William Shoemaker
To my Children's Children, September 18, 1800
I am writing this to you on the anniversary of my father's passing, out of a deep concern for your future. My desire is that, by reading this, you may avoid some of the pain that my generation has experienced. Many things have come and gone in my lifetime, for God has granted me a long 60 years. I wish to tell you all that I have experienced, before I too pass on, that you may learn from the mistakes of the past, and that our losses may not be in vain.
I suppose the best spot to start is in the beginning. I was born on August 15, 1740 in a small farming community outside of Boston, Massachusetts. My mother died shortly after I was born; do to complications with my birth, so I was never given an opportunity to know her. As soon as I was able, I helped out on the farm, for we had no slaves and my father needed all the help he could get. Mostly, we raised corn and hogs on our 100-acre farm, along with a small amount of cotton and tobacco. The later two were to be sold for money and supplies, since my father had no access to credit. My father often dreamt of one day becoming a large planter himself, however, despite his dreams he taught me to be grateful, for the small farmers, further south, had no market to speak of, and lacked many of the conveniences we were blessed with.
In the summer before my fifteenth birthday my father left for war. He had joined the militia to raise some extra money to help support the farm, and was called to go and fight the French and Indians, for they had taken up arms against us, and mother Britain. The next news I received concerning my father devastated me, on October 22, 1759 I received a letter from the general, who led the Boston militia into battle.
Frothingham, Jr, Richard (1851). History of the Siege of Boston and of the Battles of Lexington,
In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.
The Battle of Rhode Island is significant as it represents the first joint French and American operations against the British forces during the Revolution following the signing of the Treaty of Alliance (1778). In addition, the actions of the First Rhode Island Regiment during the conflict are distinguished by the defense of their position from a British flanking action. Their defense of the American position is noted by historians as evidence that Colonial forces were now able to successfully engage and repel British troops. This encounter is also significant in the course of the American Revolution, since it was the only engagement fought during the war in which Black Americans participated as a distinct segregated group as an all Black unit. This unit’s skill in defending the American line against the British-Hessian attacks served to demonstrate that Black Americans could be a formed into a cohesive and effective fighting unit. Finally, despite the Treaty of Alliance, combined planning, and military action on the part of both French and American units, the eventual abandonment of the conflic...
In Joseph Plumb Martin’s account of his experiences in the Revolutionary War he offers unique insight into the perspective of a regular soldier, which differs from the views of generals and leaders such as popular characters like George Washington. Martin’s narrative is an asset to historical scholarship as a primary source that gives an in-depth look at how life in the army was for many young men during the War for Independence. He described the tremendous suffering he experienced like starvation and privation. He did not shy away from describing his criticism of the government who he believes did not adequately care for the soldiers during and after the war. While he may be biased because of his personal involvement as a soldier, he seems to relate accounts that are plausible without embellishment or self-aggrandizement. Overall, “A Narrative of A Revolutionary Soldier” is a rich source of information providing an overview of military experience during the war.
The author David McCullough wanted to write about George Washington and his men through losses and miserable retreats, as well as his big successes. Not forgetting McCullough uses his opening chapters to summarize the state of the opposing armies and to introduce some of his major characters: Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and William Howe. 1776 gives a very detailed and informative account of the battles and military life from the Battle of Boston to the Battle of Trenton. Finally the author, David McCullough, of the book as many other works and experiences that tell the reader why and how 1776 is such a credible source as well as expertly written. Many histories that spend a great deal of time narrating the Continental Congress’ development of the idea of “freedom” and “liberty” as it applied to the colonies, this book takes the reader right in the drains following
"American Revolution." for Kids: Daily Life During the Revolutionary War. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. .
In the year 1774, there was an event that would set the then British colonies on a path to becoming its own nation. This event is called: “The Battle of Point Pleasant” also affectionately known as “Lord Dunmore’s War.” Lord Dunmore and his Virginia militiamen fought an allied Mingo and Shawnee tribe led by legendary Chiefs Cornstalk and Logan. The stage is set for a fierce and merciless conflict between these titans. Even though this brutal one day conflict caused hundreds of casualties and left dozens dead, it paved the way for the American Revolution.
Lancaster, Bruce, J. H. Plumb, and Richard M. Ketchum. The American Heritage History of the American Revolution. New York: Bonanza, 1984. Print.
This book is the unbiased, detailed narrative of the war in chronological order. Summarized, this literary piece is an explanation of why the British lost the Revolutionary War. Christopher Hibbert explains the reasons behind their loss and provides supporting evidence as the War’s timeline progresses. One
King Philip’s War (1675-76) is an event that has been largely ignored by the American public and popular historians. However, the almost two-year conflict between the colonists and the Native Americans in New England stands as perhaps the most devastating war in this country’s history. One in ten soldiers on both sides were wounded or killed. At its height, hostilities threatened to push the recently arrived English colonists back to the coast. And, it took years for towns and urban centers to recover from the carnage and property damage.
As proclaimed in the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms,” we agreed that the British government had left the people with only two options, “unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force.” Thus, in the early months of the dreadfully long year of 1775, we began our resistance. As the war progressed, the Americans, the underdogs, shockingly began winning battles against the greatly superior mother country of England. Actually, as seen in the battle of Bunker Hill, not only were they winning, they were annihilating hundreds of their resilient opponents. Countless questions arose before and during the War of Independence. Problems like: social equality, slavery, women’s rights, and the struggle of land claims against Native Americans were suddenly being presented in new and influencing ways to our pristine leaders. Some historians believe that while the Revolutionary War was crucial for our independence, these causes were not affected; thus, the war was not truly a revolution. Still, being specified in the Background Essay, several see the war as more radical, claiming it produced major changes above and beyond our independence.
The town of Boston was a very unstable throughout the 1760’s. This instability quickly turned to violence in the early part of 1770’s. Tension had already begun to in the beginning of the year with various clashes between the British and the colonists. However, in early March the tensions erupted into bloodshed to create what we now know as the Boston Massacre. The occurrence of these events is a fact, however, the interpretations of them has changed over time. The reports are colored by events that are taking place during the period of time in which they were written and by the author’s own prejudices and opinions. However, we can use these imperfections as a way of tracking what is occurring in America and the state of politics.
Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause; The American Revolution, 1763-1789. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
It was June 6, 2011. I remember taking my mother to the County Hospital’s emergency room. She seemed extremely exhausted; her eyes were half-closed and yellow, and she placed her elbow on the armchair, resting her head on her palm. I remember it was crowded and the wait was long, so she wanted to leave. I was the only one there with her, but I did not allow her to convince me to take her home. I told her in Spanish, “Mom, let’s wait so that we can get this over with and know what’s going on with you. You’ll see everything is okay, and we’ll go home later on.” I wish then and now that would have been the case. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to many parts of her body including her lungs and kidneys. The doctor said to me not considering that I was a minor and my mother’s daughter, “Her disease is very advanced and we don’t think she will live longer than a year.” With this devastating news, I did not know what to do. I thought to myself that perhaps I should cry, or try to forget and take care of her as best I could and make her laugh to ease her pain.
Before I begin I would like to thank all of you here on behalf of my mother, my brother and myself, for your efforts large and small to be here today, to help us mark my fathers passing.