While I was researching for Freedom’s Ring, I read a LOT about the radicalism and the ideology of the American Revolution (including both Pulitzer Prize-winners by those titles!). The Revolution showed a big change in the way the average citizen saw the world and even what it means to BE a citizen. Today, we look at the founding principles as a given–even taking them for granted–and forget that this was a truly revolutionary way of thinking.
Pamphlets were a big part of this! Inexpensive to print and easy to distribute, patriotic pamphlets were the primary way the philosophy of the Revolution traveled! Here are some thoughts from my favorite pamphlets I’ve read:
No man in his senses can hesitate in choosing to be free, rather than a slave.
That Americans are intitled to freedom, is incontestible upon every rational principle. All men have one common original: they participate in one common nature, and consequently have one common right. . . .
Will you give up your freedom, or, which is the same thing, will you resign all security for your life and property, rather than endure some small present inconveniencies?
If you join with the rest of America in the same common measure, you will be sure to preserve your liberties inviolate.
— Alexander Hamilton, “A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress”
His first pamphlet! Obviously he went on to fight in the Revolution and later became the first Secretary of the Treasury. I love the musical, but I don’t think I’d want to know Hamilton in real life . . . but the man can write!
This one is also Temperance’s favorite!
Every government at some time or other falls into wrong measures. These may proceed from mistake or passion. . . .
Torn from the body, to which we are united by religion, liberty, laws, affections, relation, language and commerce, we must bleed at every vein. . . .
Wise and good men in vain oppose the storm.
— John Dickinson, “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania #3”
Josiah and David quote Dickinson, just like many of the Revolutionary generation would have done with popular pamphlets! John Dickinson serves in the Continental Congress alongside David and Josiah. While he couldn’t bring himself to sign the Declaration, Dickinson did fight in the Revolution. He was more of a lawyer than a farmer (a popular rhetorical stance), though he did own a farm in Delaware–and freed his slaves in 1777.
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. . . .
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.
— Thomas Paine, “Common Sense,” Introduction
This pamphlet is probably the most influential of the Revolution with good reason! (Although I do love Dickinson’s!) It wasn’t published until 1776, though, so it plays a role in Integrity’s Choice! This research was also really helpful in preparing to have Constance write her patriotic pamphlets. (As was listening to an audiobook of Animal Farm… You’ll have to read to find out why!) Good ol’ TPaine also gets a shout out in A Colonial Christmas when his other famous pamphlet, The American Crisis gets read.