text: If you are referrinjg to the Mel Gibson film about the revolutionary war and not the Steven Segal film, the patriots swere the Americans who fought for the colonies and the loyalists were american citizens who remained on the side of the king.  It has been awhile since I saw the film, but I do not recall anyone swtiching sides after their minds were made up, unlike the real war when you had such as Benedict Arnold.  This is basic history.