HIST 10 - The era of the colonial resistance movement leading to the American Revolution

Spring 2016
History 10


Writing Assignment #2

Write a 2-3 page essay in response to the following prompt. Your paper should be typewritten
and double-spaced. Papers are due on Thursday, March 31. No late papers accepted.
Essay prompt: The following four documents were all written in the era of the colonial resistance
movement leading to the American Revolution. What do these four documents tell us about how
the focus, goals, and/or arguments of the resistance movement changed during eleven years
between the Stamp Act and the Declaration of Independence?
[Keep in mind the following: your essay must use all four documents. Think about what each
writer might see as the main issue or goal of the resistance movement. Where would they agree
and where would they disagree? How does the tone and language of the resistance movement
change among these documents? Remember that this essay is not a summary of what the
documents say, nor is it an overview of the events that lead to the American Revolution, but
rather the essay should focus on the issue raised by the prompt.]
Document #1: Benjamin Franklin is Questioned Before the British Parliament, 1765
Question: What was the temper of America towards Great-Britain before the year 1763?
Franklin: The best in the world. They submitted willingly to the government of the Crown, and
paid, in all their courts, obedience to the acts of parliament. Numerous as the people are in the
several old provinces, they cost you nothing in forts, citadels, garrisons or armies, to keep them
in subjection. They were governed by this country at the expence only of a little pen, ink and
paper. They were led by a thread. They had not only a respect, but an affection, for GreatBritain, for its laws, its customs and manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, that greatly
increased the commerce. Natives of Britain were always treated with particular regard; to be an
Old Englandman was, of itself, a character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among us.
Q.: And what is their temper now [since passage of the Stamp Act]?
Franklin: O, very much altered.
Document #2: John Dickinson, Letters of a Farmer in Pennsylvania, (1767)
"All artful rulers who strive to extend their power . . . endeavor to give to their attempts
as much semblance of legality as possible. Those who succeed then may . . . go a little further,
for each new encroachment will be strengthened by a former. . . . A free people therefore can
never be too quick in observing, nor too firm in opposing the beginnings of alteration. . . .”
“Some persons may imagine the sums to be raised by [the Townshend Duties] are but
small, and therefore may be inclined to acquiesce under it. A conduct more dangerous to
freedom . . . [could] never be adopted. Nothing is wanted at home but a PRECEDENT, the force

of which shall be established, by the tacit submission of the colonies. . . If the parliament
succeeds in this attempt, other statutes will impose other duties. Instead of taxing ourselves, as
we have been accustomed to do, from the first settlement of these provinces, all our usual taxes
will be converted into parliamentary taxes . . .”

Document #3: Massachusetts Slaves Argue for Freedom in a petition to the Massachusetts
Provincial Assembly, 1773
Boston, April 20th, 1773
Sir, The efforts made by the legislature of this province in their last sessions to free themselves
from slavery, gave us, who are in that deplorable state, a high degree of satisfaction. We expect
great things from men who have made such a noble stand against the designs of their fellow-men
to enslave them. We cannot but wish and hope Sir, that you will have the same grand object, we
mean civil and religious liberty, in view in your next session. The divine spirit of freedom,
seems to fire every humane breast on this continent . . . [and] we cannot but expect your house
will again take our deplorable case into serious consideration, and give us that ample relief
which, as men, we have a natural right to.
Document #4: Thomas Paine argues for independence in Common Sense, 1776
I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection
with Great Britain, that the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will
always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. . . . I
answer roundly that America would have flourished as much, and probably more, had no
European power had any thing to do with her. . . . Alas, we have long been led away by ancient
prejudices, and made large sacrifices to superstition. We have boasted of the protection of Great
Britain, without considering, that her motive was interest not attachment. . . . I challenge the
warmest advocate for reconciliation, to shew, a single advantage that this continent can reap, by
being connected with Great Britain.
The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. ‘Tis not the affair of a city, a county, a
province, or a kingdom, but of a continent—of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe.
‘Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and
will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now. Now is the seed
time of continental union, faith and honour . . .
Should an independency be brought about . . . we have every opportunity and every
encouragement before us to form the noblest, purest constitution on the face of the earth. We
have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not
happened since the days of Noah until now. The birth-day of a new world is at hand . . .