Crispus Attucks Crispus Attucks was important, because he was one of the most symbolic figures of the American Revolution and was portrayed as a martyr for the cause of liberty. Attucks was an African American man who was born in Framingham, Massachusetts on 1723. Attucks was literally born into slavery. His parents, Prince Yonger, a slave brought from Africa, who was believed to be his father and his mother Nancy Attucks who was a part of the Wampanoag tribe was also a slave. Attucks and his parents were all slaves of Colonel Buckminster’s household. Buckminster was a man who sold and bought livestock. He trained Attucks to raise cattle, but later sold him after he became dissatisfied with Attucks. He sold him to a man named William Brown,
in which later Attucks had managed to escape from him on October 2, 1750. Brown gave out a full description of Attucks and was willing to reward anyone who could find and capture him. Attucks was able to avoid any pursuers by going to sea as a sailor. On March of 1770 in Boston, Attucks was working on the docks. It was believed that he was using another man’s identity during this time. On March 5, 1770 a Dock Square crowd surrounded a British sentry post on King Street and taunted the British troops. During this time Attucks had finished eating at a restaurant and joined the crowd on King Street. According to witnesses Attucks was armed with a large cordwood stick from a woodpile. Attucks was at the front of the Dock Square crowd and was believed to have said, “The way to get rid of these soldiers is to attack the main guard. Strike at the nest!” At one point Attucks was standing face to face with the British troops, until someone from the crowd threw a stick unexpectedly and striked one of the troops known as Private Hugh Montgomery. When the stick struck Montgomery it caused him to fall backwards and while he was falling he fired his musket. Attucks was struck by two bullets and died on sight. Crispus Attucks was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre. Overall, to this day Attucks is most importantly remembered for being one of the most symbolic figures of the American Revolution and a martyr for the cause of liberty.
1776 by David McCullough is a non-fiction historical book that historically accounts an in depth view of The American Revolution. The book starts from late 1775 and spans to the end of 1776. The book includes the Battle of New York, the Battle of Brooklyn, the Battle of Boston, the Battle of Fort Washington, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the ending Battle of Trenton in 1776. David McCullough adds a sense of emotion and color to this book where it 's more than a history book that lists facts. Not only does he add a sense of enjoyment to read, 1776 provides detailed accounts of the military life during the end of 1775 to the end of 1776 and detailed accounts of the battles. The author, David McCullough, is trying to make a point that 1776 is
Jack Sisson was born in 1743 in an unknown place. He was a man of many names, such as Guy Watson from South Kingston or Prince Goodwin from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Sisson was a black man in the American revolutionary war who was part of the Rhode Island First Regiment (an army of colored men) along with 40 troops of African American males. He was a slave before he joined the Regiment in 1778, where he was a boat pilot. Under the command of Colonel William Barton, Sisson completed his most daring mission yet: the capture of General Richard Prescott, a general of British forces in Newport. Jack Sisson was the captain of one of the boats that sailed across Narragansett Bay, silently past British warships, and into a deserted cove. Him and 39
In chapter eleven, The Age of Democratic Revolutions: The North Atlantic World “Turn Upside Down”, Wells discusses the American and French Revolutions. Both of these revolutions shook the world and turn the world around. After the Enlightenment, there were many revolutions across Europe; however, the American and French Revolution had more power in them to change the world. Because of the books, pamphlets, and sermons, the idea of rationalism moved from philosophes to many of other people. With these new ideas, the people started to believe in change which led to stress and upheaval. In America, the revolution was not like other revolutions. There was no reigns of terror, no mass deportations, or forced labor camps. However, the American
According to Carl N. Degler, the entire Revolution should be viewed as a conservative change. In “A New Kind of Revolution,” Degler talked about how the new actions taken place by the English had help structure and shape the colonial government. Not only did the colonies lack the affection of their motherland, Britain, they were also taxed unfairly. On the other hand, “The Radicalism of the American Revolution,” by Gordon S. Wood talks about how the American Revolution was a radical movement. His thesis covered how the country was transitioning from monarchy to republic, and now, democracy. The framers wanted to create a free nation where no single person rule. As well as, the people of the nation having the ultimate say so.
Born in January of 1737, John Hancock grew up to become a prominent founding father and important Patriot in American history. Filling many roles throughout his life, John Hancock shaped the course of the Revolution by standing out against the British rule. Originally a merchant and statesmen, Hancock became the president of the Second Continental Congress and helped convince all thirteen colonies to unite for their independence (History). Hancock stood for freedom in a time in which many leaders still hesitated to declare independence, and his influence convinced many colonists to unite against tyranny and still inspires many people today. To play such a significant role in the history of America, however, Hancock grew from experiences long
When one explains his or her ingenious yet, enterprising interpretation, one views the nature of history from a single standpoint: motivation. In The American Revolution: A History, Gordon Wood, the author, explains the complexities and motivations of the people who partook in the American Revolution, and he shows the significance of numerous themes, that emerge during the American Revolution, such as democracy, discontent, tyranny, and independence. Wood’s interpretation, throughout his literary work, shows that the true nature of the American Revolution leads to the development of United State’s current government: a federal republic. Wood, the author, views the treatment of the American Revolution in the early twentieth century as scholastic yet, innovative and views the American Revolution’s true nature as
If you live in the United States, you probably are aware of the American Revolution. Most educated adults in America can name at least on hero of pre-Revolutionary America such as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and Thomas Jefferson . But to what extent did these few men, credited with our freedom, actually participate in events that lead up to the revolution? How many countless men remained unnamed and unnoticed despite the work they put into the Revolution? These men have often been overlooked in textbooks, despite the fact most of the freedoms we have now are derived from their brave actions. But why did these men get the wheels of a revolution turning? What was the reason they had for their actions, the very ones that led America and Great Britain to begin a fight not only for freedom, but for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Gordon S. Wood, in The Radicalism of the American Revolution, discusses what it means to be truly revolutionary. In this work, Wood shares his thoughts on the Revolutionary War and whether or not it was a movement radical enough to be considered an honest revolution. Wood discusses the reasoning behind the views of those in favor of the war being considered radical, as well as the views of those who believe the American Revolution to be unfortunately misnamed. He claims that “the Revolution was the most radical and most far- reaching event in American history.” Wood’s work is a valuable source for those studying the revolution because it redefines what it means to be radical, but the piece is also limited by the lack of primary information
Frederick Douglass was an enslaved person and was born in Talbot County, Maryland. He had no knowledge of his accurate age like most of the enslaved people. He believed that his father was a white man, and he grew up with his grandmother. Douglass and his mother were separated when he was young, which was also common in the lives of the enslaved people. This concept of separation was used as a weapon to gain control of the enslaved people. In short, despite the obstacles he had to endure, he was able to gain an education and fight for his freedom in any means necessary.
Stevens was born in Danville, Vermont on April 4, 1792. He had a very difficult childhood. He was born with a club foot and he grew up in a very poor single parent family. He was a very good student and graduated from Dartmouth College. He moved to Pennsylvania in 1816 and studied law. After he was admitted to the bar he became known for defending fugitive slaves without charging them legal fees. He entered politics in 1833, serving in the Pennsylvania state legislature as a member of the Anti-Mason party. Stevens was an avid defender of free public schools and spoke out against slavery (Sifakis). He also supported banks and spoke out against Jacksonian Democrats and Freemasons. In 1849, he was elected to serve in the U.S. House ...
“Is there a single trait of resemblance between those few towns and a great and growing people spread over a vast quarter of the globe, separated by a mighty ocean?” This question posed by Edmund Burke was in the hearts of nearly every colonist before the colonies gained their independence from Britain. The colonists’ heritage was largely British, as was their outlook on a great array of subjects; however, the position and prejudices they held concerning their independence were comprised entirely from American ingenuity. This identity crisis of these “British Americans” played an enormous role in the colonists’ battle for independence, and paved the road to revolution.
“The Revolution was the most radical and far reaching event in American history.” This is the premise of Gordon S. Wood’s book The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Within these pages Wood attempts to prove that the American Revolution was radical because it fundamentally changed the social and political structures of colonial America, structures that had always been fused together. Accordingly, he asserts that the separation of these institutions forms the basis of his argument for radicalism.
Before the American Revolution, the trends of colonial history remained rather consistent. The European superpowers continued to expand, reaping exponential benefits from the nations in which they colonized. Thomas Bender argues that the American Revolution was not just a revolution for the people of the continental United States, but was rather the starting point of a continuous global revolution that inspired social change and governmental autonomy for the colonized people. Bender examines global trends in Central and South America, as well as Europe before America’s Declaration of Independence to demonstrate that prior to the American Revolution, the great powers of Europe ruled with minimal backlash, exploiting weaker nations for increased
Paul Revere, one of the hero’s of the American Revolution, was born in Boston in late 1734. We don’t know the exact day he was born, but we do know he was baptized January 1, 1735. In childhood, Paul dressed like all the other boys with shirts with big sleeves and pants that stopped just below the knees. Boys wore knee buckles to keep their pant legs tight, and it also helped keep their stockings up. When Paul wasn’t doing chores he would play with his siblings, go to church, and spend time in his father’s shop. Paul’s dad, Mr.Revere, was a silversmith and goldsmith and he made all sorts of things like teapots,sugar bowls, trays, jewelry, shoe buckles, and thimbles.
America is known for being the land of opportunities and freedom. It wasn’t always like this, as many people had to fight for it to become this way. With one man’s help, America turned out the way it is now, free and independent. This man was Paul Revere, a young boy who soon became well known for his courage and quick thinking. Paul Revere was a man of politics that fought against the British in the revolutionary war, all while soon becoming known for the Midnight Ride.