USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Colonists who chose not to pick a side were called Neutrals. Some neutrals believed that both Patriots and Loyalists had valid points. Others simply did not want to come out on the losing side. Neutral colonists did not participate in the protests or the eventual battles during the Revolution.

Detailed explanation-2: -Other colonists wished to remain neutral because they wanted no part in a war that could bring death and destruction to their families and homes. They may or may not have felt strongly about the issue of independence but the risk that war brought was too great in their eyes.

Detailed explanation-3: -Americans opposed to the British were known as “patriots, ” “Whigs” “rebels, ” or “partisans.” Americans on the British side were called “loyalists, ” “royalists, ” “Tories, ” “the King’s men, ” or “Crown forces.”

Detailed explanation-4: -American Loyalists, or “Tories” as their opponents called them, opposed the Revolution, and many took up arms against the rebels. Estimates of the number of Loyalists range as high as 500, 000, or 20 percent of the white population of the colonies.

Detailed explanation-5: -Some Americans could not decide which side to choose and remained neutral during the war. Most American colonists, however, did choose sides. Those who supported independence from Britain were known as Patriots and colonists who opposed independence from Britain were known as Loyalists.