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Directions: Read the following first person accounts of the American Revolution. Each group, the everyman, woman, African, Indianwill have differing perspectives on the war and their expectations of what will come out of the war. After you have read each groups collection of documents, complete the graphic organizer by filling in what that groups expectations of the war were and what were the eventual outcomes of the war for those individuals.
Everyman – “It is that we are all equally free…everyman…”
Background: Brutus, the author of this document, defends the right of ordinary mechanics (skilled workers) and artisans in Philadelphia to take an active political role over the objections of gentlemen, 1770. It was very common for authors at that time to write under a pseudonym to protect their identity or emphasize an important idea.
Nothing can be more flagrantly wrong than the Assertion of some of our mercantile Dons [leading merchants], that the Mechanics [workers] have no Right to give their Sentiments about the Importation of British Commodities. For who, I would ask, is the Member of Community, that is absolutely independent of the rest? Or what particular Class among us, has an exclusive Right to decide a Question of general Concern? When the Non-Importation Agreement took Place, what End was it designed to answer? Not surely the private Emolument of Merchants, but the universal [well-being] of the Continent…every Subject, whatever may be his Rank, is equally entitled. There is one right as common to all Englishmen as Death. It is that we are all equally free.... Every Man saw, this view of the Subject began and brought to Perfection, the important Revolution to repeal all the odious Duties, but that on Tea; and this remains unrepealed for no other Reason than that a tyrannical Ministry will not stoop to it unasked; and the East-India Company scorn to request it of that tyrannical Ministry. Has not our Mother Country, by solemn Act of Legislation, declared that she has a right to impose internal Taxes on us? And is not such an Imposition incompatible with our Liberty?...And shall we not, for our own Sakes, show that we can live without them? What are all the Riches, the Luxuries, and even the Conveniences of Life compared with that Liberty where with God and Nature have set us free, with that inestimable Jewel which is the Basis of all other Enjoyments?...
Background: There were over 90 local and state declaration of independence during the time of Revolution in the American colonies. In this one, the New York Mechanics committee asks for the NY assembly to support a declaration of independence from Congress, which would over a month later happen.
New York Mechanics Declaration of Independence (5/29/76)
To the Honourable Representatives of the Province of New York in Provincial Congress Convened.
GENTLEMEN: We, as a part of your constituents, and devoted friends to our bleeding country, beg leave…and request your kind attention to this our humble address.
When we cast a glance upon our beloved continent, where fair freedom, civil and religious, we have long enjoyed, whose fruitful field have made the world glad, and whose trade has filled with plenty of all things, sorrow fills our hearts to behold her now struggling under the heavy load of oppression, tyranny and death. Shall we any longer sit silent, and contentedly continue the subjects of such a Prince, who is deaf to our petitions for interposing his Royal authority in our behalf, and for redressing our grievances, but, on the contrary, seems to take pleasure in our destructions? – Therefore, as we would rather choose to be separate from, than to continue any longer in connection with such oppressors, We the Committee of Mechanicks in union do for ourselves and our constituents hereby publickly declare that should you…instruct…Congress….to become independent of Great Britain it would give us the highest satisfaction.
Background: This is one account of an American Revolutionary soldier, Joseph Plumb Martin, talking about the hardships of the war and the outcomes of that war on the common everyday soldier like himself.
When those who engaged to serve during the war enlisted, they were promised a hundred acres of land, each, which was to be in their or the adjoining states. When the country had drained the last drop of service it could screw out of the poor soldiers, they were turned adrift like old worn-out horses, and nothing said about land to pasture them upon. Congress did indeed appropriate lands under the denomination of “Soldiers Lands” in Ohio state, or some state or a future state, but no care was taken that the soldiers should get them. No agents were appointed to see that the poor fellows ever got possession of their lands; no one ever took the least care about it, except a pack of speculators, who were driving about the country like so many evil spirits, endeavoring to pluck the last feather from the soldiers. The truth was, none cared for them; the country was served, and faithfully served, and that was all that was deemed necessary. It was soldiers look to yourselves; we want no more of you. I hope I shall one day find land enough to lay my bones in. If I chance to die in a civilized country, none will deny me that. A dead body never begs a grave – thanks for that.
This group’s expectations were… / The outcome(s) for this group were…Economic:
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Directions: complete the graphic organizer by filling in what that groups expectations of the war were and what were the eventual outcomes of the war for the everyman.
Women –“Remember all men would be tyrants if they could…”
Background: This account of Sarah Osborn a camp follower and husband was Aaron Osborn a soldier in the 3rd NY Regiment at Yorktown years later at a hearing to receive her husband’s pension in 1837.
She also saw a number of dead Negroes lying round their encampment, whom she understood the British had driven out of the town and left to starve, or were first starved and then thrown out. Deponent took her stand just back of the American tents, say about a mile from the town, and busied herself washing, mending, and cooking for the soldiers, in which she was assisted by the other females….and deponent cooked and carried in beef and bread and coffee (in a gallon pot) to the soldiers in the entrenchment.
On one occasion when deponent was thus employed carrying in provisions she met General Washington, who asked her if she “was not afraid of the cannonballs?”
She replied, “No, the bullets would not cheat the gallows,” that “It would not do for the men to fight and starve too.”
Background: Lucy Knox’s letter to her husband General Henry Knox in regards to life at home during the war.
[A person] if he understands business he might without capital make a fortune--people here without advancing a shilling frequently clear hundreds in a day, such chaps as Eben Oliver are all men of fortune while persons who have ever lived in affluence are in danger of want and that you had less of the military man about you, you might then after the war have lived at ease all the days of your life, but now, I don't know what you will do, you being long accustomed to command--will make you too haughty for mercantile matters--tho I hope you will not consider yourself as commander in chief of your own house, but be convinced that there is such a thing as equal command.
Background: Letter of Abigail Adams to John Adams dated March 31, 1776 discussing the events that were currently unfolding in the colonies over the debate on independence. The response letter from John Adams follows.
I wish you would ever write me a Letter half as long as I write you…I long to hear that you have declared an independency and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.
Response letter of John Adams to Abigail Adams, April 14 1776
You justly complain of my short Letters, but the critical State of Things and the Multiplicity of Avocations must plead my excuse…As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh… But your Letter was the first intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerful than all the rest were grown discontented. This is rather too coarse a Compliment but you are so saucy, I won’t blot it out.
Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Although they are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our Power in its full Latitude. We are obliged to go fair, and softly and in Practice you know We are the subjects. We have only the Name of Masters, and rather than give up this, which would completely subject Us to the Despotism of the Petticoat, I hope General Washington and all our brave Heroes would fight.
Background: This address is given by Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. Although not immediately connected with the Revolutionary War, this document gives you a sense of what were some of the effects the war had on women of America.
We are assembled to protest against a form of government, existing without the consent of the governed--to declare our right to befree as man is free, to be represented in the government which we are taxed to support, to have such disgraceful laws as give man the power to chastise and imprison his wife, to take the wages which she earns, the property which she inherits, and in case of separation, the children of her love; laws which make her the mere dependent on his bounty....
And, strange as it may seem to many, we now demand our right to vote according to the declaration of the government under which we live... To have drunkards, idiots, horse-racing, rumselling rowdies, ignorant foreigners, and silly boys fully recognized, while we ourselves are thrust out from all the rights that belong to citizens, it is too grossly insulting to the dignityfor woman to be longer quietly submitted to....
One common objection to this movement is, that if the principles of freedom and equality which we advocate were put into practice, it would destroy all harmony in the domestic circle. Here let me ask, how many truly harmonious households have we now?... The only happy households we see now are those in which husband and wife share equally in counsel and goverment." There can be no true dignity or independence where there is subordination tot he absolute will of another, no happiness without freedom.
Directions: complete the graphic organizer by filling in what that groups expectations of the war were and what were the eventual outcomes of the war for women.
This group’s expectations were… / The outcome(s) for this group were…Economic:
Political:
Social: / Economic:
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African Americans–“…began to cry ‘Liberty.’”
Background: A description of a stamp act protest in Charleston, South Carolina by Henry Laurens in 1765. It was a commonly held belief among many of our founding fathers that Africans could only imitate what saw and couldn’t really truly learn or be educated as it is depicted here.
[But in mid January] a peculiar incident, revealing in what dead the citizens lived among the black savages with whom they were surrounding themselves, was furnished by some negroes who apparently in thoughtless imitation, began to cry ‘Liberty.’
Background: As much as the Great Awakening influenced the religious and political mindset of many of our founders, so did it too influence African Americans who would go on to preach to their congregations. This sermon was given in 1782 by a “black whig” (someone who opposed the Tory party or Loyalists).
And now my virtuous fellow citizens, let me intreat you, that after you have rid yourselves of the British yoke, that you will also emancipate those who have been all their life time subject to bondage”
Background: Petition to the assembly of Pennsylvania against the Slave Trade (1780). Pennsylvania just passed an act of gradual emancipation and major driving force against slavery in Revolutionary Pennsylvania was the Quaker religion.
To the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common wealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met,
Your petitioners, therefore, earnestly request that you will again take this subject into your serious consideration, and that you will make such additions to the said Law, as shall effectually put a stop to the Slave Trade being carried on directly or indirectly in this Commonwealth, and to answer other purposes of benevolence and justice to an oppressed part of the human species.
Background: The first state to outlaw slavery was the new state of Vermont in 1777 by including it in their first article of their Constitution, it would take several years for another state to follow suit and outlaw it as well.
A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATEOF VERMONT
I. THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and
unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life andliberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaininghappiness and safety. Therefore, no male person, born in this country, or brought fromover sea, ought to be holden by law, to serve any person, as a servant, slave orapprentice, after he arrives to the age of twenty-one Years, nor female, in like manner,after she arrives to the age of eighteen years, unless they are bound by their own consent,after they arrive to such age, or bound by law, for the payment of debts, damages, fines,costs, or the like.
Background: African American veteran Peter Kiteridge after the war recounts his service to the country and asks for compensation for his war injuries which had made him unable to provide a living for his family.
Gentlemen, I beg leave to state to you my necessitous circumstances, that through your intervention I may obtain that succor [help], which suffering humanity ever requires. Borne of African parents...and apprenticed in Boston, I passed the best part of my life as a slave. In the year of our Lord 1775 or 6 and in the twenty fifth of my age I entered into the service of the U.S. as a private soldier wherein I continued five years and contracted a complaint [injury] from which I have suffered in a greater or less degree ever since and with which I am now afflicted. After leaving the army to become a sailor for two years … I was a day labourer during the period of seven years. Eight years past … and have until this time by my labor assisted by the kindness of the neighbouring inhabitants been enabled to support myself and family. At present having arrived at the fifty eight year of my life and afflicted with an unusable arm as I apprehend with incurable diseases where by the labor of my hands is wholly cut off, am with it is the only means of my support. My family at this time consists of a wife and four children three of whom are so young as to be unable to support themselves and the time of their mother is wholly occupied in taking care of myself & my little ones--thus gentlemen in this my extremity I am induced to call on you for assistance; not in the character of an inhabitant of the town of Westfield for I have no such claim but as a stranger accidently falling within your borders, one who has not the means of subsistence, and in failure one who must fail through want and disease unless sustained by your care.
Background: Soon after the conclusion of the American Revolution our founders realized that the current system of government was too week and needed to be changed. Their solution was the creation of the US Constitution, however, in it, in order to appease the Southern States and gain their support, includes protections of the institution of slavery.
Article 1 Section 2. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons [slaves]. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative....