During the early 1600s, many colonists arrived and settled in Early America where they established colonies. These colonies were ruled by their mother country, Britain, but after the French and Indian War, they were heavily taxed and no longer wanted to be a part of England. Eventually, the colonists grew tired of being controlled by Britain and decided to break away and become their own country. In order to gain their freedom and ultimately impact the development of Revolutionary America, many colonists used the concept of mass hysteria and the human characteristic, courage, in order to gain their freedom. To show their discontent for the taxes, many colonists’ minds were instilled with the concept of mass hysteria and fought back against …show more content…
This concept was present in many colonists’ actions throughout the journey to accomplish Revolutionary America. The article, Colonial Crowds Protest the Stamp Act states, “...Towards dark some thousands proceeded to Oliver’s Dock, where there was a new brick building just finished; and [because they thought it was] a “Stamp Office” instantly set about demolishing it…” (Boston Gazette Newspaper). Crowd action was often many colonists’ way of intimidating or opposing Britain and its law. The specific example relating to the Stamp Act showed that the colonists were unhappy with it and were set on doing whatever it would take in order to have it repealed. Propaganda also played an important role in the process of mass hysteria. In Paul Revere’s famous engraving of the Boston Massacre, he depicts the British soldiers, also known as redcoats, shooting the helpless colonists (The Boston Massacre Engraving). This engraving became one of the most popular ones known throughout history because at the time, most colonists were illiterate and this image helped them to understand what happened. Mass hysteria was incorporated into both propaganda and crowd action, and this was only the beginning of the colonists’
The idea of independence and freedom from Britain was a large concept during the time of the Revolution. The taxes that the British were imposing on colonists often led to uprising that amalgamated the colonists together. The idea of the Homespun virtue was a symbolism for American economic independence from the British imported good it also reflected the self- sacrifice colonist made from the luxury good of Britain. This idea united the Northern and Southern colonists to fight British imported goods. The schism during the time of the Revolution came from the wealthy plantation owners fearing that the their land will be taken away and divided amongst the poor after the revolution.
The colonists’ sense of identity and unity as Americans was further developed when they coalesced to fight the British. Many people who lived in the colonies were not English; they were German, Dutch, Swedish, Jewish, Scots-Irish, and French. Some people were a mixture of many different ethnic groups. This “mixed” group of people, which could not be found anywhere else in the world, that united to fight for their rights led to the creation of a separate identity (from Britain). The British thought that this “open Rebellion” was unjustifiable and that the colonists had no reason to turn against their mother country, who “…protected them against the Ravages of their Enemies…”
In two famous engravings of the Boston Massacre, Engraving of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere and The Fruits of Arbitrary Power by Henry Pelham, viewers are given different views of the same event through the use of various artistic techniques. If one looks closer at these two engravings, it becomes apparent that there are differences between how two groups, American Colonists and British Troops, are presented as good, evil, or morally ambiguous. Through the use of various artistic techniques such as color, shading, facial expressions, and text, Revere and Pelham were able to achieve two different expressions and opinions of the same massacre. While Pelham’s engraving appears more neutral in tone, Revere’s engraving includes much more emotional appeal and
The protesters had an alike instance when they found out the news that “The senate is gearing up to vote on a last -ditch effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.” (Rhodan 1). Hearing this news infuriated the protesters, but also motivated them enough to take action. Similar to Patrick Henry, the protesters were ready to go to war in attempt to receive their
If there should be loss of life and turmoil, any parent would want it to be during their lives so that their child could have a better life. This hit a soft spot in the revolutionists because it is a parent’s natural instinct to protect their offspring, and any good guardian wants their child to have a better life than they had. The American Crisis influenced the colonists because though their lives would be affected by the revolution, the outcome would be a better life for their families and future
Thomas Paine once stated, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” During the late 1700’s the colonists were struggling with liberty from the British. They desired freedom, but feared failure. It was difficult since the colonists did not have a strong and experienced army like the British. Colonists had little motivation so that is when Paine felt the need to take action.
The American Revolution brought about triumph of the United States, but the success of the country wasn't always so sure and the need for liberty didn’t seem easily as attainable as the people at the time thought it would be. The only thing that was standing in the way of the colonist was the most powerful army in the world; but the feeling to be free, to be independent, and to be its own powerful country was what fueled these men. In 1775 battles between colonists and representatives of the British power intensified and in order to calm things down of what the King thought was a meaningless rebellion, he sent Red Coats from the British Army. In spite of their efforts, days and months went. The Red Coats and the King saw the colonists strength, their courage and their determination.
In document #4, the painting of Paul Revere, the member of the Sons of Liberty, presented Boston Massacre - British soldiers attacked colonists publicly and caused death in a colony. This attack conveyed how violent the British was and indicated the reason why it was justified to split from Britain, a country full of
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” (Paine 1). With the Revolutionary War beginning in 1775, and the publication of Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, only a year later, this statement was widely recognized and addressed the issue at hand: the fight for independence. According to Paine’s assertion, America’s desire for peace and freedom is a basic necessity of life; it is what all men desire. Despite this innate thirst for liberty, many residents of America’s thirteen colonies were fearful of Great Britain, and because of this fear, complied with Great Britain’s every whim. Consequently, most colonists were hesitant to fight against the mother country for independence.
With this being said, this movement was built by the very people who originated from Britain. With consumption of British goods, conducting their demeanor and their values all seemed to parallel with the social structure in England. The Colonists not only abided and supported the British governmental proceedings in the colonies, but they were proud to do so. It wasn’t until the mid 1760’s that the tide began to turn. Between the taxes imposed by British, the fragrant infringement on colonist’s inalienable rights as well as the publication of Thomas Paine’s political pamphlet “Common Sense”, the general public consensus was ignited to participate in the
A member of the Boston 's Sons of Liberty and a silversmith, Paul Revere, helped stir exasperation against the British army by producing an inaccurate print of the Boston Massacre depicting British soldiers firing into an unarmed crowd. Revere’s reason for this was believed because of the government in London decided to impose a new set of tax laws. As a result, caused Revere’s items in his silver shop to be taxed. The image became one of the most influential pieces of the revolutionary
Before this many Colonists did not know of the harsh injustices done by the British. They also did not believe that the cause for revolution was urgent. Thomas Paine showed them that the cause was urgent by explaining the wrongs the British had committed and why King George was a tyrant. He also showed them that America did not need the British Empire 's protection. This quote shows his reasoning “Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.”
To find both a sense of unity and their own identity, the colonists banded together in the face of adversity, they also found a sense of identity and unity due to a lack of a sense of belonging, and through the passing of the Townshend Act. As more and more colonists began to turn their back on England, they realized,
Settlers in the 18th century American frontier would at times resort to violent protests to express their political and social distress as a result, political, social, and economic reform followed. America had varying political and social opinions in relation to individual groups and peoples within society. The individuals and groups, at times, would have differing opinions than what was legislated or believed overall as a country. The dissent of opinions and ideas lead to acts of aggression against established laws and ordinance.
The American Revolution (1700-1790) was a historical event in time, where the Thirteen Colonies that became the United States of America, gained independence from the British Empire. Many historians would agree that the Revolution was caused by events and the growing differences between the colonists and England. The cause of the American Revolution could be summarized in the saying ‘liberty vs. tyranny’. The American Revolution was a struggle by liberty-loving Americans to free themselves from a dictatorial British rule. In this period, the Colonies protested against the British Empire and entered into the American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence.