of the brave soldier who has spilt his blood, or the honest patriot who has
sacrificed
his all in our righteous cause? Yes -- to our eternal shame be it spoken -- they do. Those very
men who wish to entail slavery on our country, are caressed and harbored among us. Posterity
will not believe it; if they do, they will curse the memory of their forefathers for their shameful
lenity. Can we ever expect any grateful return for our humanity, if it deserves that name? Believe
not a spark of that or any other virtue is to be found in the Tory's breast; for what principle can
that wretch have who would sell his soul to subject his country to the will of the greatest tyrant
the world at present
produces? 'Tis time to rid ourselves of these bosom vipers. An immediate separation is
necessary. I dread to think of the evils every moment is big with, while a single Tory remains
among us. May we not soon expect to hear of plots, assassinations, and every species of
wickedness their malice and rancor can suggest? for what can restrain those who have already
imbrued their hands in their country's blood? Did not that
villain Matthews, when permitted to live among us at New York, plot the assassination of
General Washington? He did; he was detected, and had he received his deserts, he would now
have been in gibbets, instead of tor turing our unfortunate friends, prisoners in New York, with
every species of barbarity. Can we hear this, and still harbor a Tory among us? For my own part,
whenever I meet one in the street, or at the coffee house, my blood boils within me. Their guilt is
equalled only by their impudence. They strut, and seem to bid defiance to every One. In every
place, and in ever company, they spread their damnable doctrines, and then laugh at the
pusillanimity of those who let them go unpunished. I flatter myself, however, with the hopes of
soon seeing a period to their reign, and a total end to their existence in America. Awake,
Americans, to a sense of your danger. No time to be lost. Instantly banish every Tory from
among you. Let America be sacred alone to freemen.
Drive far from you every baneful wretch who wishes to see you fettered with the chains of
tyranny. Send them where they may enjoy their beloved slavery to perfection -- send them
to the island of Britain; there let them drink the cup of slavery and eat the bread of bitterness all
the days of their existence --there let them drag out a painful life, despised and accursed by those
very men whose cause they have had the wickedness
to espouse. Never let them return to this happy land – never let them taste the sweets of that
independence which they strove to prevent. Banishment, perpetual banishment, should
be their lot.
Colonists Tarring & Feathering A British Tax Collector