How Did The Departure of 80000 Loyalists As A Consequence of The Revolution Affect America?
In three different ways, the departure of 80,000 loyalists affected the 13 colonies of North America.
They were:
1. The first way was the reduction of population in the 13 colonies. The departure reduced approximately 3.2 percent of people from the colonies.
2. The second was a negative effect on the economic side.
3. Reduction in the number of slaves.
Now, let’s try to clear these three effects briefly.
1. Effective Reduction In America’s Population Structure
Most of the 80,000 people, who left the 13 colonies of America to protect their lives and property from the attack of revolutionaries, migrated to Canada, England, Jamaica, and other locations of the British Empire.
This 80,000 population was not less from that time’s point of view.
Because during the time of migration, the 13 colonies’ population was only 250,0000; where 450,000 people were slaves.
The incident influenced the country’s population structure negatively.
The reason is quite simple – Actually, America’s total landmass (present day’s USA) is spread in 9.83 million square kilometers.
Of course, this 9.83 million square kilometers is a vast land area for only 250,0000 people.
However, it was not a big deal; but we can count it as an effect of the revolution.
In percentage, the decrease was approximately 3.2%.
The next is…
2. Negative Affect On America’s Socio-Economic Condition
Most of the 80000 loyalists were financially very strong.
Those people were well educated, good businessmen, and wealthy.
During British rule, these people (Only Whites) enjoyed so many benefits from the authorities.
Due to their migration from America, they took away their properties, as well as bits of knowledge with them.
It affected the newly born country’s (USA) socio-economic condition negatively.
Because if they lived in America, they could have helped a lot in strengthening the newly born country’s social and economic arrangements.
| Fact: Although, one thing here you need to know is that among the 80,000 people, some were Black loyalists. These Blacks were poor people who before worked as slaves for the 13 colonies’ slaveowners. They got freedom via Dunmore’s Proclamation. |
3. Reduction In The Number of Slaves
Among these 80000 loyalists, a considerable portion was also Black loyalists.
These Black people were before slaves of the American colonists (Whites).
In 1775, English governor Lord Dunmore promised them freedom for abandoning their masters and joining Royal forces.
For this reason, many thousands of Black slaves ran away from their masters and joined British forces.
Over time, they went popular as ‘Black Loyalists.’
After the Revolutionary War, British authority kept their promise and provided them freedom.
Now, they became free people, on whom no slaveholders could commit claim.
Because of this reason, a significant reduction came in the number of slaves in the 13 colonies.
This is why we can also count it as a major effect of the 80000 loyalists’ departure after the revolution.
But Why These 80,000 People Had To Leave The 13 Colonies of America?
The reason is very simple.
As I have mentioned above, these people were loyalists.
They were loyal to the British Crown because the regime benefited them.
During British rule, these people (Only Whites, not Blacks) enjoyed special privileges.
Hence, they never wanted the Colonists’ victory in the Revolutionary War.
Even they supported the British government and fought against revolutionaries.
However, they failed till the end.
As a result, after the 13 colonies’ independence, the new government and patriots started pursuing tough actions against them.
Mostly, these people started facing robbery, killings, etc problems.
In a word, they almost lost their lives and property security in the newly born country.
Therefore, in the end, they had to leave the new country (USA) and move towards British North America, England, Africa, and some other locations of the British Empire.
