“I Owe More to the Royal Favor, Than Any Merit I Posses Can Justly Claim”: The Loyalists As Transactional Leaders

Abstract

Aim: This study examined the Loyalists and their embrace of transactional leadership style during the American Revolution. Methods: The study relied on primary and secondary historical sources and scholarship on transactional leadership. These included general histories, biographies, memoirs, sermons, public statements, and diaries. Results: In their efforts to oppose the American Revolution, the Loyalists relied on transactional tactics. Despite their prominence, wealth, offices, and connections, the Loyalists proved ineffective in opposing the transformational forces unleashed by the Revolution. Conclusion: While they included some of the most prominent political and religious leaders in the colonies, the Loyalists failed to stop the American Revolution, mainly due to their reliance on transactional leadership style. Recommendations: Studying the Loyalists offers insight into how transactional leadership can prove ineffective in transformational times and settings. When voters and followers demand reform, transactional leadership style and leaders who embrace it will fail to deliver. Scholars should look at the Loyalists as transactional leaders in their efforts to understand the American Revolution.