HISET Social Studies Practice

Who were the Loyalists in the context of American history?

1. Colonists advocating for independence

2. American colonists loyal to Britain

3. French soldiers supporting the colonies

4. Native Americans opposing settlement

The correct answer is: American colonists loyal to Britain

The Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the period of the American Revolutionary War. They believed in maintaining their allegiance to Britain for various reasons, including economic ties, a sense of loyalty to the monarchy, and the belief that British rule was beneficial for the colonial economy and society. This loyalty was rooted in a variety of factors, such as the desire for stability and fear of the potential chaos that rebellion might bring. Many Loyalists held government positions and had significant social and economic connections to Britain, which influenced their stance. This made them distinct from the colonists advocating for independence, who sought to break away from British rule and establish a new government based on Enlightenment ideals of self-governance and liberty. The other choices do not accurately reflect the definition of Loyalists. Colonists advocating for independence are known as Patriots, while French soldiers supporting the colonies were part of the alliances formed during the war and did not represent any native colonial loyalty to Britain. Native Americans had a range of responses to colonial expansion but were not classified as Loyalists; instead, some tribes sided with the British, while others aligned with the American revolutionaries.