The American Revolution- Freedom for Whom?

 

Questions to begin discussion:

  • Was the American Revolution "radical" or "conservative"?
  • What was the Revolution about?
  • Who fought and what did they expect to gain?

 

 

Resources on the Declaration of Independence

American Revolution Timeline

The Stamp Act Congress

 

The Boston Massacre: Who is Responsible?

1770aRevereBosMas

Paul Revere, Engraving of the Boston Massacre, March 12th, 1770
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h83.html

Sam Adams, a leader of theSons of Liberty, asked Paul Revere to make this engraving. The image appeared in the issue of the Boston Gazette, along with Revere's "An account of a late Military Massacre at Boston..." and was later reprinted and widely distributed.

1770PelhamBosMas

Henry Pelham,Drawing of Cripsus Attucks at the Boston Massacre
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p24.html

Revere's engraving (left) was inspired by a drawing by Henry Pelham (above) published nearly two weeks after Revere's. How are these two images different? What mght explain the differences? Which one is "right"?

 

African Americans in the American Revolution
1778RI1stReg

The 1st Rhode Island Regiment of the Continental Line:

In January 1778, General Washington approved Rhode Island's plan to raise an entire regiment of freed black slaves. Over the next five years 250 former slave and freedmen served in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was instrumental in the Battle of Yorktown.

http://www.americanrevolution.org/firstri.html

1781Armistead

James Armistead was a slave sent by the marquis de LaFayette to work for Lord Cornwallis as a spy. he pretended to spy for the British but was actually a double agent for the colonists.

http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html

1784ArmisteadLaf

In October 1784, Lafayettewrote a letter to the state legislature to free Armistead in recognition of his invaluable service. More than two years would pass until his emancipation on January 9, 1787.

http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html

 


Was the Revolution Radical?

1776DecofInd

The Declaration of Independence, 1776

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/

Question to end discussion:

  • Who becamei"independent" as a result of the Revolutions?Who did not?
  • How has the Declaration of Independence become a symbol for democracy around the world, if it provided real political liberty for only a fraction of the population?
  • Was the Revolution "radical" or "conservative"?

The omitted paragraph

Abigail Adams, Remember the Ladies

Children of the Declaration