Joseph Galloway

Joseph Galloway was a leading politician in the coming of the American Revolution, starting as a leader of the patriot cause and ending a Loyalist.

Although Galloway's conduct during the imperial crisis was motivated partly by opportunism, it was also inspired by genuine philosophical principles. A resident of cosmopolitan Philadelphia and an associate of Benjamin Franklin, Galloway was throughout his political career a British-American nationalist, believing that the British Empire offered a citizen greater liberties than any nation on earth. Galloway urged reform of the imperial administration and was critical of the trade laws, the [[Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts. As early as 1765 he developed a conciliatory plan to end the disputes between London and the colonies.

Galloway's "Plan of Union" was finally unveiled nearly a decade later. The First Continental Congress did not endorse the Galloway Plan of Union because Galloway was now an unequivocal Tory, and because the plan neither safeguarded the prerogatives of the assemblies nor provided guarantees against involvement in foreign wars. The belief that the situation demanded rapid and decisive action in defense of American rights also contributed to Galloway's failure to win approval of his plan.

Career

In 1756, Galloway was elected to the Pennsylvania assembly, where he quickly played an important role as a member of the antiproprietary coalition. His rapid rise was facilitated by a strong family background, a strategic marriage, and ability.

Further reading

• Ferling, John E. "Joseph Galloway: A Reassessment Of The Motivations of a Pennsylvania Loyalist." Pennsylvania History 1972 39(2): 163-186.
• Ferling, John E. The Loyalist Mind: Joseph Galloway and the American Revolution (1977)