Reinactment of a Revolutionary War Soldier and his Wife
This photo is of Charles and Peggy Spring, my grandparents, in the 1970's dressed in what Revolutionary soldiers and their wives wore from the time. My grandfather has been interested in both the Revolutionary War and Civil War his whole life. He has collections of artillery, documents, uniforms, and even a working cannon that would put any museum to shame. Part of his involvement in collecting so many items over the years is due to the fact that his uncle, Charles Norcross, served in the Revolutionary War in Brattleboro, Vermont. Lieutenant Norcross was a brother to my grandfather's mother and served in the 16h Infantry of Vermont. He was injured after he tried to jump across a rifle the heal of the gun hit him in the groin causing a rupture. Charles Norcross later received a pension of $89.33 over the course of his lifetime after the war as well as a land contract. Soldiers were given land following the war since the war placed the Americans deeply in debt to the point that they couldn't pay their soldiers for their service in the Continental Army.
Onset of the Revolutionary War:
Historical Background
What was one of the first events that sparked the American Revolution?
-In the 1750's the thirteen colonies had been a site of a major war called the French and Indian War. To Europe it was referred to as the Seven Years War and during that time Great Britain supported colonists in their efforts. While being allies at the time soon that tune would change to a note of separation as disagreement ensued.
What was the disagreement about between Great Britain and the 13 colonies?
-Since Great Britain had supported the colonies and they would benefit from winning the war, the British wanted the colonies to now pay for the efforts of the war to maintain the colonies in working order during this period. The colonists had a different view in response to Great Britain. They were being taxed without having a say in the taxes that were imposed. This was called "taxation without representation." Some of the taxes that were imposed included the Quartering Act that stated that colonists need to provide basic needs for soldiers that were stationed within their borders. Some of these basic needs included bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, beer, and candles. The Townshend Acts where there was an extra charge on certain items brought into the colonies.This put import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Its purpose was to provide salaries for some colonial officials so that they couldn't coerce them by withholding wages. While Great Britain felt that during the French-Indian War, while they were fighting the battle for the colonies, that they had experienced too much freedom. Great Britain wanted increased control over the colonists lives and the colonists responded in three ways.
How were the colonists views different from each other when they should all want to benefit from the land they live on?
-The colonists came from three different camps of thought. One third of them were Patriots in that they welcomed confrontation with Great Britain. The next group was the Loyalists and this included the people in the colonies that were loyal to Great Britain for supporting them during the war effort. Although they were not happy about the imposing of taxes they remained non-violent. The last group of colonists were ones that remained neutral despite the efforts of the others. By the end of 1700 there were 250,000 people in the American colonies and it seemed to be growing due to the fact that King George III had supreme control over the colonies from Great Britain and granted most of all the grants and charters for the land.
What states belonged to the different regions of colonists?
-New England colonists were comprised of mainly farmers who placed a high emphasis on education and took pride in that they were independent thinkers. The states in the New England colonies were Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Under the middle region of the colonies comprised of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware. The colonists from this region were Loyalists and believed in a peaceful solution since they supported King George III. They worked mainly as farmers and ran small businesses. The third region was that of the Southern colonies which comprised of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These states still focused on plantation economies and had indentured servants and slaves.
When was the Revolutionary War declared as war and what were the final sparks to start the war?
-When the Townshend Acts were passed in 1767 there was a customs office that was set up in Boston to collect duties on items such as paper, glass, and tea. This seemed to be the final straw for the colonists and they boycotted British goods. Three years later these acts were repealed but the tea tax remained. Colonists were furious and began to protest. Considering that this was an unexpected move the British soldiers felt threatened and fired at the crowd. Five people were killed and this is known as the Boston Massacre.
-The first fight of the Revolutionary War happened in the month of April in 1775 when British soldiers attacked a Massachusetts militia group. Militias were collections of people that joined to fight in the cause for the colonies but too often they were untrained, ill-equipped, and lacked the necessary tools for fighting against the well-trained British army.
FROM HERE I WILL GO TO TO TELL YOU ABOUT ONE SOLDIER WHO FOUGHT THE BATTLES ON THE FIELD AND WAGED A WAR IN HIS HEART AS HE LEFT BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT WAS DEAR TO HIM.
(Information from "The Revolutionary War" by Susan Provost Beller)
-In the 1750's the thirteen colonies had been a site of a major war called the French and Indian War. To Europe it was referred to as the Seven Years War and during that time Great Britain supported colonists in their efforts. While being allies at the time soon that tune would change to a note of separation as disagreement ensued.
What was the disagreement about between Great Britain and the 13 colonies?
-Since Great Britain had supported the colonies and they would benefit from winning the war, the British wanted the colonies to now pay for the efforts of the war to maintain the colonies in working order during this period. The colonists had a different view in response to Great Britain. They were being taxed without having a say in the taxes that were imposed. This was called "taxation without representation." Some of the taxes that were imposed included the Quartering Act that stated that colonists need to provide basic needs for soldiers that were stationed within their borders. Some of these basic needs included bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, beer, and candles. The Townshend Acts where there was an extra charge on certain items brought into the colonies.This put import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Its purpose was to provide salaries for some colonial officials so that they couldn't coerce them by withholding wages. While Great Britain felt that during the French-Indian War, while they were fighting the battle for the colonies, that they had experienced too much freedom. Great Britain wanted increased control over the colonists lives and the colonists responded in three ways.
How were the colonists views different from each other when they should all want to benefit from the land they live on?
-The colonists came from three different camps of thought. One third of them were Patriots in that they welcomed confrontation with Great Britain. The next group was the Loyalists and this included the people in the colonies that were loyal to Great Britain for supporting them during the war effort. Although they were not happy about the imposing of taxes they remained non-violent. The last group of colonists were ones that remained neutral despite the efforts of the others. By the end of 1700 there were 250,000 people in the American colonies and it seemed to be growing due to the fact that King George III had supreme control over the colonies from Great Britain and granted most of all the grants and charters for the land.
What states belonged to the different regions of colonists?
-New England colonists were comprised of mainly farmers who placed a high emphasis on education and took pride in that they were independent thinkers. The states in the New England colonies were Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Under the middle region of the colonies comprised of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware. The colonists from this region were Loyalists and believed in a peaceful solution since they supported King George III. They worked mainly as farmers and ran small businesses. The third region was that of the Southern colonies which comprised of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These states still focused on plantation economies and had indentured servants and slaves.
When was the Revolutionary War declared as war and what were the final sparks to start the war?
-When the Townshend Acts were passed in 1767 there was a customs office that was set up in Boston to collect duties on items such as paper, glass, and tea. This seemed to be the final straw for the colonists and they boycotted British goods. Three years later these acts were repealed but the tea tax remained. Colonists were furious and began to protest. Considering that this was an unexpected move the British soldiers felt threatened and fired at the crowd. Five people were killed and this is known as the Boston Massacre.
-The first fight of the Revolutionary War happened in the month of April in 1775 when British soldiers attacked a Massachusetts militia group. Militias were collections of people that joined to fight in the cause for the colonies but too often they were untrained, ill-equipped, and lacked the necessary tools for fighting against the well-trained British army.
FROM HERE I WILL GO TO TO TELL YOU ABOUT ONE SOLDIER WHO FOUGHT THE BATTLES ON THE FIELD AND WAGED A WAR IN HIS HEART AS HE LEFT BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT WAS DEAR TO HIM.
(Information from "The Revolutionary War" by Susan Provost Beller)