Woodcut of patriot woman

YOUR ESSAY QUESTION:

Assess how much the American Revolution reshaped American society.

DOCUMENT 1

Molly Wallace, valedictory address, Young Ladies’ Academy of Philadelphia, 1792.

SPEAKER

Molly Wallace, is a young girl who is a valedictorian from The Young Ladies Academy of Philadelphia in 1792

OCCASION

Molly Wallace is giving a valedictorian speech. 1792 Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

AUDIENCE

Her audience is directed towards women and men.

PURPOSE

She is arguing that women are able to give speeches as well as men and that while some people are encouraging, other claims to the contrary are self-defeating, since they are based on premises that prove what they set out to defeat.

SUBJECT

She concludes with a plea for further education for women in the area of public speaking. So if everyone admits that women should be taught to read, therefore also public speaking.

TONE

Her tone is serious yet bold and powerful she’s trying to get her point across in her tone about women being as good as men in speaking. Her tone is also inspiring and encouraging to young girls and women at the time.

DOCUMENT 2

Message to Congress from the Chickasaw Chiefs, July 1783.

SPEAKER

The Chickasaw Chiefs group of Indians who occupied a key region of northern Mississippi.

OCCASION

Chickasaw message to congress happened right after revolutionary war ended. They were in bit crossfire between, Spain, the new united states government, and various new states and didn’t have their allies with anymore the British.

AUDIENCE

Is towards Americans Congress 1783

PURPOSE

Native Americans were concerned how they would be treated by the U.S The whole purpose by sending this message was because the Chicksaw leaders sought to inaugurate a new relationship with the United States by sending the message of peace.

SUBJECT

Native American hoped that the end of hostility would begin a new and amicable relationship with the U.S

TONE

The tone Expresses happiness that the war is over, It also expresses a desire for friendship between the Chicksaw and there brothers ( Americans)

DOCUMENT 3

Statutes at Large of Virginia, 1786.

SPEAKER

Thomas Jefferson

OCCASION

Virginia Statue was an establishment for religious freedom it was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the General Assembly on January 16, 1786. Before be signed into law three days later.

AUDIENCE

The American people and the people of Virginia also known as Virginians.

PURPOSE

Statue Affirmed the rights of Virginians to choose their faiths without coercion; separates church and state. It also stated that no person should be forced to support a religion.

SUBJECT

There was movement toward freedom of religions and evidence of social change with disestablishing the church.

Tone

Jefferson tone in the statue is upbeat and progressive because he is aware open to the idea of people practicing different religions. And he wants to share and establish his ideas with the American People.

DOCUMENT 4

Woodcut of Patriot woman, Marblehead, MA, 1779 (New York Historical Society).

SPEAKER

Molly Pitcher nickname given to a women name Mary Ludwig Hays though this can’t be confirmed for sure she is said to have fought in the Battle of Mammoth. She was a war woman. Not much is known about her.

OCCASION

During the American Revolution 1779. Shows women holding a musket and a horn.

AUDIENCE

Women and their role in the revolution.

PURPOSE

To show that women participated in the American revolution and were doing task those were performed previously by men.

SUBJECT

Possibly hints of potential revolutionary change for women.

TONE

The tone in the picture is possibly a show of strength in a women’s role in the war and a sense of leadership and dignity in their country and a sense of self-empowerment.

DOCUMENT 5

Pennsylvania Packet, 1779.

SPEAKER

John Dunlap (founder) and his partner David Claypoole

OCCASION

American Newspaper founded in 1771 that, in 1784, became the first successful daily newspaper published in the United States. A famous packet/article was published in 1779 It started a controversy between Loyalist in this country.

AUDIENCE

The American People

PURPOSE

Was to get rid of the Loyalist also known as Tory, who was loyal England (not in favor of American Independence), should be banned from the US and sent back to England. The US (according to the author) is a land of freedom, whereas England is a place of slavery to the government.

SUBJECT

Patriot belief in equality and creating a society different from Britain.

TONE

The tone in the Pennsylvania packet is serious and it sounds a bit like the Author is angry. He despises the Tories and wants them back in England.

DOCUMENT 6

United Indian Nations, Speech at the Confederate Council, 1786.

SPEAKER

Chiefs of Wabash and Illinois Tribes.

OCCASION

Speech of The United Indian Nations, at their Confederate Council, held near the mouth of the Detroit River, the 28th November and 18th December 1786.

AUDIENCE

American Congress

PURPOSE

The Indians are disappointed that they were not included in peace accord with Great Britain; wanted lasting peace. Indians excluded from meetings held regarding peace and property rights. They desire future peace be reached with a united voice of the confederacy.

SUBJECT

United States was pursuing divisive policy of separate treaties with individual tribes. Native Americans were apphrensive about relations with different nations.

TONE

Expresses disappointment in not being included in the peace treaty.

Expresses displeasure of separate treaties with different nations.

DOCUMENT 7

James Madison in The Federalist, number 51, 1788.

SPEAKER

James Madison 4th U.S President.

OCCASION

Federalist Paper No. 51 (1788)

AUDIENCE

To the People of the State of New York.

PURPOSE

The purpose of Madison’s federalist papers was the need for the government to have control of the people. He believes that control of both the people and the government is necessary because it’s human nature. Needs for checks and balances are needed for government and the people.

SUBJECT

Government must have necessary measures to control itself first because without control there is no structure.

TONE

The tone is informative and opens the mind of to readers in need of a more structured, disciplined government.

DOCUMENT 8

Letter from Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1787.

SPEAKER

Abigail Adams (Johns Adams Wife)

OCCASION

Letter Abigail written to Jefferson in 1787

AUDIENCE

Thomas Jefferson 3rd U.S President.

PURPOSE

In the letter Abigail wrote that there was civil unrest in some areas of the United States. Adam’s feared the intentions of the common people, and opposed paper money and equal distribution of property.

SUBJECT

Adams letter to Jefferson gives a perspective of discounted problems leading to agitation as delusional Suggest class differences on economic issues.

TONE

The tone in the letter is serious and seems as though Abigail is somewhat fearful about whats going on around the country.

DOCUMENT 9

An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787.

SPEAKER

Congress of the Confederation of the United States

OCCASION

Creation of the Northwest territory. Expansion of the United States starting in 1787

AUDIENCE

African American Slaves.

PURPOSE

Ban slavery and in the Northwest territory, except for punishments of crimes. Also says that runaway slaves may be returned to their

masters down south if they are still owned by them.

SUBJECT

Oppositions of Slavery was growing in the North

White settlers were moving West

Banning slavery was a show of social change amongst the people in the North

TONE

The tone is hopeful and promising to slaves freedom in America

Document 10

The Columbian Magazine, by James Trenchard. October 1786

SPEAKER

James Trenchard, Philadelphia engraver, who worked with the Columbian exchange during its run from 1786 to 1792.

OCCASION

Not much is known about it but It was published in 1786

AUDIENCE

American Farmers

PURPOSE

United States was predominantly an agriculture society of small farmers.

Supports Jefferson’s ideas of Agriculture

Independent farmers are ideal hardworking citiens.

SUBJECT

Portrays farming an important occupation.

TONE

Symbolic figure looking on suggest liberty, fertility, and abundance.