02: Revolutionary America

02: Revolutionary America

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THIS IS NORTH PRESTON Official Trailer (2019) Documentary Movie HD - YouTube
THIS IS NORTH PRESTON Official Trailer (2019) Documentary Movie HD - YouTube
This might look like a trailer for a documentary about a contemporary town in Canada, but the community traces it roots to the American War for independence. This was one of destinations of African-Americans who were emancipated by the British army
THIS IS NORTH PRESTON Official Trailer (2019) Documentary Movie HD - YouTube
A short narrative of the horrid massacre in Boston, : perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770. By soldiers of the XXIXth Regiment; which with the XIVth Regiment were then quartered there; with some observations on the state of things pr
A short narrative of the horrid massacre in Boston, : perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770. By soldiers of the XXIXth Regiment; which with the XIVth Regiment were then quartered there; with some observations on the state of things pr
This is the Town Council's account of the event that has come to be known as The Boston Massacre. This account was sent in pamphlet form to Britain
A short narrative of the horrid massacre in Boston, : perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770. By soldiers of the XXIXth Regiment; which with the XIVth Regiment were then quartered there; with some observations on the state of things pr
From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 11 August 1818
From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 11 August 1818
John Adams says clearly that Molasses was an "essential ingredient" of American Independence. Most teachers and students would say it was Tea. That is the difference between one of the participants of the American Revolution and those who teach and learn the narrative canon of taught history
From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 11 August 1818
Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One, Ben Franklin …
Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One, Ben Franklin …
Long document of complaints about the British governing the the American colonies written by Ben Franklin. Serious thinkers will work through this to see the difference between what Franklin is identifying in 1773 and what is taught in the classroom. People just looking for a laugh will wonder how it is that the word "pimping" was used in the 18th century
Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One, Ben Franklin …
Redcoats in the house? Some myths behind the Third Amendment - National Constitution Center
Redcoats in the house? Some myths behind the Third Amendment - National Constitution Center
How many students and teachers talk about the Quartering Act as requiring the colonists to open up their homes to British soldiers? Every single on of them is wrong. The law does not say that and you can easily trudge through the legalese of the document itself to see that it does not require this. Take a look at this article from the Constitution Center and see an explanation - then tell you students the truth
Redcoats in the house? Some myths behind the Third Amendment - National Constitution Center
The Women's Print History Project
The Women's Print History Project
The Women’s Print History Project is a bibliographical database of women’s contributions to print during the long eighteenth century.
The Women's Print History Project
Revolutionary Characters
Revolutionary Characters

Revolutionary Characters is a program of Revolutionary Spaces at the Old State House.

Every Old State House visitor receives a card which tells the story of a real person who lived in Boston on the eve of the American Revolution. Revolutionary Characters help people to see the Revolution through the eyes of the people who lived it.

Using this website, you can explore over 100 Characters. Browse the profiles of everyone from Abigial Adams to William Scott; read about their lives, see who they are connected to and share pages with your friends.

Revolutionary Characters
Humphrey Ploughjogger to the Boston Gazette, 14 October 1765
Humphrey Ploughjogger to the Boston Gazette, 14 October 1765
These are the words of John Adams, written under a pseudonym in the Boston Gazette. He references British workers, hoping they would support the patriots fight against the stamp act. But he also says clearly that the colonists "will not be their negros"
Humphrey Ploughjogger to the Boston Gazette, 14 October 1765
A Virginian Responds to Dunmore's Proclamation
A Virginian Responds to Dunmore's Proclamation
The time it takes teachers and students to unravel this article will be worth it. It is not beyond their reach, but with a little time and attention they will see how twisted the arguments are concerning slavery in Revolutionary America. This writer blames slavery on Great Britain (As does the Declaration of Independence) and further claims that Africans will be better off owned by Americans than by British. This one primary source deserves half a class period - or be at the center of a lesson
A Virginian Responds to Dunmore's Proclamation
Barbara Clark Smith on Colonial Newspaper Article
Barbara Clark Smith on Colonial Newspaper Article
What can a short two paragraph article from a Rhode Island newspaper tell an historian about the American Revolution? Historian Barbara Clark Smith explains how to read a primary source. This site has the article and five short audio clips of her explaining how she reads the document, what questions it answers and what it does not tell us
Barbara Clark Smith on Colonial Newspaper Article
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1777
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1777
Why give students a primary document they can read and understand easily? This is a wife writing to her husband in July of 1777. Yes, they're a rather famous couple but this letter can be understood on a human level and illustrates aspects of the Revolution seldom addressed - food shortages and actions by women
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1777
Boston 1775: Richard Stockton’s Release Date
Boston 1775: Richard Stockton’s Release Date
Richard Stockton, NJ signer of the Declaration of Independence is considered a hero of the Revolution. There are many commemorations of him as the only signer of the Declaration to be captured by the British and imprisoned. Yet a document discovered the the NJ archived showed that he was granted a pardon in Perth Amboy in December of 1776. How did he get this pardon? How is he a hero?
Boston 1775: Richard Stockton’s Release Date
Revolutionary War Loyalist history and genealogy
Revolutionary War Loyalist history and genealogy
Source of information and primary source documents on those who served in a military capacity for the British, or provided services of a military nature or other beneficial services to the Crown. More military and than civilian
Revolutionary War Loyalist history and genealogy
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 March 1776
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 March 1776
John tells Abigail that he thinks Thomas Paine might be good at "pulling down" rather than building. Adams does not seem to like Paine's ideas on government
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 March 1776
Becky Franks Crashes Things – Silk and Sass
Becky Franks Crashes Things – Silk and Sass
Students interested in Cosplay may find this historical take interesting. Asa much as it seems to be playful, the enthusiast who writes this takes great care to include primary doc sources to support her portrayal of Rebecca Franks of Philadelphia, whose diary gives us insight into the British occupation of 1777
Becky Franks Crashes Things – Silk and Sass
Ministers of Apollo - YouTube
Ministers of Apollo - YouTube
So much of the history taught to students is steeped in academic work, they are seldom exposed to people who are "history enthusiasts" This four minute video focuses on a couple who make a living indulging their interest in the culture and fashion of the 18th century colonies. 5 minute video worth sharing
Ministers of Apollo - YouTube
Revisions of the Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights,
Revisions of the Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights,
Although teachers and students speak of what "Americans thought" about democracy and wealth at the time of the Revolution, there was a wide variety of views at the time. This is a case in point, the PA Declaration of Rights. Most notable of which is a statement that says clearly that a a preponderance of wealth held by few people is dangerous to society
Revisions of the Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights,
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1776
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1776
Teachers and History Ed publishers are always quick to share Abigail's "Remember the Ladies" quote - but never John's reply that claims she was "so saucy". In this letter John shares his fear of the "Despotism of the Petticoat". Of real consequence however, is the evidence that he saw the spirit of Revolution extended to a whole host of people (women and negros included). Notice also that he hopes Gen Washington will fight against aristocracy and oligarchy
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1776
John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John Adams," through 1776
John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John Adams," through 1776
When writing to himself in the intimacy of his diary, John Adams writes of his response to Thomas Paine's Common Sense - first by tossing some shade on him by saying that the arguments in it and the title itself he lifted from Ben Rush, but that a third of the book is bonkers. Adams wrote a response to it and apparently Paine when right over to his house to talk about it
John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John Adams," through 1776
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 October 1775
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 October 1775
Here Abigail says clearly that slavery is a sin. She goes further to say that the people in the colonies are suffering because of the evil they have done
Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 October 1775
Montesquieu, ‘On the Enslavement of Negroes’, from The Spirit of the Laws
Montesquieu, ‘On the Enslavement of Negroes’, from The Spirit of the Laws
Of the many examples of the arbitrary nature of the taught narrative canon, Montesquieu's "Balance of Powers" point which shows up in almost every student's enlightenment notes is there because it was chosen to be taught. Montesquieu's racism is simply ignored, so well that very few teachers are aware of it themselves. Both facts exist in the past - a view of political science and purely despicable racism - yet one is taught and tested and the other is ignored
Montesquieu, ‘On the Enslavement of Negroes’, from The Spirit of the Laws