To say that these people were leaving their homeland in a migration does not seem to be a particularly accurate term to define the events that occurred. In essence, the thirteen colonies were a part of the British Empire so the loyalists were British citizens, and considered themselves as such. Once the British lost in the American Revolution, their home was no longer a part of the British Empire. This newly gained independence would have altered the colonies, regardless of whether the loyalists remained in the colonies or not. It is understandable that many wanted to leave because of the fear of retaliation by the patriots, but it is difficult to name it a diaspora when the homeland they knew was never going to return. Since the colonies underwent a political transformation it is unclear how many loyalists would have left due to the changes occurring within the newly founded
To say that these people were leaving their homeland in a migration does not seem to be a particularly accurate term to define the events that occurred. In essence, the thirteen colonies were a part of the British Empire so the loyalists were British citizens, and considered themselves as such. Once the British lost in the American Revolution, their home was no longer a part of the British Empire. This newly gained independence would have altered the colonies, regardless of whether the loyalists remained in the colonies or not. It is understandable that many wanted to leave because of the fear of retaliation by the patriots, but it is difficult to name it a diaspora when the homeland they knew was never going to return. Since the colonies underwent a political transformation it is unclear how many loyalists would have left due to the changes occurring within the newly founded