Confederates vs Loyalists

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The common argument is that we should honor Confederates because they fought and died for what they believed in, trying to make America a better place, etc.

But if we honor Americans on the losing side of the war of 1861 why not honor the Loyalists/Tories of the war of 1776? Where are their monuments? They were often just as "American" as their Rebel/Patriot counterparts. They usually lost everything because of the war, and were often mistreated before or during it by their colonial peers. They didn't see themselves as being against freedom; they were being loyal to king and country against an armed insurrection.

So why should honor Confederates without honoring Loyalists/Tories?

 

[CSA Today]

The common argument is that we should honor Confederates because they fought and died for what they believed in, trying to make America a better place, etc.

But if we honor Americans on the losing side of the war of 1861 why not honor the Loyalists/Tories of the war of 1776? Where are their monuments? They were often just as "American" as their Rebel/Patriot counterparts. They usually lost everything because of the war, and were often mistreated before or during it by their colonial peers. They didn't see themselves as being against freedom; they were being loyal to king and country against an armed insurrection.

So why should honor Confederates without honoring Loyalists/Tories?

There is a High School and a district that is named for the British 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser Highlanders} in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The regiment visited Campbellton (now Fayetteville) in 1781. The town and the Cape Fear River valley (much of south- eastern North Carolina was of loyalist sentiment during the Revolutionary war.

 

[nc native]

There is a High School and a district that is named for the British 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser Highlanders} in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The regiment visited Campbellton (now Fayetteville) in 1781. The town and the Cape Fear River valley (much of south- eastern North Carolina was of loyalist sentiment during the Revolutionary war.

So that's where Fayetteville 71st got it's numerical designation from? That is very
interesting! I thought that the number associated with this high school may have
been based on it's chronological order among high schools in North Carolina or
something like that.

 

[Bruce Vail]

In the Hudson Valley region of New York state there is a Philipse Manor Hall State Park that commemorates the Philipse family, wealthy landowners of New Netherlands and colonial New York:

http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/37/details.aspx

The Philipses (who traded in slaves when this was still legal in NY) were Tories and saw most of their lands confiscated after the Revolution.

 

[Patrick H]

I think it's appropriate to recognize and honor colonial loyalists as well as Confederates. I'm glad our nation gained its independence and I'm glad it wasn't split in the 1860s, but I respect nearly all concerned in both conflicts.

 

[Miles Krisman]

The common argument is that we should honor Confederates because they fought and died for what they believed in, trying to make America a better place, etc.

But if we honor Americans on the losing side of the war of 1861 why not honor the Loyalists/Tories of the war of 1776? Where are their monuments? They were often just as "American" as their Rebel/Patriot counterparts. They usually lost everything because of the war, and were often mistreated before or during it by their colonial peers. They didn't see themselves as being against freedom; they were being loyal to king and country against an armed insurrection.

So why should honor Confederates without honoring Loyalists/Tories?

The Loyalists were expelled from the United States or fled to British territory. Their monuments, and there are many, are to be found on that British territory, Canada.

http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Monuments/Loyalist-Monuments.php