The Voices of the American Revolution Order Instructions In the years preceding the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, many American colonists expressed opposition to Great Britain’s policies toward the colonies, but few thought seriously about establishing an independent nation until late in the imperial crisis. Throughout the
years of controversy beginning in the 1760s, Americans expressed a variety of opinions about the legitimacy of open acts of resistance and rebellion, which intensified as armed resistance began in April 1775. On both sides of the issue, perspectives and motivations were diverse. Among those who favored resistance, for example, not all would go so far as to advocate full-scale rebellion against Great Britain or national independence for the United States. The debate, moreover, was not a static one, and its terms shifted over time; by 1776 many colonists found themselves advocating positions undreamed of a decade earlier.
In this lesson, you will work to make informed analyses of primary documents illustrating the diversity of religious, political, social, and economic motives behind competing perspectives on questions of independence and rebellion. Making use of a variety of primary texts, the activities will help you to “hear” some of the colonial voices that, in the course of time and under the pressure of novel ideas and events, contributed to the American Revolution.
Your assignment will be to read ten documents from the lists below. Each document must come from a different perspective. You should use two documents from each group to write your essay. You will then write a three to five page essay in which you compare and contrast what the Revolution meant to different groups in society.
Feel free to include any other sources, but the majority of your paper must be based on primary sources from the time period.
You will also need to footnote what documents you are using in Chicago Manuel style. Any word processor should help you make footnotes. Please use the following link to complete your footnotes in the correct style.
http://history.hanover.edu/courses/handouts/footnotes.htm
Your paper should be double spaced and in 12 point font.
A. Religious Perspective
• Jonathan Mayhew http://www.lawandliberty.org/mayhew.htm
• Jacob Cushing http://www.consource.org/document/divine-judgments-upon-tyrants-by-jacob-cushing-1778-4-20/
• John Wesleyhttp://www.consource.org/document/a-calm-address-to-our-american-colonies-by-john-wesley-1775/
• Samuel Sherwood http://www.consource.org/document/scriptural-instructions-to-civil-rulers-by-samuel-sherwood-1774-8-31/
• Samuel Sherwood http://www.consource.org/document/the-churchs-flight-into-the-wilderness-an-address-on-the-times-by-samuel-sherwood-1776-1-17/
B. Loyalist Perspective
• Poem
http://www.historywiz.com/primarysources/pausingamericanloyalist.htm
• Charles Inglis http://www.historywiz.com/primarysources/pausingamericanloyalist.htm
• Songs http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/theshack/songs.htm
• Song http://www.royalprovincial.com/history/music/voasong.shtml
C. Rebel Perspective
• Patrick Henry http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/patrick.htm
• George Washington http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revolution/letters/gfairfax2.html
• Thomas Paine http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/paine/CM/sensexx.htm
D. African American Perspectives
• Felix’s Petition http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h22t.html
• Boston King’s Memoir http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h1584t.html
• James Ottis http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h18t.html
E. Official and Legal Perspectives
• George Mason http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/virginia.htm
• Declaration of the Casues and Necessity of taking Up arms http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/war/causes.htm
• Declaration of Independence http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html
• Charlotte Town Resolves http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/independence/ctr.htm
Voices of the American Revolution Sample Answer
Religious Perspective
Most religious ministers who operated before independence largely asked the American population to seek divine judgement. They always interpreted Bible teachings and applied them to settings of the society. However, they believed that true justice came from God. For example, Jonathan Mayhew one congressional minister who served during this time was a key believer in high justice. They believed that God was to be the ultimate judge of all actions of human beings. Therefore, they expected all people irrespective of their positions to apply Bible teachings to the society[1]. Despite being from both divides, they believed that all members of society who were doing good and following the mandatory laws as set by the Bible would never be punished. However, punishment was to be used for all parties that contravened Bible teachings. However, they believed that this form of punishment will only be applied to God. Jacob Cushing another minister advocated for a different form of following. However, it was still in line with divine judgments[2]. Most teachings were based on the teachings of Moses. The same context was being used to confront challenges associated with colonialism.
Loyal Perspectives
Loyalist wrote poems and songs advocated for Great Britain continual presence in the United States. Most songs and poems that were written during this time placed a lot of praise on King George and their family. In one of the poems titled God Save the King loyalists ask God to punish all people who are against the King[3]. Another poem urges all people from the United States to choose the winning side, that is in their case the army of King George. They urge all people to refrain from joining the rebellion side. They even term it as a failed objective. The main purpose seems to be the continual dominance of the British Empire in the United States. Another commonly used song utilised is known as the Tradesman Song. It urges all people to come out in large numbers to celebrate certain occasions in society. Celebrating such occasions in their colony showed British influence and dominance and their intention to continue staying in the United States.
Rebel Perspective
Patrick Henry wrote a book in 1775 titled Give me Liberty or Give me Death. The paper articulated rights of all Americans affected by colonial policies. The rebels intended to use all available methods to gain their freedom. They are demanding their rights and not begging for it under the current law. They intended to use any means possible to overcome the British, who had taken over their land. Patrick Henry’s book provides the British community or colonialist with only two options[4]. The first one is to either give them their liberty or to give them death since they have suffered for many years from their country. The rebels wanted their land back using all means, legally or illegal. Thomas Jones articles titled Common Sense brings out major issues affecting the country. Most Americans were tired of abuse of power by the colonialist government[5]. The King of Great Britain had in numerous cases reduced powers of American giving precedence to majority issues facing colonial settlers. The sole purpose of all rebels was to ensure they fought against the British colonial system and all other players who were interested in taking their lands.
African American Perspectives
African Americans were neutral partners in the war against the British and Americans. Both of the above parties had supported slavery of the African- American population and could not have acted as an arbitrator on all issues that were facing the two parties[6]. While violence between the two parties was going on some slaves were arrested and taken to British offices in New York. The slaves felt much better during this period. However, after the collision, slaves were much afraid of going back to their original owners since they were to be treated in the same manner as before [7]. This means that they would still be viewed as slaves during this whole period. African –Americans insisted that slavery and any form of colonialism were two systems not acceptable in any society.
Officials Perspectives
The Declaration of necessity to take up arms passed by Congress urging all people to take up arms to fight against anyone who attempted to degrade aspects of humanity[8]. The declaration stated that most violations had been made to the people of the United States. The declaration intended to take back the land of their forefathers that had been taken over by colonialists.
The Declaration of Independence showed that there are the United States was no longer a colony of the British government[9]. They would resist any attempt by major players in the British society from taking over their land.
The Voices of the American Revolution References
Africans in America/Part 2/. Boston King’s Memories of the Evacuation. New York. Pbs.Org. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h1584t.html
Africans in America/Part 2/Felix’s Petition. Pbs.Org. Retreved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h22t.html.
Jefferson T, 1776. Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence. Accessed March 25. Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html.
Cushing J (1778). Divine Judgments upon Tyrants. Consource.Org. Retrieved from http://www.consource.org/document/divine-judgments-upon-tyrants-by-jacob-cushing-1778-4-20/.
Mayhew’s J. (n/d). Sermon on Submission. Lawandliberty.Org. Retrieved from http://www.lawandliberty.org/mayhew.htm.
Loyalist Songs and Poetry. . Www3.Sympatico.Ca. Retrieved from http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/theshack/songs.htm.
Second Continental Congress Declaration of The Causes And Necessity Of Taking Up Arms July 6, 1775, < 1751-1775 < Documents < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction And Beyond. 2016. Odur.Let.Rug.Nl. Accessed March 25. Retrieved from http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/war/causes.htm.
Yale.Edu. The Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History And Diplomacy. Retrieved from http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/patrick.htm.
Historywiz.Com (2016). The Pausing American Loyalist: History is Primary Source American Revolution. Retrieved from
http://www.historywiz.com/primarysources/pausingamericanloyalist.htm.
Paine T (2016). Common Sense (1776) < 1776-1785 < Documents < American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond. Odur.Let.Rug.Nl. Retrieved from http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/paine/CM/sensexx.htm.
[1] “Jonathan Mayhew’s Sermon On Submission”. Lawandliberty.Org. http://www.lawandliberty.org/mayhew.htm.
[2] “Divine Judgments Upon Tyrants, By Jacob Cushing (April 20, 1778)”. 1778. Consource.Org. http://www.consource.org/document/divine-judgments-upon-tyrants-by-jacob-cushing-1778-4-20/.
[3] “Loyalist Songs And Poetry”. . Www3.Sympatico.Ca. http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/theshack/songs.htm.
[4] “The Avalon Project : Documents In Law, History And Diplomacy”. Yale.Edu. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/patrick.htm.
[5] “Thomas Paine – Common Sense (1776) < 1776-1785 < Documents < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction And Beyond”. 2016. Odur.Let.Rug.Nl. http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/paine/CM/sensexx.htm
[6] Africans In America/Part 2/Boston King’s Memories Of The Evacuation From New York”. . Pbs.Org. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h1584t.html
[7] “Africans In America/Part 2/Felix’s Petition”. . Pbs.Org. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h22t.html
[8] “Second Continental Congress Declaration Of The Causes And Necessity Of Taking Up Arms July 6 1775 < 1751-1775 < Documents < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction And Beyond”. 2016. Odur.Let.Rug.Nl. Accessed March 25. http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/war/causes.htm.
[9] “Declaration Of Independence”.. Declaration Of Independence. Accessed March 25. http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html
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