It is impossible to know the exact number of American colonists who favored or opposed independence. For years, it was widely believed that one-third favored the American Revolution, one-third opposed it, and one-third were undecided. This stems from an estimate made by John Adams in his personal writings in 1815.

Historians have since concluded that Adams was referring to American attitudes toward the French Revolution, not ours. The current thought is that about 20 percent of the colonists were Loyalists—people who remained loyal to England and King George. Another small group were dedicated patriots for whom there was no alternative but independence.

Patriots subjected Loyalists to public humiliation and violence. Many Loyalists found their property vandalized, looted, and burned. In addition, some were tarred and feathered. This is a violent act in which the person is covered with hot tar and then covered with feathers. The patriots would do this to those who publicly showed they favored the British.

Families were sometimes divided over the Revolution. Benjamin Franklin's son, William, a Loyalist governor of New Jersey, supported the British efforts during the war. In the end, many Loyalists simply left America. About 80,000 of them fled to Canada or Britain during or just after the war. Because Loyalists were often wealthy, educated, older, and Anglican, the American social fabric was altered by their departure. American history brands them as traitors, but most were just trying to maintain the lifestyles to which they had become accustomed.

The following reading is a response to Thomas Paine's Common Sense. It is called The Plain Truth by James Chalmer. Read the excerpt from The Plain Truth and the article from the New Your Gazette. The Gazette piece is to promote loyalty to Britain.

Once you have read both articles, write a one page summary in your own words about how the two articles contradict or discuss the differences in Thomas Paine's pamphlet. Include at least one direct quote from each reading.