Literature, Songs, and Art of the American Revolution free essay sample

Unfortunately many of the writing of the time are lost because they were written on the battlefront and mail was unlikely to be delivered John Boater wrote, You must not sent out of the way when anything Is going home and it is at least a thousand to one you do not receive this. 3. During this time many of the writings especially at the beginning of the revolution are call-to-arms are very stirring to the soul. They feature a strong sense of patriotism and of camaraderie among the colonists.Many of these writings are almost pleading for support and loyalty 4. These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that tends it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and women-Thomas Paine This Is an excellent example of a It not only calls on the potential soldiers but for others Like wives and children to do whatever they can to further the revolution 5. Paine was an avid patriot and wrote some of the most stirring pieces from the time period In 1776 he wrote a 79 page pamphlet, Common Sense, a piece in which consisted of nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense on the Idea of American Independence from England. 6. Paine was an active patriot serving in Washingtons army. His writing was the most influential thing he did. He wrote the Crisis Papers which spoke out against loyalists and inspired the colonists to continue fighting 7.The Puritans also produced a great deal of literature during this time period. Plain speech was highly regarded In this genre. In other words the works of these authors got straight to the point. The Puritans saw life as a constant moral struggle and attempted to portray this in their writings and represent true life. 8. During the revolution Patrick Henry delivered one of the most important lines of beech to the American cause. C] He said, Give me liberty or give me death. He said this while speaking to the Virginia legislature while urging Virginians to arm themselves. . During and shortly after the Revolution few great works emerged from American authors (with the exception of fantastic political writings). This is likely because most books were reviewed In England which made Americans aware of how dependent they were on the Brittle literary model. 10. It was difficult for American writers to find a true American identity. This was particularly difficult due to their overwhelming patriotism but was out of necessity self-conscious which caused many of the writings to In many ways flop.Music during the American Revolution Songs tell us about our history and give us a new way of looking at our history. Its a way of remembering stories and enjoying ourselves. American music comes from all over, because when immigrants came, they brought their music with them. Music I OFF Songs became a way of communicating ideas. Certain things influenced new songs such as faith and religion and the American feelings about freedom. These are Just omen of the songs of the Revolution. Yankee Doodle was a song made by a British man named Richard Succubuss to make fun of the Colonists.Unfortunately for him, the Americans loved the song and so they made the British dance to it by 1781. When the British man wrote He stuck a feather in his hat and called it Macaroni meant that Americans were stupid and thought that a feather was macaroni. Macaroni isnt that kind that we eat: it was a hair style in England. Doodle meant a foolish person. Yankee was a nick-name for New Englanders. The original tune for Yankee Doodle as Lydia Fishers Gig with these words: Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it; Nothing in it, nothing on it, But the binding round it. The Liberty Song is a song about a tree or a pole which patriots met around to talk about important things happening around the colonies. To show support for the patriots, women wore a hat and under the hat they would have curled thirteen strands of their hair. They did that to represent the thirteen colonies. It was written by John Dickinson. William Billings composed Chester, who was recognized as the first truly American composer. He was born October 7, 1746, in Boston. He wrote things called tune books, to use in the New England singing-schools.He died September 26, 1800, in Boston. American Taxation was written by Peter SST. John who was school teacher. It was about the Stamp Act which he thought was an unconstitutional attempt upon our liberties. We dont know who wrote the Cornwallis Country Dance, but its interesting and funny. It uses the tune of Yankee Doodle. Free America was written by Joseph Warren. It is sung to the tune of The British Grenadiers. The Rebels were retreating from Breeders Hill when a bullet took the life of Dry. Joseph Warren.The song Granny Wales shows that the British did not like the raising of the taxes in the colonies either. They did not like it because they thought they would lose their investments in the colonies. Art during the American Revolution John Truthful: Artist of the Revolution The greatest motive I had or have for engaging in or for continuing my pursuit of painting has been the wish of commemorating the great events of our countrys Revolution. Thus wrote John Truthful, the Connecticut-born painter, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson in June, 1789.The foremost member of a group of artists who painted important American historical events, Truthful had an insiders view of the War, serving as a colonel in the Continental Army and aide to Gene. Washington in the American Revolution. Today, four of his paintings hang in the U. S. Capitol Rotunda. The Surrender of Cornwallis, painted in 1820, is among his most famous. John Truthful In this painting we see the British column of troops making their way along Hampton Road, flanked on the left by the French Army and on the right by the American forces.Cornwallis, in a display of bad grace, pleaded illness, sending his aide Gene. Charles OHara to surrender in his place. Approaching the Allied Commanders, OHara Researcher refused, directing him to Gene. Washington who in turn directed him to General Benjamin Lincoln who accepted the sword. Two things here: first, military protocol dictated that neither Researcher nor Washington should accept the sword from someone who was beneath their position. Second, the supreme irony of Gene.