The Road to American Independence: John Adams' Observations

donsutherland1 · 07-04-08, 03:12 PM

Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the mood in the British colonies that would become the United States began to shift decidedly in favor of independence. In the nearly fourteen months that followed, efforts a diplomacy and reconciliation with the British government failed, the desire for independence increased, and arguments against independence were exhausted. One can almost gain a feel for the events that were taking place, setbacks, frustration at the slow pace of the Continental Congress’ proceedings, and the relief when on July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress unanimously committed itself to independence. Two days later, the text of the Declaration of Independence was adopted unanimously.

The papers of John Adams offer one lens through which one can witness those events of just over 230 years ago. Excerpts follow. The dates correspond to those of John Adams’s letters.

April 30, 1775: New York has appointed an ample Representation in our Congress, and have appointed a provincial Congress. The People of the City, have siezed the City Arms and Ammunition, out of the Hands of the Mayor who is a Creature of the Governor. Lord North will be certainly disappointed, in his Expectation of seducing New York. The Tories there, durst not shew their Heads.

The Jerseys are arroused, and greatly assist the Friends of Liberty in New York.

North Carolina has done bravely, chosen the old Delegates in Provincial Congress, and then confirmed the Choice in General Assembly, in Opposition to all that Governor Martin could do.

The Assembly of this Colony is now sitting at Hartford. We are treated with great Tenderness, Sympathy, Friendship and Respect. Every Thing is doing by this Colony, that can be done by Men -- both for N. York and Boston.

May 2, 1775: Our Hearts are bleeding for the poor People of Boston. What will, or can be done for them I cant conceive. God preserve them…

N. York has shut up their Port, seized the Custom House, Arms, Ammunition &c., called a Provincial Congress, and entered into an Association to stand by whatever shall be ordered by the Continental and their Provincial Congress.

May 8, 1775: Our Prospect of a Union of the Colonies, is promising indeed. Never was there such a Spirit. Yet I feel anxious, because, there is always more Smoke than Fire -- more Noise than Musick. Our Province is nowhere blamed. The Accounts of the Battle are exaggerated in our favour.

May 29, 1775: The military Spirit which runs through the Continent is truly amazing. This City [Philadelphia] turns out 2000 Men every day.

June 10, 1775: We have Business enough before Us to detain us, untill the 31. of next December. and No Assembly ever had a greater Number of great Objects before them. Provinces, Nations, Empires are small Things, before Us.

June 17, 1775: I can now inform you that the Congress have made Choice of the modest and virtuous, the amiable, generous and brave George Washington Esqr., to be the General of the American Army, and that he is to repair as soon as possible to the Camp before Boston. This Appointment will have a great Effect, in cementing and securing the Union of these Colonies. -- The Continent is really in earnest in defending the Country.

June 18, 1775: We shall have a Redress of Grievances, or an Assumption of all the powers of Government legislative, Executive and judicial, throughout the whole Continent very soon.

June 23, 1775: We had Yesterday, by the Way of N. York and N. London, a Report, which distresses us, almost as much as that We had last fall, of the Cannonade of Boston. A Battle at Bunkers Hill and Dorchester Point -- three Colonels wounded,Gardiner mortally. We wait to hear more particulars. Our Hopes and our Fears are alternately very strong. If there is any Truth in this Account, you must be in great Confusion. God Almightys Providence preserve, sustain, and comfort you.

June 27, 1775: I rejoice that my Countrymen behaved so bravely [at Bunker Hill], tho not so skillfully conducted as I could wish. I hope this defect will be remedied by the new modelling of the Army.

July 23, 1775: The Clergy of all Denominations, here [Philadelphia] preach Politicks and War in a manner that I never heard in N. England. They are a Flame of Fire. It is astonishing to me, that the People are so cool here. Such sermons in our Country would have a much greater Effect.

October 1, 1775: As to Politicks, We have nothing to expect but the whole Wrath and Force of G. Britain. But your Words are as true as an oracle "God helps them, who help them selves, and if We obtain the divine Aid by our own Virtue, Fortitude and Perseverance, We may be sure of Relief."

February 18, 1776: Reconciliation if practicable and Peace if attainable, you very well know would be as agreable to my Inclinations and as advantageous to my Interest, as to any Man's. But I see no Prospect, no Probability, no Possibility. And I cannot but despise the Understanding, which sincerely expects an honourable Peace, for its Credulity, and detest the hypocritical Heart, which pretends to expect it, when in Truth it does not.

March 29, 1776: We are taking Precautions to defend every Place that is in [Danger] -- The Carolinas, Virginia, N. York,Canada.
I can think of nothing but fortifying Boston Harbour. I want more Cannon than are to be had, I want a Fortification upon Point Alderton, one upon Lovells Island, one upon Georges Island, several upon Long Island, one upon the Moon, one upon Squantum…

April 6, 1776: Affairs are in a critical state and important Steps are now taking every day…

April 12, 1776: Why Government in every Colony, a Confederation among them all, and Treaties with foreign Nations, to acknowledge Us a Sovereign State, and all that. -- When these Things will be done, or any of them, Time must discover. Perhaps the Time is near, perhaps a great Way off.

April 15, 1776: But We are not in a very submissive Mood. They will get no Advantage of Us.
We shall go on, to Perfection I believe.

May 12, 1776: There has been a gallant Battle, in Delaware River between the Gallies and two Men of War, the Roebuck and Liverpool, in which the Men of War came off second best -- which has diminished, in the Minds of the People, on both sides the River, the Terror of a Man of War…

I am out of all Patience with the languid, lethargic Councils of the Province, at such a critical, important Moment, puzzling their Heads about Two penny fees and Confession Bills and what not, when the Harbour of Boston was defenceless. If I was there I should storm and thunder, like Demonsthenes, or scold like a Tooth drawer.

May 22, 1776: We have dismal Accounts from Europe, of the Preparations against Us. This Summer will be very important to Us. We shall have a severe Tryal of our Patience, Fortitude and Perseverance. But I hope we shall do valiantly and tread down our Enemies.

July 3, 1776: Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony "that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do." You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell'd Us to this mighty Revolution, and the Reasons which will justify it, in the Sight of God and Man. A Plan of Confederation will be taken up in a few days.

When I look back to the Year 1761, and recollect the Argument concerning Writs of Assistance, in the Superiour Court, which I have hitherto considered as the Commencement of the Controversy, between Great Britain and America, and run through the whole Period from that Time to this, and recollect the series of political Events, the Chain of Causes and Effects, I am surprized at the Suddenness, as well as Greatness of this Revolution. Britain has been fill'd with Folly, and America with Wisdom, at least this is my judgment. -- Time must determine. It is the Will of Heaven, that the two Countries should be sundered forever. It may be the Will of Heaven that America shall suffer Calamities still more wasting and Distresses yet more dreadfull. If this is to be the Case, it will have this good Effect, at least: it will inspire Us with many Virtues, which We have not, and correct many Errors, Follies, and Vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonour, and destroy Us. -- The Furnace of Affliction produces Refinement, in States as well as Individuals. And the new Governments we are assuming, in every Part, will require a Purification from our Vices, and an Augmentation of our Virtues or they will be no Blessings. The People will have unbounded Power. And the People are extreamly addicted to Corruption and Venality, as well as the Great…

Had a Declaration of Independency been made seven Months ago, it would have been attended with many great and glorious Effects . . . . We might before this Hour, have formed Alliances with foreign States...

But on the other Hand, the Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending it. -- The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished. -- Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. -- This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America…

I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

Source: The Massachusetts Historical Society's Adams Electronic Archive.

mikhail · 07-04-08, 03:47 PM

Rich white guys who didnt wanna pay taxes.

PeteEU · 07-05-08, 02:48 AM

Today they would be considered terrorists....

donsutherland1 · 07-05-08, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteEU

Today they would be considered terrorists....

No, they would not. They engaged the British Army head-on. They did not direct their campaign against British civilians in the 13 colonies, Canada, or Britain. They did not seize hostages to extort ransoms or prisoner releases. George Washington's orders to his Army were to avoid causing harm to civilians.

For example, here is General George Washington's September 4, 1777 general orders with respect to an incident where some abuses had been reported to him:

Notwithstanding all the cautions, the earnest requests, and the positive orders of the Commander in Chief, to prevent our own army from plundering our own friends and fellow citizens, yet to his astonishment and grief, fresh complaints are made to him, that so wicked, infamous and cruel a practice is still continued, and that too in circumstances most distressing; where the wretched inhabitants, dreading the enemy's vengeance for their adherence to our cause, have left all, and fled to us for refuge! We complain of the cruelty and barbarity of our enemies; but does it equal ours? They sometimes spare the property of their friends: But some amongst us, beyond expression barbarous, rob even them! Why did we assemble in arms? Was it not, in one capital point, to protect the property of our countrymen? And shall we to our eternal reproach, be the first to pillage and destroy? Will no motives of humanity, of zeal, interest and of honor, restrain the violence of the soldiers, or induce officers to keep so strict a watch over the ill-disposed, as effectually to prevent the execution of their evil designs, and the gratification of their savage inclinations? Or, if these powerful motives are too weak, will they pay no regard to their own safety? How many noble designs have miscarried, how many victories been lost, how many armies ruined, by an indulgence of soldiers in plundering? If officers in the least connive at such practices, the licentiousness of some soldiers will soon be without bounds: In the most critical moments, instead of attending to their duty, they will be scattered abroad, indiscriminately plundering friends and foes; and if no worse consequences ensue, many of them must infallibly fall a prey to the enemy. For these reasons, the Commander in Chief requires, that these orders be distinctly read to all the troops; and that officers of every rank, take particular pains, to convince the men, of the baseness, and fatal tendency of the practices complained of; and that their own safety depends on a contrary conduct, and an exact observance of order and discipline; at the same time the Commander in Chief most solemnly assures all, that he will have no mercy on offenders against these orders; their lives shall pay the forfeit of their crimes. Pity, under such circumstances, would be the height of cruelty.

In addition, here is the relevant portion of General Washington's October 11, 1778 instructions to Bartholomew von Heer:

...you will always remember that you are as carefully to avoid laying innocent free Citizens under any unnecessary restraint and inconvenience, on the one hand, as risking any mischief to the Army from ill-placed lenity on the other.

Source: George Washington's Papers: 1741-1799

Red_Dave · 07-05-08, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

[left]

No, they would not. They engaged the British Army head-on. They did not direct their campaign against British civilians in the 13 colonies, Canada, or Britain.

I,ld agree with the first sentence but not the second. The northern english town of Whitehaven was raded. Ironically by someone who used to live there

.

See John Paul Jones - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

donsutherland1 · 07-05-08, 10:46 AM

Red_Dave,

I should have been more precise. The focus of the military campaign was against the British Army and not against civilians. General Washington's orders were to avoid harm to civilians. That some incidents occurred, including but not limited to the raid on Whitehaven where things went beyond attacking the merchant fleet, is correct.

In contrast, today's terrorist organizations mainly attack civilians and civilian objects.

bub · 07-05-08, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

Red_Dave,

I should have been more precise. The focus of the military campaign was against the British Army and not against civilians. General Washington's orders were to avoid harm to civilians. That some incidents occurred, including but not limited to the raid on Whitehaven where things went beyond attacking the merchant fleet, is correct.

In contrast, today's terrorist organizations mainly attack civilians and civilian objects.

First, thanks for the great OP.

Then, I think Red Dave/PeteEu refer to certain governments calling opposition "terrorism", as in Chechnya (where these people are fighting to get their independence from Russia but are called terrorists)

Volker · 07-05-08, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bub

First, thanks for the great OP.

Then, I think Red Dave/PeteEu refer to certain governments calling opposition "terrorism", as in Chechnya (where these people are fighting to get their independence from Russia but are called terrorists)

Yes, these nice Chechen's went into schools, hospitals and theaters to kidnap or kill people, attacked civil airplanes and trains, and they probably blew up big residential houses in Moscow, how someone can dare to accuse these peaceful, friendly and relaxed mountaineers of terrorist activities will always be beyond me

Note the sarcasm.

PeteEU · 07-06-08, 11:20 AM

First off this is not an anti American thread but I have no doubt the usual suspects will claim this.

The old sayings.. ones man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.. and the victor writes the history books.. is really important here.

If you look through out history, any group of people who use force beyond societies conventions and political correctness of society of the time, are considered animals, criminals and worse. Spartacus is a great example.

In today's world we have a term for them.. terrorists. People who use violence to further a political agenda or revolution. The word is relatively new, but the action is not.

When the American revolution happened, warfare had a set of rules that were almost set in stone. There was a way of doing war.. a civilized way. The American revolutionaries brought a new unheard of aspect into the fight, guerilla warfare. This tactic was at the time, so uncivilized, so underhanded and so despicable, that the "civilized".. world were shocked. If the American revolution had failed, I would not have any doubt that the people involved would have been treated the same way or worse as terrorists are treated today. They would certainly have been viewed as such in history books, instead of heroes.

It can easily be argued that guerilla warfare in the 1770s was a tactic of terror, on not only the military but also the civilians. Before guerilla warfare (and even after), warfare was a set place and time, usually agreed between the two parties quite a bit ahead of time and usually far away from civilian areas, and if near civilians then they would have been warned ahead of time. The American revolutionary tactics totally broke away from this principle of war.

In today's world we have also a set of rules of war. We don't target civilians, we don't target cities if it can be helped and so on. Terrorists, go against this principle, and we find them as horrible and shocking.. and have invented the word terrorist to cover this underhanded tactic that they have employed.

In 1770 blowing ones self up to hurt the enemy would have been not only unheard off, but religiously, socially and mentally impossible. Today that is not exactly true. May it be Japanese doing kamikaze, muslim brainwashed extremist blowing himself up on a bus, or some solider jumping on a grenade to save his mates.. that would simply have not been even contemplated in the 1770s. Yes the weapons of war are different and so on, but even if they had the same weapons, they would not have even contemplated it. Suicide was simply impossible especially if you were religious, which most were.

The same goes for guerilla warfare. Today we see it as a classic example to beat an enemy that is larger and better equipped than you. Back then, it was not so.. it was unheard off and shocking.

Hence the American revolutionaries were the "terrorists" of their time, as they used unheard off, underhanded and uncivilized tactics of war and violence to promote a political agenda. That we don't call them terrorists is simply because we don't see their tactics as "bad" as today's terror tactics, but relatively speaking, they were.

Voidwar · 07-06-08, 02:11 PM

Terrorism is just war eh ?

Then can we kill all the relatives of these people , and any friends who might want vengeance , and WIN the war ?

If you want to call it war, don't forget who will win it, or what methods will need be adopted.