The American Civil War was the first time American’s fought against each other
The widespread belief among Americans is that they rose as a common people against a common enemy – the tyranny of England’s George III – to achieve liberty and freedom for all people for all time. This is simply false. During the American Revolutionary War, nearly as many American’s fought for the British as against them, and some of their fighting ranks as the most ferocious of the war. Only about 30% of colonists were active Patriots, that is, supportive of the revolutionary cause either by fighting or by otherwise offering assistance. The same number provided the same efforts for the side represented by what they believed to be their legitimately ordained ruler. The rest chose to await the results.
One of the reasons the rebels won the war was that the British hierarchy treated American loyalists with the same disdain they exhibited to American patriots. Commanding loyalist troops were considered to be beneath the dignity of His Majesty’s commissioned officers. It was also believed detrimental to career advancement. When Benedict Arnold changed sides in 1780 he thought he would be awarded command of British troops, instead he was assigned to command loyalist forces.
In the Southern theaters, the revolution was seen as a way in which to settle grudges and land disputes decades old, and sides were chosen accordingly. The Declaration of Independence specified unanimity, but the populace was badly divided.
Washington’s defeat on Long Island in 1776 can be laid directly to the actions of loyalists, who told British commander Howe of relatively unknown back roads which allowed for the Continentals to be outflanked and acted as guides for the British and Hessian troops. Similar events occurred at the Battle of Brandywine, which allowed Howe to occupy Philadelphia one year later.
The prevalence of loyalist sympathies were later exploited by Washington, who used known loyalist taverns and shops in which to plant spies, thus learning of British activities and intentions. After the war little sympathy or forgiveness was extended to those who had supported the King’s troops, and many fled to British Canada or the Caribbean colonies.