Loyalists were colonists in the Thirteen American Colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). They opposed the Patriots, who sought independence from Britain. Loyalists were diverse, including officeholders, Anglican clergymen, Quakers, recent immigrants, and people from various social classes. They generally believed in loyalty to the king, viewed rebellion as morally wrong, and feared the chaos and instability that might come with revolution. Many Loyalists actively supported the British military effort, but after the war, tens of thousands fled to other British territories such as Canada, the Caribbean, and Great Britain. Loyalists faced harassment and confiscation of property during the war by Patriots, who considered them traitors.