That Ever Loyal Island
Subtitle: Staten Island and the American Revolution
Publisher: NYU Press
Published: May 1, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9780814767245
Subjects: American history: c 1500 to c 1800; History of specific subjects; War & defence operations; c 1700 to c 1800; History; History - U.S; History: American; New York; United States - Revolutionary War; United States - State & Local - General; United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic; History / United States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA); Military - United States; 18th century; Campaigns; History, Military; New York (N.Y.); Revolution, 1775-1783; Social conditions; Staten Island (New York, N.Y.)
Description: "When the American Revolution began in April of 1775, the majority of the residents of Staten Island, New York were staunchly Loyalist. Papas traces Staten Island's loyalist sympathies not to strong ties with Britain, but instead to local conditions that favored the status quo instead of revolutionary change. With a thriving agricultural economy, stable political structure, and strong allegiance to the Anglican Church, on the eve of war it was in Staten Island's self-interest to throw its support behind the British, in order to maintain its favorable economic, social, and political climate. Using an assortment of primary and secondary sources, including personal letters, contemporary newspapers, Loyalist claims, church records, diaries, and local histories, Papas paints a picture of life and war in eighteenth-century Staten Island."--book jacket.