Tory Act - January 2, 1776

Today, the Continental Congress published the “Tory Act,” a resolution that laid out how the colonies should deal with fellow Americans who remained loyal to Great Britain and King George III. Rather than punish all dissenters outright, Congress urged Patriots to educate and persuade the “honest and well-meaning, but uninformed” about the causes of the Revolution, hoping understanding might spark unity.

This moment highlights the complicated civil conflict within the American Revolution.