Severe laws were passed against the Loyalists in all the States. They were in general disfranchised and forbidden to hold office or to practise law. Eight of the States formally banished certain prominent Tories, and the remaining five, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, did practically the same indirectly. Social and commercial ostracism forced many others to flee. Their property was usually confiscated for the support of the American cause. They went to England, to the West Indies, to the Bahamas, to Canada and to New York, Newport, Charleston and other cities under British control. According to a trustworthy estimate 6o,000 persons went into exile during the years from 1775 to 1787. The great majority settled in Nova Scotia and in Upper and Lower Canada, where they and their descendants became known as "United Empire Loyalists." Those who remained in the United States suffered for many years, and all the laws against them were not finally re pealed until after the War of 1812. The British Government. how ever, endeavoured to look after the interests of its loyal During the war a number of the prominent Loyalists were ap pointed to lucrative positions, and rations were issued to many Loyalists in the cities held by the British. During the peace nego tiations at Paris the treatment of the Loyalists presented a diffi cult problem. In the treaty, as finally ratified, the United States agreed to recommend to the legislatures of the various States that Loyalists should "have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the 13 United States, and therein to remain 12 months, unmolested in their endeavours to obtain the restitution of such of their estates, rights and properties as may have been confis cated," that acts and laws in the premises be reconsidered and revised, and that restitution of estates, etc., should be made. It
was also provided "that there shall be no future confiscations made, nor any prosecutions commenced against any person" for having taken part in the war; and that those in confinement on such charges should be liberated. Congress made the promised recommendations, but they were unheeded by the various States. Great Britain, in retaliation, refused until 1796 to evacuate the western posts as the treaty prescribed. Immediately of ter the war parliament appointed a commission to examine the claims of the Loyalists for compensation for services and losses; and to satisfy these claims and to establish Loyalists in Nova Scotia and Canada the British Government expended fully i6,000,000.