Who were the loyalists and who were the rebels?

Answer 1

From an American point of view the Patriots were the English colonists wanting to break away from England while The Loyalists were the English colonists who opposed the revolution against King George III and his government. The Patriots formed Militia units and the Continental Army. The Militia units were attached to the Continental Army but generally served shorter terms, were poorly trained, and poorly equipped. The regulars of the Continental Army were better trained, more disciplined, served longer than the the Militia, and bore the brunt of the heavy duty fighting. Both groups, together, fought the British Army. Initially the Patriot forces were provisioned with the aid of the French King. Eventually, France provided a Naval Fleet, and ground troops. The British Army was from the Great Britain, plus Hessians, a hired group of professional soldiers from the German state of Hesse. The Loyalists provided some units to the British Army. The bulk of the British Army were troops from England. The British Army generals were from Great Britain. The combined forces of the Patriots and the French surrounded the British Army in Yorktown Virginia and forced them to surrender. The last English Army was under siege in New York and surrendered. With the successful conclusion of the American Revolution many Loyalists fled to Canada, and some returned to England.

Answer 2

In reference to United States history loyalists and patriots were the people living in the original thirteen colonies. Loyalists were loyal to the British government and therefore branded loyalists. Patriots were the revolutionaries who wanted their own government without control from Great Britain.