Loyalists wanted to pursue peaceful forms of protest because they believed that violence would give rise to mob rule or tyranny. They also believed that independence would mean the loss of economic benefits derived from membership in the British mercantile system. Loyalists came from all walks of life.
Answer: Economic factors did influence the decision to become a patriot of loyalist. For example, if a person were to not have a job due to taxation, they might become a patriot and fight against the greater government's taxation so they could have a job.
