The Handy American History Answer Book. David L. Hudson
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in July 1776, more than 100,000 copies of it were sold that year. Paine wrote that “we have it in our power to begin the world over again.” He wrote passionately about the importance of freedom in society. He accused the British king of engaging “in a long and violent abuse of power.” In Common Sense, he waxed eloquently about the need for freedom. He concluded:
These proceedings may at first appear strange and difficult; but, like all other steps which we have already passed over, will in a little time become familiar and agreeable; and, until an independence is declared, the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.
Common Sense may have been Paine’s most well-known publication, but it was not his only contribution. During the struggle for independence, Paine wrote and distributed a series of sixteen papers, called Crisis, upholding the rebels’ cause in their fight. Paine penned his words in the language of common speech, which helped his message reach a mass audience in America and elsewhere. “We have it in our power to begin the world over again,” Paine wrote in language that resonated with many colonists.
He soon became known as an advocate of individual freedom. The fight for freedom was one that he waged in letters. In 1791 and 1792, Paine, now back in England, released The Rights of Man (in two parts), in which he defended the cause of the French Revolution (1789–1799) and appealed to the British people to overthrow their monarchy. For this he was tried and convicted of treason in his homeland. Escaping to Paris, the philosopher became a member of the revolutionary National Convention. But during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794) of revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre (1758–1794), Paine was imprisoned for being English. An American minister interceded on Paine’s behalf, insisting that Paine was actually an American. Paine was released on this technicality. He remained in Paris until 1802 and then returned to the United States. Though he played an important role in the American Revolution by boosting the morale of the colonists, he nevertheless lived his final years as an outcast and in poverty. Historian Joseph Ellis writes in his highly readable history American Creation: “Paine was an indispensable ally in the cause of American independence. But the combination of his utopian convictions and his brilliant pen also made him the most dangerous man in America once his independence was declared.” (p. 44)
What two colonial-era leaders founded the first abolitionist society in the colonies?
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) and Dr. Benjamin Rush (1746–1813) of Pennsylvania founded the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes in Philadelphia in April 1775. In 1784, the society changed its name to the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage. Franklin added clout to the organization by serving as its first president. Many members of the organization were Quakers who had a strong opposition and moral revulsion to slavery.
What congressional body formed in response to the Intolerable Acts?
Colonist leaders formed the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774. The leaders elected delegates to this body, which publicly condemned the Intolerable Acts as null and void. The Continental Congress also urged the creation of militias in the different colonies, understanding the need to arm themselves and protect their interests from possible further British incursions. The Continental Congress adopted the Suffolk Resolves, a series of resolutions opposed to British measures—such as the Intolerable Acts. These resolves not only opposed the Intolerable Acts but also called for Massachusetts and others to arm themselves.
Fifty-six men from twelve different colonies (all of the original thirteen except Georgia) attended the First Continental Congress, which first convened on September 5, 1774. The Congress debated whether to engage in armed conflict or seek reconciliation with the British crown. The Continental Congress supported a boycott of British goods. The First Continental Congress also called for the creation of a second Congress, which met in May 1775.
What luminaries in American history attended the First Continental Congress?
George Washington (1732–1799) and John Adams (1735–1826), the first two presidents of the United States, attended the First Continental Congress. Other famous attendees included John Jay (1745–1829), the first U.S. Supreme Court chief justice; Roger Sherman (1721–1793), the author of the “Great Compromise” that saved the U.S. Constitution; Sam Adams (1722–1803), the architect of the resistance in Boston against British rule; and John Dickinson, author of the Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer.
The First Continental Congress met here at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia in 1774.
Who said “Give me liberty or give me death”?
Patrick Henry (1736–1799) uttered this famous revolutionary phrase on March 23, 1775, in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Henry spoke these words upon learning that the British Parliament refused to repeal the Intolerable Acts. Henry believed the colonists needed to revolt in order to obtain freedom from the repressive measures of the British government. Henry was an attorney who also served as governor of Virginia. Henry is considered one of the leaders of the American Revolutionary War effort. He had earlier gained acclaim for his opposition to the Stamp Act and his drafting of the so-called Virginia Resolves against the Stamp Act.
Who was James Otis?
James Otis, Jr. (1725–1783) was a Massachusetts lawyer most famous for challenging writs of assistance and for uttering the slogan “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” Writs of assistance were general search warrants that British officials used to search colonial ships to determine whether the ships were engaged in smuggling. Opposition to these writs of assistance led to the adoption of the protections found in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits government officials from engaging in unreasonable searches and seizures.
Otis gained renown for representing a group of Boston merchants who challenged the fairness and constitutionality of writs of assistance. Otis’s passion in argument for his clients made him a popular man in revolutionary circles. Otis also wrote a series of tracts challenging British policies on taxation. Otis also showed forward thinking on race relations, particularly for his time period.
Who were the Loyalists?
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the British crown and opposed the American Revolutionary War effort. They were also called Tories or King’s Men. Historians have estimated that at least fifteen percent of the colonial population considered themselves Loyalists. Many Loyalists avoided actual military conflict. Some Loyalists actively joined the British military cause, particularly if British officials came to their particular town.
WAR BREAKS OUT
What were the first battles of the Revolutionary War?
The first battles were the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, fought on April 19, 1775. British forces led by General Thomas Gage learned that some colonists were storing weapons in Concord. Gage led a group of British forces to march upon Concord, disarm the colonists, and arrest colonial leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The British forces marched toward Concord and engaged in gunfire first at Lexington. More heavy fighting took place at Concord.
Who were Paul Revere and William Dawes?
Paul Revere (1734–1818) was a silversmith best known for riding by horseback through Massachusetts to warn leaders in different cities that British forces were marching toward Lexington and Concord. Gage’s wife Margaret warned Dr. Joseph Warren (1741–1775) of the impending plan. Warren in turn told Revere and enlisted him to go on his famous ride to warn colonial leaders of the impending assault. Revere became famous in part because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
Revere was not the only midnight rider. The other was William Dawes (1745–1799), who also was instructed by Dr. Warren to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of their impending arrest. Dawes has been