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Grade 4 Social Studies · World 3: The Fight for Independence · Level 17
Patriots, Loyalists, and the King
Describe King George III, and why colonists chose different sides.
Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.
What children learn in Level 17
- By 1775, trouble between Britain and the colonies was boiling over. Britain's king, George III, believed the colonies must obey Parliament, and he would not back down.
- Colonists who wanted freedom from Britain were called Patriots. Those who stayed on Britain's side were called Loyalists. Georgia, the youngest colony, had many of both.
- Plenty of people just wanted to be left alone. Families and neighbors split, and friends stopped speaking.
- Others had their own reasons. Many American Indian nations sided with Britain, hoping to keep settlers off their land. Many enslaved people joined whichever side offered a chance at freedom.
Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:
- SS4H1.b — Describe the influence of key individuals and groups during the American Revolution: King George III, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry, John Adams, Paul Revere, and Black regiments.