As Bernard Bailyn has famously noted, “Whatever deficiencies the leaders
of the American Revolution may have had, reticence, fortunately, was not
one of them.” Both supporters and opponents of the American
Revolutionary movement expressed themselves, frequently and/or in great
length, in print. Although a few wrote long treatises, most penned
short polemical pamphlets that were quickly printed and cheaply sold.
We are fortunate to have original specimens of almost two dozen of these
pamphlets here at Carleton.
Please select one of the pamphlets from the list below and answer
one of the following questions.
1. Intellectual History. These pamphlets are among our best sources for figuring out the political theory and ideology of elite colonists. Look at one part or one theme even of the shortest documents. What does the pamphleteer argue about liberty? Power? Equality? Independence? (you should only address ONE of these topics). How does the author’s interpretation of these concepts shape his ideas of an ideal government and/or society?
2. Rhetoric and Persuasion. These pamphlets were controversial by nature and intended to both inflame and persuade. What barbs, assumptions, and fears does the author use to make his points? Think about how different these pamphlets are from contemporary means of persuasion. What can you learn about colonial culture from these modes of rhetoric? Be sure you explain what the writer is arguing, why he is writing it, and the rhetorical and persuasive devices he uses.
3. If something else about your pamphlet intrigues you, you may write on whatever sparks your interest. However, you must check out your idea with me first.
Regardless of the question you choose to answer,
you must put your pamphlet in at least two different but complementary
contexts. First, think about the pamphlet as an artifact. What
else is printed with the main piece? Advertisements? Other documents? The
names of subscribers? How does thinking of the pamphlet as a culturally-produced
article support your argument?
Second, be sure that you give the appropriate
historical context for the argument inherent in your pamphlet. If
you are working, for example, on Hancock’s 1774 sermon on the Boston Massacre
you need to explain BOTH the events of 1770 to which Hancock refers AND
the events in 1774 that would lead him to give such a sermon.
You will need to put your own argument in
the context of some of the other arguments by other historians that we
have been reading for class. In some cases, you may need more context
than you have gotten from class readings. In that case, please contact
me.
Due Dates:
Friday April 20. You must hand in one paragraph
to me, stating the pamphlet that you are studying, the specific question
you are asking of it, and your preliminary thesis/argument. This
assignment is worth 10% of the paper grade.
Friday May 11. The final paper is due in class.
Under no circumstances will I accept late papers. Please remember,
however, that I am happy to read early drafts or talk with you about your
paper at any time.
E211.L485.
Lee, Arthur. A speech intended to have been delivered in the House
of commons, in support of the petition from the general Congress at Philadelphia.
By the author of An appeal to the justice and interests of Great Britain.
London. Printed for J. Almon, 1775. 67 pages.
E211.L6626
A Letter to Lord George Germain. London. Printed for J. Almon,
1776. 38 pages. (military)
E211. O85 1769
Otis, James. A Vindication of the British Colonies. Boston,
printed; London, reprinted for J. Almon, 1769. 48 pages.
E211. P128
“Candidus” Plain Truth. [London] Philadelphia; printed; London,
Re-printed for J. Almon, opposite Burlington-House in Piccadilly. 1776.
74 pages. (This is a response to Common Sense and is printed with
it).
E211. P9622 1776.
Price, Richard. Observations on the nature of civil liberty, the
principles of government, and the justice and policy of the war with America.
To which is added an appendix, containing a state of the national debt,
and estimate of the money drawn from the public by the taxes, and an account
of the national income and expenditure since the last war. London,
printed 1776. Boston, Re-printed and sold by T. and J. Fleet [1776]. 71
pages (Work on only one or two sections of this pamphlet).
E211. R741
Rokeby, Matthew Robinson-Morris, Baron. Considerations on
the measures carrying on with respect to the British colonies in North
America.. London, Sold by R. Baldwin [1774]. 160 pages. (Work on only
one or two sections of this pamphlet).
E211.S43
Seabury, Samuel. The Congress canvassed: or, An examination into
the conduct of the delegates, at their grand convention, held in Philadelphia,
Sept. 1, 1774. Addressed, to the merchants of New York. New York. Printed
in the year 1774. 27 pages (Loyalist document)
E211.S44
Seabury, Samuel. A view of the controversy between Great-Britain
and her colonies: including a mode of determining their present disputes,
finally and effectually; and of preventing all future contentions. In a
letter, to the author of A full vindication of the measures of the Congress,
from the calumnies of their enemies. New York. Printed by James Rivington,
1774. 37 pages.
E211.S45
Seabury, Samuel. An alarm to the legislature of the province of
New-York, occasioned by the present political disturbances, in North America:
addressed to the honourable representatives in General assembly convened.
New-York. Printed for James Rivington, 1775. 13 pages.
E211.S552 1774.
Shipley, Jonathan. A Speech intended to have been spoken on the
Bill for altering the Charters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay.
London, Printed; Philadelphia; Re-printed and Sold, By William and Thomas
Bradford, at the London Coffee-House, 1774. 29 pages.
E215.2. G807
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Correct copies of the
two protests against the bill to repeal the American stamp act, of last
session, with lists of the speakers and voters. A Paris, Chez
J. W. imprimeur, rue du Colombier, Fauxbourg St. Germain, à l'hotel
de Saxe, M.DCC.LXVI (1766). 24 pages.
E215.35 .T97 1767
Two papers on the subject of taxing the British colonies in America
: the first entitled, "Some remarks on the most rational and effectual
means that can be used in the present conjuncture for the future security
and preservation of the trade of Great Britain, by protecting and advancing
her settlements on the north continent of America" ; the other, "A proposal
for establishing by act of Parliament the duties upon stampt paper and
parchment in all the British American colonies." London : Printed for
J. Almon, 1767. 22 pages. (Please note that the first paper was written
in the 1730s).
E215.4 .H226
Hancock, John. An oration ; delivered March 5, 1774 : at the request
of the inhabitants of the town of Boston ; to commemorate the bloody tragedy
of the fifth of March 1770. Boston: Printed by Edes and Gill, 1774.
20 pages.
E215.5.P67
Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham. The celebrated speech of a celebrated
commoner. London, Printed for S. Austin, 1766. 18 pages.
F152. D543 1765
Galloway, Joseph. The speech of Joseph Galloway, esq.; one of the
members for Philadelphia County; in answer to the speech of John Dickinson,
esq.; delivered in the House of Assembly of the province of Pennsylvania,
May 24, 1764. On occasion of a petition drawn up by order, and then under
the consideration of the House, praying His Majesty for a royal, in lieu
of a proprietary government. With a preface by a member of the Assembly.
Philadelphia printed. London, Reprinted and sold by W. Nicoll, in St. Paul's
Church-Yard, 1765. 92 pages (this is an interesting pamphlet, but do not
let yourself get bogged down in the rather dense discussion of local issues).
(Pseudonymous works)
Candidus [James Chalmers], Plain Truth: Addressed to the Inhabitants
of America ; Containing Remarks on a Late Pamphlet, Entitled Common Sense
(Philadelphia:
R. Bell, 1776), 2.
(Anonymous works)
The Late Occurrences in North America, and Policy of Great Britain,
Considered (London: J. Almon, 1766).