The correct answer is C. Loyalists
Step-by-step explanation:
From the arrival of first English settlers to the end of the 18th century the colonies in America were mainly controlled by the British Crown. However, the loyalty to the Crown decreased after the mid 18th century due to the increase of taxes and conflict between the colonies and the British Crown.
This also caused division in the colonies, as some colonists remained loyal to the British rule, who were known Loyalists and some decided to support independence who were known as Patriots. According to this, the colonists who supported the British Crown were called Loyalists.