came into conflict with ye olde Frenchmen. The first real conflict began when thee old Frenchmen moved into the Ohio country and built Fort Duquesne on the Ohio River. Our British colonies that were already established in the Ohio River (especially Virginia) were angry that ye olde Frenchmen settled in our territory. Shortly after the first battle, the battle of Jumonville Glen, took place on May 28, 1754. Led by 22 year-old Colonel George Washington, our soldiers surrounded ye olde Frenchmen and won this battle in about only 15 minutes. In 1755, our great General Braddock led 1,500 men to take Fort Duquesne. However, we were ambushed and soundly defeated by the Frenchmen and Indian soldiers. The life of our dear General Braddock was taken by ye olde Frenchmen in this battle. Next, was the Battle of Fort Oswego in 1756. Ye olde Frenchmen captured our Fort Oswego and took 1,700 prisoners captive. In 1757, the massacre at Fort William Henry took place. Many of our soldiers were massacred as the Frenchmen s Indian allies violated the terms of our surrender and killed about 150 of our soldiers. Finally, after years of defeat, our people were victorious in the Battle of Quebec in 1759. In this battle our people claimed a huge victory over ye olde Frenchmen and took Quebec City. Next year we shall battle it out with the Frenchmen at Montreal. We will be led by the great Field Marshall Jeffery Amherst. We need soldiers to fight in the next battle so we will be victorious once and for all! Calling all brave men! Calling all strong men! Let us fight for our families. Let us fight for our land. Let us fight for ourselves! REMEMBERING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-We were united! A look back at an article by Loyalist Jace Cookenmaster written a decade ago--perhaps the British have a right to tax us? WE HAVE VICTORY--Seven years of war has finally paid off! We have won the war against the French. The Indians have really helped. Nine years ago American colonists began fighting with the French over the Ohio Valley. Both sides needed more men, so they gathered up different tribes of Indians to fight for them. However the French kept winning, so after two years of fighting we came in and helped the Americans. We declared war against the French. Both sides had victories and defeats but we were the victorious ones. Brigadier General John Forbes helped the Americans by getting the Indians on our side. With the Indians on our side we were able to defeat the French. Last night, after lots of negotiating, we all came to an agreement, and the treaty was signed. The treaty says that the French give up all of their land in North America. The land is now ours! TAX US, will ye BRITAIN?! It Shall Be The LAST THING YE DO! By Matthew Coleman The British sent tax collectors demanding taxes on property, poll, and excise. Yesterday, an angry crowd of shoe keepers, printers, lawyers and merchants surrounded a tax collector! The colonist screamed, You British have no right to make us pay taxes! The Colonists are outraged and some have even threatened to tar and feather any tax collector who tries to impose these unfair taxes. A colonist said, Why should we pay the British Government? Only our own government has the right to ask us for taxes. This is a violation of our Constitution! The colonists believe tthat here is no Taxation without representation! The Stamp Act 1765 Reported by Madelyn Maestro Hear Ye, Hear Ye! A proclamation has been made by King George III. The colonist will have to pay taxes! This will support the cost of the revolution in lieu of benefits from the British troops to the American colonies. Will commence November 1, 1765.
A BRUTAL MASSACRE! by Patriot Ryan Hendricks March 5, 1770--The Boston Massacre was a pre-revolutionary incident that occurred on the snowy evening of March 5, 1770. The redcoats arrived on September 28, 1768. There were 4,000 redcoats and about 20,000 residents at the time of the incident. Private Matthew Kilroy argued with Samuel Gray at Gray s Ropewalks. Private Kilroy would later be convicted of manslaughter of Samuel Gray. A redcoat called Private Montgomery was hit in the face with a stick and fired into the crowd killing a black man named Crispus Attucks. Other shots were fired. Private Kilroy shot and killed a man named Samuel Gray. Altogether five civilians were killed. Their names were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, Patrick Carr, Samuel Marverick, and James Caldwell. Six civilians were wounded during the incident. The victims were hailed as heroes and buried together in the Granary burying ground. The British troops left the town and stayed at Castle William, which was an old fort in Boston Harbor. The eight British soldiers accused of murder were tried separately from their officer captain Preston. Two troops, Kilroy and Montgomery, were found guilty of manslaughter. They both entered a claim and were granted the benefit of clergy to avoid the death sentence. They were release but were first branded on their thumb with the letter M for manslaughter. The incident was followed by the tea act in 1773 followed the Boston Tea Party in 1774. THE ROAD TO WAR? By Lillian Liberty Bell Richmond, VA We may be having a war with Britain. In a compelling speech to an overflowing church, young 39 year old Patrick Henry, Esq. cautioned Virginia s militias that war was coming with these heroic words, Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand here idle is life so dear or peace so sweet, as to be purchased with the price of chains and slavery? Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! This bold and courageous speech was given early this morning, March 23, 1775, at St. John s Henrico Church in Richmond, Virginia. It appears to be a speech that shall go down in history! This speech represents the people s desire and yearning for liberty and freedom, and that they will bond together and fight for their cause at all costs. Patrick Henry is a true patriot, and is standing up to rebel against British control. His powerful words Liberty or Death have the potential to become the rallying cry for the people of the Virginia commonwealth. Liberty Bell Patriotic Women Take a Big Step! by Daughter of Liberty Kathy Nguyen England, 1773--The Parliament of Great Britain has passed the Tea Act! In response to the act itself, the Daughters of Liberty have been boycotting British goods, such as tea and cloth. Instead of buying British goods, the patriotic women now count on sewing their own clothes and boil basil leaves to make their new "tea" drink, as remembered in 1770, that these determined women signed an agreement not to drink tea as long as it was taxed. Ever since the Daughters of Liberty have been sewing their own clothes, many people have followed. Numerous spinning bees have taken place in many colonial cities, in an effort to stop the Stamp, Tea, and Townshend Acts. These zealous women have used their skills to weave wool and yarn into homemade cloth that they call homespun. These brave acts of boycott have left England useless to America, since England was known for their textiles. When Patriot soldiers come home empty-handed, these determined women are ready. Usually women get together and spin and sew uniforms. They also provide homespun garments and grow crops for the militias. Many times homes, churches, and government buildings were bothered by British soldiers. The Daughters of Liberty have learned some type of self-defense. They even knew how to threaten, force, and even kill someone if necessary. Since guns were rarely owned, women started to get used to using axes, knives, gardening and household tools for protection. The Daughters of Liberty did many heroic and good deeds. Will they succeed in stopping the Acts, or fail for injustice?
Colonists Throw a Tea Party Where did all the TEA go? By Erin Biffle, Patriot and Tea Enthusiast Hear ye, hear ye. In the news this week, there have been a lot of reports about Parliament s new Tea Act. The purpose of this tax is to keep the East India Company from going under, and to help Parliament establish a system of taxes here in the colonies. Colonists have refused to be taxed, and have threatened to take action, by any means necessary. Late into the night on December 17, 1773, three ships carrying shipments of tea were raided in the Boston Harbor. Tea was dumped into the Harbor and the words "Boston Harbor a teapot tonight" could be heard echoing throughout the harbor. The Sons of Liberty claimed responsibility. After the raid Colonists everywhere chanted "Rally Mohawks! Bring out your axes and tell King George, we'll pay no taxes!" King George responded! The harbor was shut down. Nothing was allowed to sail in or out until the people of Boston paid for the tea dumped into the harbor. British soldiers were sent back to Boston to make sure this happened, and the people had to take care of the soldiers as additional punishment. Colonists need the harbor to buy and sell and to feed their families. A city divided. Patriots versus Loyalists... Intolerable Acts I say, Intolerable Acts. The Townshend Acts- an abomination! Editorial by Sara Ishisaka I, a colonist am so tired of the Townshend Acts! We are forced to pay taxes on paper, wool, tea, and other things that have been imported from Britain. The British and King George III said we need to pay taxes because they need to pay for the war, but how about they pay for it themselves! In 1767, in Britain, they created the Townshend Acts. Soon, we started a boycott by refusing to buy goods from Britain. We'd rather make it ourselves! I'm sure all the British were mad, especially King George III. People must have died, both colonists and British. A lot of soldiers were roaming the streets. It was scary! Finally in 1770, all the work paid off. They repealed the Townshend Acts! Now we don't need to pay! Except one thing...tea... Oppose the Intolerable Acts! By Tamara Rushby who is BARELY tolerating these acts. The Intolerable Acts is the name our fellow colonists have called the horrific laws of the British. This nonsense must not be allowed! The following is what they hath made us endure and watch as many other colonists suffer the consequences of these dreadful actions. One out of many acts was the closing of the Boston Harbor. No ships were allowed to enter or leave, which made a tremendous impact in Boston. Many people were left with no jobs and little money. Until the people of Boston paid the large amount of money for the tea they had destroyed, no trade with the outside world was possible. Boston s economy depended on the trade. Thankfully, the other colonies helped Boston by sending well needed supplies. Another was when the British soldiers who had been in Boston, but then were sent away after the Boston Massacre, were allowed back. With no say in the matter, colonists were forced to share their house and feed the soldiers, also known as the Quartering Act. Other people with barely any food or money to spare have to abide by the laws too. These laws must be stopped, for they are unfair and unjust! There was another downside to the Intolerable Acts. Many colonists had to choose sides. One could either be a Patriot, and fight for thy freedom, liberty, and break apart from the tyranny of Great Britain or, ye could remain loyal to King George the III. Everyone has their own choice to make, but I say let us fight for our Independence! Must we, the people, just sit around and watch as the British treat us unfairly? Nay, never! We need to help in the fight for freedom, and not allow Great Britain to control and make the rules for us. The Intolerable Acts must not go on. We shall be rid of these dreadful laws one way or another!
SONS OF LIBERTY By Son of Liberty Alexandre Leal T he Sons of Liberty, a group that is now despised by Parliament, has led dozens of protests around Boston about the new acts. The leader of this rebellious group is Mr. Samuel Adams. Some of the notable members are Patrick Henry, John Hancock, James Otis, and Paul Revere. Paul Revere helped with the Midnight Ride along with William Dawes. Sadly though, one of the members, Doctor Joseph Warren died in the battle of Bunker Hill. So you may be wondering why they are so hostile (we all know of the Boston Tea Party, right?), well I'll tell you why, it's because we didn't have a say for the acts and taxes. Maybe it's just because if we got a say our "rulers" think that we'll say no. Honestly though, I say we should become independent. They started at the beginning of the Stamp Act and are still going today. They are meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Paul is currently living in Boston as well as most of the Sons of Liberty. Now you know why they protested, where they met, and who they are. The First Shot! (But not the Last!) By Leah Marcelle, Undercover Soldier for the Patriots T he first shot was heard on April 19,1775 when British General Thomas Gage sent 700 soldiers to destroy guns and ammunition stored by the colonists. This started the revolution. Dr. Joseph Warren learned the British plans and sent messages by Paul Revere to alert the people by putting lanterns on the North Church Steeple. One lantern would light if the British were coming by land and two if they were coming by sea. On April 18th, the British troops were ferried across the Boston Harbor to start their march on Lexington. Paul Revere hung two lanterns in the church steeple. Then he, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott warned the colonists that the British were coming. Paul Revere rode to Lexington to alert Samuel Adams, and John Hancock had escaped. The colonists had been expecting a fight with the British. They had prepared a group of militia, called minutemen. They were called minutemen because they needed to be prepared to fight on the spur of a moment. When the British soldiers arrived Lexington, Captain Jonas Parker and 75 minutemen were there to meet them. The minutemen were greatly outnumbered by the British soldiers. They killed 8 and injured 10 others. Although Paul Revere was captured by the British Scouts before reaching concord, other messengers were able to get through to warn the people. While the British soldiers continued on their way to Concord, the men and women of concord were to busy moving the arms and ammunition to new hiding places in the surrounding towns. When the soldiers arrived they were only able to destroy part of the supplies. Minutemen from nearby towns were now responding to the messengers' warnings. The smoke from the burning supplies was also attracting farmers and townspeople. A large force of patriots was gathered in response to the British troops. As British soldiers reached Boston, 73 British soldiers died and 124 were wounded. In the days fighting, 49 patriots were killed, and 39 were wounded. Battle of Bunker Hill Correspondent Nana Natani Reports On June 17, 1775, there was a war called "The Battles of Bunker Hill'. It was also known as "The Battles of Breed's hill", because most of the fighting occured there. On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, giving them control of Boston Harbour. In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula. On June 17, 1775 some 2,200 British forces under the command of Major General William Howe and Brigadier General Robert Pigot
landed on the Charlestown Peninsula, then marched to Breed's Hill. As the British advanced in columns against the Americans, Prescott, in an effort to conserve the Americans' limited supply of ammunition, reportedly told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" When the Redcoats were within several dozen yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, throwing the British into retreat. After re-forming their lines, the British attacked again, with the same result. Prescott's men were now low on ammunition, though, and when the Redcoats went up the hill for the third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. However, by the end of the engagement, the patriots' gunfire cut down some 1,000 enemy troops. British had won the so-called Battle of Bunker Hill, and Breed's Hill and the Chrlestown Peninsula fell firmly under British control. Despite losing their strategic positions, the battle was a significant moralebuilder for the inexperienced Americans, convincing that patriotic dedication could overcome superior British military might. Even though the British won, they lost 1,054 people, while the Americans only lost 450 people. Additionally, the high price of victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill made the British realize that the war with the colonies would be long, tough, and costly. Paul Revere s Ride By Blake Brewer It all started in Boston when Paul and his best friend were talking about the British troops. Paul and his friend were members of the Committees of Correspondence and one of their jobs was to deliver topsecret information to the Independent colonies. The troops were leaving Boston that night, but he was not sure if they were going by land or sea. Paul had an idea to warn the people in the country about the British coming. But he needed to know what direction they were coming from. So, the two men agree on a top secret code! Paul's best friend will signal him by hanging one lantern in the bell tower church if they are coming by land. Two lanterns if they are coming by sea. Paul's friend in Boston snoops around and finds out the British are coming by sea. So he climbs the church steeple and lights two lanterns. On the opposite side of the river Paul is all set to go. He jumps on his horse and off he goes to tell the people in the countryside. Hitting a new town every hour and yelling out "The Regulars are coming, the Regulars are coming! By midnight he's in Medford. By 1:00 he's made it to Lexington. By 2:00, he gets to Concord. This is the midnight ride of Paul Revere! Molly Pitcher saves Soldiers Lives An interview by Daughter of Liberty Anastasia Markovic a.k.a. Elisabeth Presley January, 1778--My name is Elisabeth Presley, journalist of a local news paper, and I'm interviewing John Smith, one of the soldiers who survived the Monmouth battle in New Jersey. Journalist: What happened on the battlefield? John: Someone threw a bomb. I don't know who it was, but exploded very close to me. Little bomb particles were all over my body, and I fell on the ground. I was bleeding for a long time. I was nearly dead. Journalist: How did you survive? John: My lips were all bloody and I needed a drink of water. Then I saw someone walking towards me. When I saw the pitcher, I new it was Mary Ludwig Hays, we call her Molly Pitcher. I had to call her somehow. I couldn't talk, so I raised my hand and waved, and she saw me. She ran to me and gave me a drink of water. That saved my life. Then she wrapped my wounds and took me to this hospital. Journalist: So where is Molly Pitcher now? John: I heard that her husband collapsed from heat in the battle and she took his position in firing cannons at the British army. What a brave woman. Journalist: This is one more testimony about Molly Pitcher, extraordinary young women who is putting herself in the line of enemy fire risking her life for the independence of our country.
Independence Declared from (not so) Great Britain! By Isabella Esqueda Philadelphia, PA Hear Ye Hear Ye, The Declaration of Independence has been signed! Yippee! On this 4th day of July, Seventeen Seventy-Six, the Declaration of Independence has been signed! The Declaration of Independence was written because the Colonists want to be apart from Britain. The Colonists are tired of taxes on tea, Britain controlling them, and they want fewer Redcoats marching around the town. They also want a lot more freedom. The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create the Declaration of Independence. It was signed on July fourth, seventeen seventy-six and it was approved by the Continental Congress. The person that was chosen to write it was Thomas Jefferson. He wrote things like, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed given by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He also wrote this, We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states. We the Colonists are glad that Thomas Jefferson wrote about our independence and giving us freedom. However, we are also scared because King George III and his army of Redcoats are not happy and they might declare a war on us. Does this mean war? Only time will tell. GEORGE WASHINGTON Appointed Commander General By Edward Hébert, III When George Washington was sixteen years old, he was considered to be very strong. He was six feet tall and had very strong arms and shoulders. Nobody could defeat him in wrestling. George Washington also worked. His job was working as a surveyor for three years. As a surveyor, he examined several mountains. This taught him hard work and patience. Thirty years later, George Washington could use his skills that he learned as a surveyor to commit to work and lead people in war as a General. Perhaps he will lead the colonists to victory! Protect our Land from Thieves Pleeeease! By Cole Collins, Mad Reporter and COLE-inist The Green Mountain Boys are a group of militia formed by Ethan Allen. He rounded up his friends to protect what was theirs. They fight off people who wanted to take their land and crops. They protect settlers against the sheriffs stealing their land. The boys are seen as criminals and the governor wants them caught and put to death. Are they trying to start a war? No, they are fighting for their liberty, property, and life. Benedict Arnold asked them to help capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British. This helped us win the war. A Tribute to Phillis Wheatley Udo Chidi reflects on the works of a great poetess. W hat I am about to tell you is a fascinating story about a woman who came from Africa and became a famous poet.this is the story of Phillis Wheatley who was born in Senegal about 1753. At the age of 8 she was kidnapped and brought to Boston, Massachusetts on a slave ship. She was purchased by a man named John Wheatley to be his wife Susanna s servant. Susanna took Phillis Wheatley under her wing (Phillis adopted her master s last name because of the custom they had). Phillis suffered from poor health, but her intelligence was hard to miss, as a result, Susanna didn't teach her to be a servant, instead she was taught theology, English, Latin, and Greek. Ancient history was soon added into the lessons, along with mythology, and literature. Although she was taught to read and write, she still had limitations. Other than the limits her life was different from most slaves.
At the age of 12, Phillis Wheatley s first poem was published at Newport Mercury. That was the birth of a great poet. She wrote more poems which got published and soon she was starting to become famous. One of her poems was Being Brought from Africa to America and goes like this: 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand. That there s a God, that there's a savior too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, Their color is diabolic die. Remember, Christians, Negros, black as cain, May be refin d and join th angelic train. She became the first African American and U.S slave to publish a book of poems as well as the third American women to do so. After publication of her book, Phillis traveled to London to promote her poems, and received medical treatment for a health ailment that she had been battling. after she returned to Boston, Phillis s life changed significantly. While ultimately freed from slavery, she was devastated by the death of Susanna in 1774 and the death of John in 1778.In 1778, the same year John Wheatley died, Phillis married a free African American from Boston named John Peters and had three children who all died in infancy. Their marriage proved to be a struggle, with the couple battling constant poverty. Ultimately, Phillis was forced to find work as a maid in a boarding house. Wheatley did continue to write, but the growing tensions with British and, ultimately, the Revolutionary War, weakened enthusiasm for her poems. While she contacted various publishers, she was unsuccessful in finding support for a second volume of poetry. A strong supporter of America s fight for independence, Phillis penned several poems in honor of the continental Army s commander, George Washington. It s not certain whether Washington ever read her work. God bless Phillis Wheatley. AMEN. A Concerned Colonist Speaks Out Against King George s Mad Plan! By Kaye Anne Forbes, Crazy King George III at it again! King George III, the King of Great Britain, taxes the colonists AGAIN! The colonists think this is an outrage. He is taxing them for the British soldiers. The king thinks that the KING GEORGE III colonists should help pay for the British military because the military is protecting them. Colonists thought that they shouldn t pay, even though they were still British at that time. Instead of stopping, he taxed them on tea and paper-made materials. During 1763 and 1769, the colonists were tired of having to pay taxes on things they really needed so they boycotted British goods. In 1773 the colonists did something called the Boston Tea Party. (It wasn t a real tea party.) King George III was extremely angry with this. He ordered the British navy to close down the harbor. He added more taxes on the colonists because of this. The taxes were on glass, paper, and lead. Then he made the Quartering Act, which forced the colonists to let British troops in their house anytime. These Acts made the colonists even angrier, and they now wanted independence from Great Britain. King George III wanted to own the land and the people there so they went to war. In the end, the colonists won and we are now a free country. Benjamin Franklin ~Inventor, Printer, Diplomat, Scientist, Author, and All- Around Swell Guy!~ by David Arango-Gil, biographer Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17 th, 1706. He was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin s mother was Abiah Folger, the second wife of Josiah. In all, Josiah would father 17 children. Josiah intended for Benjamin to enter into clergy. However, Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for one year and clergymen needed years of schooling. But, as young Benjamin loved to read, he had him apprenticed to his brother James composing pamphlets and setting type which was grueling work. 12 year-old Benjamin would sell their products in the streets. When Benjamin was 15, his brother started The New England Current, the first newspaper in Boston. Though there were two papers in the city before James Current. They only reprinted news from abroad. James paper carried articles, opinion pieces written by James, advertisements, and news of ship schedules.