Not all American colonists supported the war; those who were in favor of British rule were known as loyalists or Tories. The British Army attempted to organize the loyalists and offered incentives such as freedom to colonial slaves in return for service. To remedy this, the Continental Congress passed the Tory Act, which declared that loyalists who worked against the colonial cause should be disarmed and that any who were dangerous should be kept in safe custody. The Continental Congress was clear that the loyalists should not be treated poorly, but anti-loyalist sentiment was extremely high. In some areas, suspected loyalists were imprisoned, physically abused or killed. Prior to the war, the American patriots had legally been British colonists
