United Empire Loyalists

United Empire Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. They constituted about one-third of the colonial population and came from various social strata, often driven by conservatism and devotion to the crown.1

Following the war, approximately 100,000 Loyalists fled into exile. The British government offered them asylum and compensation for their losses, with the majority immigrating to Canada. These refugees became known as United Empire Loyalists in Canada. They settled primarily in Nova Scotia and Quebec, influencing the development of these regions and leading to the creation of new provinces like New Brunswick and the implementation of the Constitutional Act of 1791.12