Robert A. Gross the author of “The Minutemen and their World” gives a very detailed nonfictional narrative of the small town of Concord, Massauchessets. Gross describes the American Revelotion through the eyes of this community which paints a more vivid picture of the events taking place up to the war which seperated the Unite States for Great Britian through a perspective that I have never seen before.
The book begins with the time leading up to the American Revolution. Just like all American colonies Concord faced hardship leading up to the war. The british imposed tariffs such as the Stamp Act and the Tea act affected the small town and created a growing uneasiness amongst the community. Gross described the the small town as on edge
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Over the first few months of 1775 Concord struggled to gain and train a functional militia. After month of angry talk amongst citizen and leader in Concord action became more prominent, Gross stated “Nearly all of local life took on a military cast” towards mid spring point of 1775(69).
Economically speaking unlike most American economies the time leading to war did not cause an economic burden. Even with the British emposed tariffs, Concord maintained and survived. Gross described the economic stability by stating “(Concord)... exported its youth to the frontier, Concord by mid-century had managed to work out a rough balance between numbers and resources and to escape the worse social consequences of overpopulation(106).” But war caused an “social and psychological price” like in any way most families worried about losing love ones such as spouses, kids, and friends (107).
On April 19, 1775 the Revolution finally began on the footsteps of Concord. After days of rumors British forces finally moved into the small town. Unlike most expected the minutemen held their own and protected the town of Concord along with militia from neighboring towns. When the fighting in town died down and everything was calm in Concord WIlliam Emerson claimed “This month [is] remarkable for the greatest Event taking Place in the present Age(132).” This attitude
In the book “Shays’ Rebellion: Authority and Distress in Post-revolutionary America”, Sean Condon shows us his outlook on how he saw post-revolutionary America to be within the late 1770’s and 1780’s. This book was released in 2015 by John Hopkins University Press, and was also made in a continuing book series by Peter Charles Hoffer and Willamjames Hull Hofer called Witness to History. The story takes us "Throughout the late summer and fall of 1786, farmers in central and western Massachusetts organized themselves into armed groups to protest against established authority and aggressive creditors. Calling themselves "regulators" or the "voice of the people.”” [1] Condon succeeds by prosing an appealing idea in an upfront style that shapes
This book, “The Shoemaker and The Tea Party” is split into two different sections. The first part is about the events that happened in Boston through the eyes of George Robert Twelves Hewes. The second part is written about the Author, Alfred Young, who asks the question “When Did They Start Calling It the Boston Tea Party”. This book is written about the memory that Hewes had of the many events that he participated in. These events included the Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, and the tarring and feathering of people. The recollections of Hewes helped Americans to realize that we are all equal, and all capable of doing great things to help our country.
In Paul Revere’s Ride, by David Hackett Fischer, Mr. Fischer describes the challenges of the early American Revolution from both sides. Thomas Gage, a British General, was trying to resist the colonies, but was unsuccessful. Gage was not able to succeed because the British were lacking numbers, and Gage was lacking the mental strength needed to fight. The colonies, led mainly by Paul Revere, were not only strong in numbers and leaders, but were also united in the fact that they were determined to gain their freedom and a democracy.
The Minutemen and Their World by Robert Gross tells the story of the common man in Concord, Massachusetts before and after April 19, 1775. The book offers a glimpse of the people’s lives during the colonial period, creating a context for the American Revolution through social history and the settlers’ ordinary lives before the fateful “shot heard around the world.” Gross shows how the town of Concord majorly changed; he depicts the life of the people to show the bigger picture of the American Revolution as it affected not only the lives of the militiamen and delegates, but the ordinary townspeople as well. Gross argues that as the battle for independence began, it had a significant impact on the Revolution as it transformed from a quiet country town into an important revolutionary hub.
We know from our history lessons that on June 17, 1775, a group of inexperienced colonists defended against two assaults by highly trained British forces on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. The colonists were scattered on the third assault, but the British suffered
Joe Fitzhugh 11/5/16 History Book Review The Minutemen and Their World In this book by Robert Gross he tells an abnormal story of the American Revolution by looking at the ordinary city of Concord, Massachusetts as a part of colonial America. Gross says that the fight for independence from Great Britain was not simply just revolution that needed soldiers to fight in a war but it was a social war - a war with patriarchal control, religious jealousy, individualism, and control of government.
On April 18th 1775, the british troops planned to march to Concord Massachusetts to steal military supplies and ammunition. They also hoped to kidnap John Hancock and Sam Adams. When a guy named Joseph Warren found out about it, he sent 2 people to warn the residents of the area. Their names were Paul Revere and Tanner William Dawes. While they were on the road, they met another horse rider. His name was Samuel Prescott. They told him what was going on and he offered to help them spread the word. Alone, he made it all the way to Concord. “Revere was captured by...British patrol, while Dawes was thrown from his horse …[and had] to proceed back to Lexington on foot.” Early the next morning, at about 5 o’clock, the redcoats finally arrived in
What comes to mind regarding an individual that can be ready within a minute or less,? Many people think a special operation soldier and others think about the national guard. All of those answers are true. Regarding the national guard, the national guard is a succeeded of a militia group dating back to 1645. There were many militia that were formed around the American Colonies. One of the group of militia is known as the minutemen. The word minutemen is a hard to believe but these individuals were ready in a minute or less when call upon to action. The minutemen played a role in the American Revolutionary war against the British. They fought against the British in the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 15th, 1775. After Lexington and
The American Revolution, today, is seen as a memorable event in history. It was a war against Britain for the independence of the thirteen colonies that began in 1775. Before the American Revolution began, there was a lot of conflict between the colonists and British authorities. The British raised revenue by establishing Acts such as the Stamp Act of 1766. The colonists were against it and tried revolting against Britain, leading to the Boston Massacre in 1770 of British soldiers shoot colonists and killing a few men. The colonists also retaliated against the taxations by dressing up as Indians and throwing tea into the ocean. Parliament began establishing acts known as the intolerable acts, which led to the revolution. In The Shoemaker and the Tea Party by Alfred F. Young, the author introduces and describes the life of a shoemaker, George Robert Twelves Hewes, and the events he was a part of leading up to and after the American Revolution. He shows the different meanings of the Revolution to people according to their perspective and view on society. The Excerpt from “Accounts of George Robert Twelves Hewes as Told to James Hawkes” by James Hawkes is a secondary source of what Hewes has told Hawkes about his memories of the Boston Massacre. Michael D. Hattem, however, gives a more contemporary view on the American Revolution in his article, “The Historiography of the American Revolution.” Though the course of history, the meaning of the American Revolution and the events
This book was written by Ellis to inform the public of what took place after the American’s Revolution to Independence. Ellis wanted to share to the readers that these historical people were humans too who have had some difficulties with regards to difference in opinions, values and character. They also got hurt and affected on how people were badly disparaging their character. Take for example George Washington that was character assassinated by Benjamin Franklin Bache. The press was so harsh and vile at him and used words that were so mean and cruel. These Founding Brothers fought with each other but they have learned how to compromise and set aside whatever opposing ideas they have for the sake of the common good of the nation. This book was well written by Ellis because it leads the imagination of the readers on what was really going on during the debates, campaigns, and inner turmoil of these characters as if the reader was on that same scene and witnessing everything first
At the height of the American Revolution was a book written by author Robert A. Gross called “The Minutemen and Their World.” A heap of court documents, diaries, private paperwork, and genealogies interpret the lives of citizens of Concord, Massachusetts before, midst, and after the war. The people of Concord, Massachusetts were contesting for their autonomy from the British and also striving to revolutionize socially, economically, religiously, and agriculturally.
England made any town meeting, except authorized by the governor illegal, and housed British soldiers in select public buildings. In Massachusetts the British military governor, General Gage, ordered his 3,500 British soldiers in Boston to seize armories and storehouses in Charlestown and Cambridge. After the seizure, 20,000 colonial militiamen mobilized to protect other military supply depots and in the town of Concord the famous defensive force, the Minutemen, were organized.2 With these acts Parliament declared that Massachusetts was in open rebellion. British Secretary of State, Lord Dartmouth, quickly ordered Gage to send his soldiers on a search and destroy mission to capture colonial leaders, and military supplies in Concord. “At the same time Gage would attempt to find, capture, or kill John Hancock and Samuel Adams.”3 The stage was set for the first major engagements of the American Revolution.
The Boston Massacre is considered by many historians to be the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The fatal incident happened on March 5 of 1770. The massacre resulted in the death of five colonists. British troops in the Massachusetts Bay Colony were there to stop demonstrations against the Townshend Acts and keep order, but instead they provoked outrage. The British soldiers and citizens brawled in streets and fought in bars. “The citizens viewed the British soldiers as potential oppressors, competitors for jobs, and a treat to social mores”. A defiant anti-British fever was lingering among the townspeople.
“1776” is a story of war. This book chronicles the year 1776 and the different battles that took place during the year. Instead of exploring the political changes the year oversaw, Pulitzer Prize winner, David McCullough explores in a different perspective on the battles that occurred during the year. From battle strategies, to the lives of Major Generals, McCullough takes you through the story in a more realistic and factual perspective. “1776” offers an intimate look into the military aspects of the revolutionary war which creates a more lively and engaging literature. McCullough opens the book in London, where King George III appears on behalf of his people to announce war with the North American colonies. American patriots sought to overthrow British government that overexerted its power and pressed the American colonists, which manifested in the former taxes and troops. The American colonists began to protest and riot, which increased tension, eventually leading to the Battle of Lexington and Concord,
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the Concord Hymn as a tribute to the Battles of Concord and Lexington which were fought in 1775. The poem describes how the “shot heard round the world,” was the beginning of the war between the colonists in America and Great Britain. To gain their independence from Great Britain, America fired the “first shot,” and thus began the official start of the American Revolutionary War. The war against the British would last from 1775 and end in 1783. Yet an earlier American Revolution had essentially begun years before the actual war started. In the years leading up to these first battles of Concord and Lexington several acts and laws that Great Britain imposed on the colonists became intolerable and led the colonists to rebel and fight for American Independence.