The definition of a rebel varies from person to person. Some could argue that a rebel is a person who goes against or questions society’s norms, or someone who inspires others to make a movement. To others a rebel could be someone who simply rebels to make a statement. For this reason it is difficult to say rather or not Roger Williams was the first American Rebel, because of the different meanings of the word is different for everyone, however in my eyes he is an American rebel. To determine rather or not Roger Williams was the first American rebel, we first need to understand his background, where he came from, and what he believed in. He was a part of a religious group known as the Puritans. The Puritans came over to the new world in hopes to find religious freedom that they were denied of in England and Holland. They did not agree with the …show more content…
He believed in religious freedom but differently than the other Puritans. He believed that you cannot enforce a religion on an entire state without their being consequences such as war and disagreements also you cannot enforce a religion on a person or a group of people if they already believe in something else. He disagreed with the treatment of the Native Americans he claimed “The broad confines of civil peace, every shade of opinion, even the most foolish." To him everyones oppion and way of life mattered. He argued that the colonists did not have the right to take the Native Americans land unless they purchased it (Digital History Roger Williams, A Plea for Religious Liberty 1). Because of his believes he was banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in fear of him corrupting the church and the people. Roger Williams and twelve other people left and founded Providence Rhode Island. As time moved on Rhode Island became an attraction to people whose religious practice was not accepted or
They were the people who actively participated and sacrificed their lives. Therefore the side they chose to fight on was heavily influenced by their “local interests, grudges, and unfulfilled yearnings [Page 87].”In summary, poor farmers, wanted political rights and land. For slaves they yearned for freedom. Women wanted to have the same rights as men. Native Americans wanted the colonists to stop encroaching on their land. Many of these desires coincided while other clashed. Therein lay the chaos that drove the American Revolution. While many of the people did not succeed the ideas they fought for became deeply embedded into
Hogeland, William. The Whiskey Rebellion: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the frontiers rebels who changed America's Newfound Sovereignty. New York: Scribner, 2006.
A Puritan lawyer, John Winthrop, immigrated to New England because his views on religion were different from those in England. Even though Puritans are Protestants, Puritans tried to purify the English Church. In 1630 on board of the Arabella on the Atlantic Ocean on way to Massachusetts, he wrote “A Model of Christian Charity” which gave his views on what a society should be. ‘…the condition of mankind, [that] in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity, other mean and in subjection….[Yet] we must knit together in this work as one man.’ (Doc. A). In this he is saying that men may be different but to make a new world work, they must work together. All through his speech he mentions God. For example, he opens his sermon with ‘God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence…’. This shows that in New England, the people were very religious.
The person that was chosen to lead the rebellion was Daniel Shays. Shays, born in Hopkinton Massachusetts, grew up as a farmer before he fought for his country in the War for Independence. During the War he fought in such key battles as the Battle of Lexington, Bunker Hill and Saratoga.
Before America's independence, American colonists were treated extremely poorly. Citizens were given few rights, had outrageous taxes, and unfair trade restrictions. The Revolutionary War was not the first time these citizens fought back. There was a movement that was a precursor to the Revolutionary War, called the Regulator Movement, that occurred in North Carolina. This movement occurred in the late-1700s, and is extremely similar to the Revolutionary War that occurred a few years later.
African Americans were active prior to the start of the war. The Boston Massacre was an event which created a want for independence. On March 5, 1770, the British troops stationed on King Street in Boston were confronted with an uprising and began shooting into the crowd(Davis 206). Crispus Attucks, a black man, led the 1770 uprising against British troops that resulted in the Boston Massacre. It is alleged that he cried out, "Don't be afraid!" as he led the crowd of protesters against armed British...
Puritans who were persecuted in England sought religious freedom in order to freely practice and express their religion. The Separatists, as they were known, were looking for a “new England”, and they eventually ended up breaking away from the Anglican church. John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, stated that he wanted to establish towns/communities which would be looked upon by the Americans (city on a hill) (Doc A) and ones that would express the religious beliefs and values of Christianity (Doc D). In the Chesapeake colonies, many of the settlers were a part of the Church of England, but they did not have as much religious diversity as did the New England colonies, resulting in the unique development between the
Rebellions have always been prominent in America; most recently the Ferguson riots in Missouri. These citizens are rebelling against American police, because they believe blacks aren’t treated with the same respect than white people. Although, The first recorded rebellion that occurred in America is known as the Bacon’s Rebellion. A rebellion against the English government by a man named Nathaniel Bacon. Nathaniel Bacon was brought up as a moderately rich and powerful man. He was known as a “young, bold, active, of an inviting aspect, and powerful elocution” (Beverley pg. 2). Nathaniel Bacon can be remembered as a hero for leading a lower class against a “corrupt” government and creating unity between communities, but it also can be argued
Rhode Island: The Rhode Island colony was established by Roger Williams after he was banished from Massachusetts colony after clashing with the Puritains about separation of church and state. Founded Rhode Island colony (Providence) and made it so regardless of you religion, you were allowed to partake in the government.
“Where we do well know that all our causes will be impartially heard and equally justice administer to all men,” as said by, Nathaniel bacon. During the early years, when the America was still developing, conflicts formed the United Stated and its relationship with different part of regions. One of earliest rebellion showed different groups of people uniting, to rebel against the government. Bacon’s rebellion was important because it threaten governor Berkley’s government, in Virginia. In 1676, leader of the rebellion was Nathaniel bacon rebelled and held a revolt in colonial Virginia. High, taxes, low prices for tobacco and antipathy against special privileges given to close to the governor, Sir William Berkeley, provided the reasons for the uprising.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the key leaders. Franklin served in the Second Continental Congress helping to get the colonies to work together in fighting against King George and the red coats. He also helped draft the D.O.I. (says ww.history.com). Another leader ,also known as the Founding Father of the U. S., was Thomas Jefferson. Also in the Second Continental Congress Jefferson spent a lot of his time getting people to want to fight for their Independence and religious freedom, and writing the D. O. I. (www.shmoop.cm). Sam Adams is another leader celebrated for his role in the war. As an organizer of Boston's Sons of liberty, Adam helped fight the acts passed by King George. His protests to the Tea Act helped cause the Boston Tea Party. The most peaceful leader out of them all was probably John Adams. John also protested and defended the American rights but in more of a peaceful way. He didn't approve of violent protesting. Though he did defend the British soldiers at the Boston Massacre in 1770, he did believe in the American rights and helped Virginia pass its state constitution in 1776. John also helped revise the D. O.
The American Revolution was a lot like the French revolution. The revolutionaries from America were fighting for freedom against their reigning Monarchs from Britain. The Americans (Like the French Revolutionaries and Enlightened Thinkers) were fighting for freedom against their oppressors, and like the French they didn’t use very good reason or tolerance in their fight. The French burned down an expensive building to fight wasteful spending, and the Americans poured tea into the harbor because tea was becoming too expensive. Like the french, Americans had no tolerance for people who might be
Roger Williams started his teachings in England and took the journey to Boston, Massachusetts to cut ties with the church of England. He thought that
The Whiskey rebellion was the first time in American history that people were drafted for military service. Alexander Hamilton had stated in a letter to Thomas Miffin, the governor of Pennsylvania, in September, 1794 that:
As we all know, colonist explored and came to America with the hope for a new beginning. Among their many goals perhaps their search for religious freedom was the most influential and morally sound reason to come to this new land. On account of England pulling away from the Roman Catholic Church and creating their own religion, The Church of England was established in the 1500s. As this new church started, many did not accept it including the Puritans and Pilgrims who fled to America because they were being persecuted. For a time, Massachusetts Bay Colony was a religious haven. However, after time intolerance and discrimination occurred which caused Roger Williams, a political and re...