The United Empire Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). After the war, many Loyalists faced persecution and loss of property in the newly formed United States. To escape these hardships, they migrated to British territories, particularly to present-day Canada. In Canada, the Loyalists played a significant role in shaping the country's early development. They contributed to the establishment of new communities and brought with them their customs, traditions, and governance ideas. The arrival of the Loyalists also influenced the creation of Upper Canada and New Brunswick.