Why were the Loyalists once called "Tories"?

Question

In the american revolution and all. Those who were loyal to Britain were called "Tories" but soon it was changed to "Loyalists",
Why is this so? And why Tories in the first place?

Answer 1

First, the term was NOT coined by Irishmen against their landlords! On the contrary, it was first used AGAINST Irish Catholics.

A few clips:

1566, "an outlaw," specifically "a robber," from Ir. toruighe "plunderer," originally "pursuer, searcher," from O.Ir. toirighim "I pursue," related to toracht "pursuit." About 1646, it emerged as a derogatory term for Irish Catholics dispossessed of their land (some of whom subsequently turned to outlawry); c.1680 applied by Exclusioners to supporters of the Catholic Duke of York (later James II) in his succession to the throne of England. After 1689, Tory was the name of a British political party at first composed of Yorkist Tories of 1680.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Tory

"Originally an Irish term for an outlaw, the name was applied as a term of abuse to those who supported the hereditary right of James, the Catholic duke of York (later James II), to succeed to the throne of England."
http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9380977/Tory


So why a term meaning "outlaw" ?

"the name Tory was originally an insulting nickname given to supporters of James, Duke of York (James II) as heir to the throne in the 1680s. The original idea was that his supporters were all tax-bandits who did not fully support popular Protestant movements in England. "
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_T.html


"The term entered English politics during the Exclusion Bill crisis of 1678–1681. The Whigs (initially an insult — whiggamore, a cattle driver) were those who supported the exclusion of James VII & II from the thrones of Scotland and England & Ireland (the "Petitioners"), and the Tories (from the Irish term tóraidhe, modern Irish tóraí — outlaw, robber) were those who opposed it (the Abhorrers). The root of tóraidhe is the Irish word tóir, meaning "pursuit", since outlaws were "pursued men".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory#United_Kingdom

You can already catch in this how this party might be "Conservative" and suppporters of the monarchy. Read further on in those links to see the history of the British party.

By the way, note the name "Whig" ALSO began as a term of derision for the radical church party in Scotland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiggamore

Answer 2

It was originally an Irish term for a thief which they applied to their English landlords. The political party that was associated with the landlords was the Conservative and Unionist Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Therefore the members of this party were also called Tories.

Answer 3

Tories were originally supporters of James II of England. It comes from an Irish term meaning outlaw, or pursued man. It was an insulting term used by the opposition. They came to be associated with the conservative party. Loyalists, or Monarchists, tend to be conservative as not wanting change.

Answer 4

Tories were a political party in Britian that supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. In America, however, not all those loyal to the crown were Tories, so they changed the name.

Answer 5

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