...In terms of neutrality, an often forgotten but extremely important viewpoint that must be considered is the opinion of the Native Americans. While there were a few who supported or opposed the Revolution, the most common perspective held by Amerindians was to abstain from the War. For example, Little Abraham of the Mohawks clearly stated that his tribe wanted to: ‘‘. . . Not take any part, but, as it is a family affair, to sit still and see you fight it out . . . for we bear as much affection for the King of England’s subjects, upon the other side of the water, as we do for you, born upon this island” (Fitz, Suspected on Both Sides, 299). The Native Americans held similar opinions regarding both the English and the Americans, so they thought...
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...A Look at the Loyalist Cause When many Americans think of the Loyalist or Tory cause, the stereotypes of a prim and proper aristocrat with a British accent and a tarred-and feathered tax collector quickly surface. When examining the views and motivations of over two-and-a-half-million people living in the Thirteen Colonies during the Revolution, hardly any views were uniform. Even supporters of a major faction such as the Loyalists had a diverse array of misgivings about the rebellion against the British Crown. Many Americans opposed the Revolution for a wide variety of reasons: most notably, personal ties and attachment to Britain. These attachments took several forms, including fear and intimidation from mob rule, as well as religious and...
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...------------------------------------------------- Minipulated African Americans and the Revolution Nikki Jones Genesee community college History 203: Fall 2014 Nikki Jones Genesee community college History 203: Fall 2014 Manipulated: African Americans and the Revolution One of the most notable intellectual paradoxes in American history is how the founding fathers could promote the equal rights of man and their perceived enslavement by the crown while simultaneously holding a fifth of their own population in bondage. Another question that plaques the history of this great nation is why abolition, or widespread emancipation, did not occur at this period in time when revolutionary and republican rhetoric existed alongside of anti-slavery sentiments. A case can be made that Americans were speaking more loudly for the end of political enslavement, rather than the freedom of slaves themselves. The exclusion of slaves from the political forefront made it easier for Americans to make these hypocritical claims. Whether or not whites were able to justify themselves the exclusion of the black community from their cries for freedom, the parallels revolutionary rhetoric had on their own condition were not lost on slaves. Many took advantage of the revolutionary crisis and ran away and joined either side in hopes to attain their own independence. There reasons that Blacks chose to join the revolutionary fight are as varied as the individuals who made them. The motives were...
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...themes presented, even beyond the setting of Massachusetts. For myself, it better illustrated, and put into context, some of the reasons which would lead to the American Revolution. Prior to the 1765 Stamp Act, generations of American colonists had lived in the thirteen British colonies for more than a century and a half, with democratically elected assemblies, their own representative taxation, and (something that I would view as playing a major role in aiding a revolution) many newspapers and printed material to quickly spread “news” (“Boston, Bloody Boston: The Revolution”). Those living in the colonies during the 18th century, would largely have been born in America, so it’s...
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...Cast two Shadows is a story about Caroline Whittaker, a 14 year old girl who lived in Camden, South Carolina on a plantation during the American Revolution. As the war goes on Caroline’s father is sent to jail for being a rebel. Her brother is at war fighting for the Loyalist. Caroline’s family home is taken over by Lord Colonel Francis Rawdon, a leader of the British army. Caroline her mother and sister are forced to be the servants for Colonel Rawdon and the other soldiers in Caroline’s house. This invasion affects not just the plantation owners but everyone who lives on the plantation and in the town. I t change the lives of slaves, women, and loyalist and forced them to play major roles during the war. The slaves played a significant role in the American Revolution. They served as cooks; they fed everybody on the plantation including the other slaves. They served as maids and cleaned the plantation. They took care of the people who were injured on the plantation. The slaves also raised the owner's children and their children. Occasionally, the slaves served as soldiers in battles. During the American Revolution women played an important role. A lot of these women husbands were soldiers. They were away from home fighting in the war. The women were forced to take care of the house, become servants to the British army, help in the fields and help to make weapons for the soldiers. Caroline’s role has change significantly. Her family was wealthy. Before the war she...
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...leading up to the American Revolution. These power struggles were seen in taxation without representation, between Patriots vs. Loyalists, and with the presence of British troops in Boston. This issue has existed over time and still exists today. Taxation without representation was a problem that was present in the years leading up to the American Revolution. The British upset the colonists because they taxed them when they did not have a voice in the decision-making that was happening in England. Document 1, shows that on March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act and applied a tax to all colonists. The Stamp Act placed...
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...Furthermore, colonists wished to expand their colonial territories by pushing westwards in order to claim the frontier land that belonged to the Indians. However, they were denied by Governor Berkeley (Rice, 2014). Suppression of the revolt was initially managed through merchant ships turned to combat equipment. Later the British royal forces joined and took several years to overcome the resistance. The battleground for this revolt was primary at the Potomac River. Ideally, the setting of the revolt was a political tussle between Bacon and Berkeley. Other consequences of the war included looting of property belonging to both loyalists and rebels. Choice of analyzing this conflict in the wake of colonization of America has been...
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...It goes in to show us the slave’s side and how they are caught in the middle of the loyalist and patriot conflict. This goes to show how the slave owning and the nation fighting for independence wasn’t a very great spot in time for our American history, but how deep chains goes into perspective of that time period make the novel very interesting. This novel helps us see and understand more about the life of a slave during the time of the American Revolutionary war. Back in that time period, which was around 1777, enslaved people had no say or opinion and was expected to hold the political view of the person or people who owned them no matter how they felt. Even thought this was through you can see by what happens in the book that people still tried to influence the slaves to be on one side or another. In the book during one of Isabel’s’ encounters with the British Lord Dunmore at the Tea Water Pump he promised freedom to any slave who would join the Loyalist cause. Isabel acts as a voice to the slaves of the Revolution by showing the very high stakes of desiring freedom for herself, while attempting to figure out where she stands as the current events...
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...Sohee Kang England's Vietnam essay The devastation of the French and Indian war left the British in heavy debt, which then led to the various acts and taxes imposed on the colonies. Starting in 1764 with the sugar act and ending with the conclusion of the revolution in 1783, many factors contributed to the defeat of the British. Mostly due to vast distance of the mother country from the colonies, it was difficult for England to supply themselves with soldiers, food, and weapons. Other factors that contributed to their defeat were the alliance between the Americans and England’s bitter rivals such as the Spanish and French, who sent soldiers and supplies to the colonies, as well as England’s own strategical follies. In the aftermath of the French and Indian war, England’s parliament taxed the colonies heavily to recover from the debt by passing various Acts that taxed materials such as sugar, paper, and tea. This caused the unrest and dissent among the Americans which was then followed by resistance and oppression. After several years of uneasiness, a violent battle occurred in Lexington and Concord on April 19 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution. George III then proceeded to begin and quickly end a war against the colonies to set an example of them. This method, however, required vast numbers of soldiers and other supplies, which was scarce and hard to obtain due to the distance separating the opposing sides. Even if the British did obtain...
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...A commonly asked question when talking U.S. history and the American Revolution is what exactly caused it? There have been many events between the times that America was founded to the time of the actual revolution. Some of these included the Townshend Acts, the Boston Massacre, and the Intolerable Acts. In addition to these events, there were groups of people who helped drive the start the Revolution. Two of these groups included the Patriots and the Loyalists. All these pieces of the puzzle contributed in different ways and should all be touched upon when discussing the famous American Revolution. The Townshend Acts, occurring on Nov. 20 1767, put taxes on things such as glass, paper, and even tea. After these developed, the colonists became really angered. This increased activity to try and avoid the tax. Some citizens even took to tar-and-feathering tax collectors.(TimeToast) The Townshend Acts happened in 1767, which were a few years apart from other major events such as the Stamp Act Congress and the Boston Massacre....
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...Gordon Wood’s book expressed the events of the American Revolution in a monotone manner. The book describes the events of the war in general manor. Wood fails to elaborate on the conflicts of the war as well as, the human conflicts. Furthermore, “Wood summarily discusses the Revolution's effects on women, Native Americans, free and enslaved African Americans, and Loyalists,” (Book review). Another topic the author expresses excessively is that he, “speaks of eighteenth-century Americans as if they were all of one mind, concluding, somewhat peremptorily, that democracy "became the civic faith of the United States to which all Americans must unquestionably adhere"” (The American Revolution p. 166) (Book Review). Throughout the book one can...
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...by John Murray and he stated that “I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms, to His majesty’s standards, or be looked upon as traitors to his majesty’s Crown and Government, and thereby become liable to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offences; such as forfeiture of Life, confiscation of Lands, and I do hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, free that are able and willing to bear Arms.” Meaning if we are bold enough to runway from our master’s and fight the Americans for the British crown we will be granted our freedom with free land. I truly feel like this is my calling to fight in the war to stay loyal to the crown. I have nothing to lose! I am willing to risk my life escaping this plantation that I am forced to work hard labor on being beat like a cage animal. Dreaming of one day being free to live my life, having my own land to raise a family on and building my own legacy. There’s no reason for me to be a loyalist to the American colonies they’re fighting a war for a life style that I would never be able to live. I would never be able too vote for congress or for certain laws to be passed, importantly I would never gain my freedom to live out my life the way I would want. Around the plantation there has been a lot of conversation about escaping the land, some people are fearful of escaping and being...
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...Was the highest ranking military officer in the Northwest area. Considered the “Conqueror of the Old Northwest.” #10: Joseph Bryant Minister of the Churches of Christ. Created the Emphasized Bible. Also marked up the original Bible to prove certain meanings. #11: Yorktown The site of the Siege of Yorktown. It consisted of the American and French combined force against the British. Was the final land battle of the war. #12: Saratoga Two small battles that ended with the Americans capturing Gen. John Burgoyne. Burgoyne had tried to separate New York from Massachusetts. Led to Spain joining the war against Britain. #13: Abigail Adams 1st 2nd lady and 2nd 1st Lady. (Confusing, huh?) Her husband John always wanted her advice on matters. The letters she wrote showcase women’s role in the war. #14: The Treaty of Paris, 1783 The treaty that ended the Revolutionary War! Gave America the one thing they had always wanted, Independence. Nearly gave America the Province of Quebec as well! #15: “Natural Aristocracy” Aristocracy built on work, rather than being born into wealth. Focused on those that had worked hard to earn their wealth. Wanted their...
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...Independence is a document in which gave freedom and liberties to people who lived in the American colonies. Many American colonists were unhappy with the British because of how they were treating them and therefore sought for equality and rights. However, some colonists had different views toward the American independence movement. Yet, the outcome changed America forever. American colonies felt that Britain was trying to take away their rights and liberties by enforcing new laws and imposing taxes upon them. The British established the Sugar Act, which lowered the tax on molasses. Even though they lowered the tax the colonists were left furious because they didn’t want Britain to be in control of them. This Act enforced colonists not to smuggle. The colonists were angered by this because they were used to smuggling and when the British established this tax they felt that they were being forced to pay a tax which had them feeling like they were having their rights taken away. Another tax that angered the colonists was the Stamp Act. This was a tax on all printed documents and it gave the parliament permission to regulate all the trade. This led colonists to protest “no taxation without representation”. It was the concept of who is representing the colonies. They felt like they had no one representing them and that they were being taken over by the British government. American colonists organized protest groups such as the Sons of Liberty to create mob violence toward...
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...Brigadier General Skinner in secret until the British would come. It became ten companies of the 4th Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers. Initially, they raided patriot strongholds, took prisoners and collected cattle. The defense of Staten Island in August 1777 was their most difficult battles. Casualties were light and 250 patriots were captured. In January 1780 Van Buskirk's forces surprised and then captured 47 Continental and militia troops with no losses. British officials considered reducing New Jersey Loyalist numbers because they had sustained many losses in other battles and there were too many officers. Then small pox swept through the battalion. Like many American Revolution camps, the British cared for soldiers and their family who followed them to battles . Over 750 officers and men would eventually serve in this unit of the New Jersey Volunteers. ["A History of the 4th Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers - Part 1 of 2," The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalists Studies, updated 01 Mar 2000,...
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