United Empire Loyalists were American colonists who moved to British colonies in Canada during and after the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). They remained loyal to the British and left the American Colonies to escape persecution by people who supported the war. Many of the Loyalists also were drawn to Canada by offers of free land. About 40,000 Loyalists moved to Canada. Loyalists settled mainly in the western parts of the colonies of Nova Scotia and Quebec.
The Loyalists greatly influenced Canada’s cultural and political development. Many of the Loyalists brought their English heritage into areas that had been dominated by people with French traditions. In addition, the French-speaking population quickly lost its status as the overwhelming majority group. Soon, the Loyalists began to demand more authority over their local affairs. These demands led to the creation of the colony of New Brunswick in 1784 and the colony of Upper Canada in 1791.
