Unfriendly to Liberty: Loyalist Networks and the Coming of the American Revolution in New York City

Christopher F. Minty's book "Unfriendly to Liberty" explores the origins of loyalism in New York City between 1768 and 1776, arguing that it was formed by an organized, politically motivated, and inclusive political group centered around the DeLancey faction. Local political alignments and disputes during the Seven Years' War forged the united force that made New York City a center of loyalism throughout the American Revolution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In his groundbreaking work, "Unfriendly to Liberty: The Origins of Loyalism in New York City, {PHONE}," Christopher F. Minty delves into the intricate tapestry of loyalism that emerged in New York City during the pivotal years between 1768 and 1776. By meticulously examining the lives and motivations of those who aligned themselves with the British cause, Minty challenges our conventional understanding of the events that led to the American Revolution.

Through a detailed analysis of the loyalists, Minty posits that these individuals had already come together long before Lexington and Concord to form a cohesive, politically motivated, and inclusive political group. At the heart of this group was the DeLancey faction, which gained significant influence after its election to the New York Assembly in 1768.

These loyalists, comprising both elite and non-elite members, ardently championed an inclusive political economy that aimed to promote the public good. They vehemently opposed Parliament's reorientation of the British Empire and sought to maintain the traditional institutions and practices that had defined their society.

For New York loyalists, local politics, factions, institutions, and behaviors played a pivotal role in shaping their political activities leading up to the American Revolution. Minty's work emphasizes the importance of political culture, organization, and patterns of allegiance in understanding the dynamics between loyalists and patriots. By 1775, when British troops marched out of Boston to seize caches of weapons in neighboring villages, the contending allegiances of loyalists and patriots had largely solidified.

In fact, the local political alignments that emerged during the imperial crises of the 1760s and 1770s provided a critical platform for the growing divide between loyalists and patriots in New York City. The political and social disputes that emerged from the Seven Years' War, rather than solely republican radicalization in the 1770s, forged the united force that would make New York City a bastion of loyalism throughout the American Revolution.

Minty's work is a seminal contribution to our understanding of the complex and multifaceted history of the American Revolution. By shedding light on the origins of loyalism in New York City, he helps us to appreciate the diverse range of perspectives and experiences that shaped the conflict. "Unfriendly to Liberty" is a must-read for anyone interested in delving deeper into the origins and consequences of the American Revolution.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501769108