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Loyalists in War, Americans in Peace: the Reintegration of the Loyalists, 1775-1800

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Loyalists in War, Americans in Peace: the Reintegration of the Loyalists, 1775-1800 University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2008 LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800 Aaron N. Coleman University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Coleman, Aaron N., "LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800" (2008). University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations. 620. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/620 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF DISSERATION Aaron N. Coleman The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2008 LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800 _________________________________________________ ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION _________________________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Aaron N. Coleman Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Daniel Blake Smith, Professor of History Lexington, Kentucky 2008 Copyright © Aaron N. Coleman 2008 iv ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800 After the American Revolution a number of Loyalists, those colonial Americans who remained loyal to England during the War for Independence, did not relocate to the other dominions of the British Empire. Instead, they sought to return to their homes and restart their lives. Despite fierce opposition to their return from all across the Confederation, their attempts to become part of a newly independent America were generally successful. Thus, after several years of struggle most former Loyalists who wanted to return were able to do so. Various studies have concentrated on the wartime activities of Loyalists, but few have examined their post-war return to America. This dissertation corrects this oversight by tracing the process of the reintegration of the Loyalists. It analyzes this development from a primarily American perspective, although former Loyalists are consistent members of the story. The work considers the emotional significance families and friends played in affecting the desire to return. On the American reception of their former enemies, this work explains that the nascent idea of federalism required the process to occur on a state-by-state basis. Also important to Loyalist assimilation was a critical shift from the republican ideological belief in the necessary of virtue to the survival of the community to a growing awareness, tolerance, and respect for individual rights, for those who held views perhaps inimical to the polity. Critical to the process of reintegration was a jurisprudential transformation from an older, English common law understanding of the law to a more modern view that law is commanded by a sovereign. It is my contention that popular sovereignty drove this transformation and allowed for the wartime legal persecution of the Loyalists, but in order for former Loyalists to peacefully co-exist, popular sovereignty had to be reined in by the very same and new legal ideology that it had helped develop. Finally, the process of reintegration required Americans to permit citizenship to their former traitors. Thus, the dissertation closes by showing the procedure former English subjects underwent to renounce their allegiance to England and become republican citizens. v KEYWORDS: Loyalists, American Revolution, Federalism, Constitutionalism, Republicanism Aaron N. Coleman, April 16, 2008 vi LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800 By Aaron N. Coleman _______Dr. Daniel Smith, Ph.D._________ Director of Dissertation _______Dr, Kathi Kern, Ph.D.___________ Directory of Graduate Studies ________April 16, 2008________________ vii RULES FOR THE USE OF DISSERTATIONS Unpublished dissertations submitted for the Doctor’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with the permission of the author, and with the usual scholarly acknowledgements. Extensive copying or publication of the dissertation in whole or in part also requires the consent of the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. A library that borrows this dissertation for use by its patrons is expected to secure the signature of each user. Name Date viii DISSERTATION Aaron N. Coleman The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2008 ix LOYALISTS IN WAR, AMERICANS IN PEACE: THE REINTEGRATION OF THE LOYALISTS, 1775-1800 ________________________________________________ DISSERTATION _________________________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Aaron N. Coleman Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Daniel Blake Smith Lexington, Kentucky 2008 Copyright © 2008 Aaron N. Coleman x To Emily, Alex, and Lorelei xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Although I feel considerable relief because I have finally completed this work, one emotion trumps it, gratitude. So many people have been encouraging and helpful in the course of this project. Because of these people, their words of encouragement, critiques on my writing and thoughts, pointing me to the right sources as well as just letting me vent my frustrations or elations, I am able to say ‘I’m done.” I offer them all a sincere thank you. I must first thank the late (and great) Dr. Lance Banning. His first book, The Jeffersonian Persuasion, convinced me as a sophomore in college that Revolutionary America was the area of history I wanted to study. Being one of his students will always be one of my greatest honors. I had just started the initial research of this project when he passed away, leaving a professional and personal void. I can only hope that this work would have made him proud. I honestly could not say thank you enough to Dr. Dan Smith, my mentor and friend. That he would take me as a student after Dr. Banning’s passing, despite having his own students and work to attend testifies to his generosity and kindness. He has seen me through every step of the writing process, providing the right words, encouragement, and wittiness at just the right time – even if he never realized it. I would be remiss, too, if I did not give a special thank you to him for his patience as I forced him to use his editing skills to his maximum capacity. Simply put, without him this project would still be a pile of research notes. The members of my dissertation committee have been helpful in so many ways. Being a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Ireland for a number of semesters exposed me to one iii of the best minds I know. His acerbic wit was something I always enjoyed and looked forward to. Dr. Harling provided the necessary guidance in my desire to understand eighteenth-century England. Without it, I could not have fully understood why some colonial Americans would have given so much to remain loyal. Professor Paul Salamanca from the University of Kentucky Law School gave great comments on Chapter 5 of this work and pointed me to sources that I would have otherwise overlooked. He has gone far and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, Dr. Jane Calvert joined my committee only as I was starting to finish. Yet, she provided such timely and penetrating comments that I will be answering them for the foreseeable future. A very special thank you is owed to Dr. Robert M. Calhoon of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His enthusiasm about my work has been a huge motivator, especially during those moments when I thought I would never finish. I am proud to call him a friend and I am so happy that the University of Kentucky Graduate School awarded us the Myrle E. and Verle D. Nietzel Visiting Distinguished Faculty Award so he could be an official member of my committee. In the History Department of the University of Kentucky, Tina Hagee has been the most helpful of people. She always seems to have the answers and gives me the details I need to finish my non-classroom assignments. Rachelle Green has been helpful by providing information about deadlines and other things absent-minded graduate students seem to forget. Furthermore, The Graduate School of the University of Kentucky, along with awarding me the Visiting Distinguished Award, also provided funding in granting me a Dissertation Year Fellowship, which allowed me to devote an entire year just to this work. iv There are a number of other people that I deserve my thanks. Dr. Thomas Mackey at the University of Louisville has remained a great friend and has provided comments on a large portion of this work. His deep knowledge of constitutional and legal history has been a great influence on me. Mike Schwartz is probably the most knowledgeable classmate of the Revolutionary Era I know. I have relied on his critical and sharp mind as a sounding board for many of my thoughts. If Mike thinks it’s a crazy idea, it probably is. David Hollingsworth has been about as good a friend as anyone has ever had. A true brother-in-arms in so many areas beside history, his humor and just all- around decency has been one of the best things to come out of my attending the University of Kentucky. Finally (but not least!) is my family. To say my parents, Jerry and Sue, have been encouraging would be a gross understatement as they have been the most positive force throughout my entire life.
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