The War for Independence was a conflict between Great Britain and her 13 North American colonies. It was also a civil war.

Not only did the war pit Briton against Briton, it also pit American against American.

But what happened to the Americans who lost?

Today, Bonnie Huskins, coordinator of Loyalist Studies at the University of New Brunswick, joins us to explore the experiences of the American Loyalists.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Bonnie Huskins, coordinator of Loyalist Studies at the University of New Brunswick, joins us to explore the experiences of the American Loyalists.

During our investigation, Bonnie reveals who the American Loyalists were; How individual Loyalists experienced their evacuation from the United States; And, the varied experiences of the white and African American Loyalists who settled in Canada.

What You’ll Discover

American Loyalist identity

Whether Loyalists were the “losers” of the American Revolution

The Loyalist Diaspora and how many Loyalists left the United States

The British and Loyalist evacuation of the United States

How individual Loyalists experienced the British evacuation of the U.S.

Loyalists’ arrival in Nova Scotia

Canadian geography and where Loyalists settled

Canada's “Loyalist Myth”

New England planters in Nova Scotia

How the arrival of the Loyalists affected the New England planters and other Canadians

The experiences of African American slaves and Loyalists

Work and living conditions for slaves in Canada

Why historians are researching Loyalists

Links to People, Places, and Publications

Bonnie’s Loyalist Book Recommendations

Time Warp Question

In your opinion what might have happened if Great Britain had won the American War for Independence? How would the lack of a Loyalist diaspora have affected the development of Canada and the Atlantic World?

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

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