How were people arrested in the Revolutionary War?

Answer 1

During the Revolutionary War, arrests were often made by local militias or colonial authorities who suspected individuals of loyalist sympathies or other actions deemed subversive to the revolutionary cause. Citizens could be arrested based on accusations from neighbors or informants, and trials were often swift and could lack formal legal procedures. In some instances, individuals were detained without charges, particularly in cases of espionage or treason. The atmosphere of suspicion and the urgency of the revolutionary struggle often led to arbitrary arrests and harsh treatment of those suspected of opposing the patriots.