Clarifying some things on the Revolution

I am going to say something, and I want you to hear me.

I am a scholar of the Revolution. That's the topic of my dissertation. Please believe me when I say that I know a lot about it.

I also happen to know--and this is well-supported by historians--that the Revolution was a civil war in which, for the first several years, Revolutionaries and Loyalists were evenly matched.

I will repeat that. Evenly matched. Loyalists were not merely too cowardly to fight, and they were not old fogies who hated the idea of freedom. Most had been in the Colonies for generations.

Many of them took up arms for their King and their country. And when they lost, you confiscated their homes and they fled with the clothes on their back to Canada, England, and other places of the Empire. Both sides--both sides--committed unspeakable atrocities against civilians whom they disagreed with.

Now, a lot of you love to repeat some very fervent patriotic diatribe about how great the Revolution was. That's not history. That's propaganda. Know the difference.

History has shades of gray. History is complex and ambiguous. Washington, for instance, wore dentures made from the teeth of his slaves. Benjamin Franklin's son was the last royal governor of New Jersey. Did you know that the net tax rate for Americans--they always conveniently leave this out of the textbooks--was between 1.9 and 2.1%, depending on colony.? And that was if they had paid the extra taxes on tea and paper.

And, wait for it, people who support California independence use the same logic and arguments as they did in 1775. Did you know that the Los Angeles and Washington are only a few hundred miles closer than Boston and London? That many of the same issues, point by point, are repeating here in California?

So put yourself in those shoes. How many of you would have sided with the Empire (whether American or British) based on the fact thatyou don't know how this will shake out? Would you call someone who supports Calexit a Patriot? Revolutionary? Nutcase? Who gets to own that word, anyway?

You can choose that you would have supported the revolutionaries--but think. Think about the other side. They matter, and their experiences got to be cleansed out of history to make you feel better about the way the revolutionaries behaved during the War. Acknowledge that they are there, and that their point of view has merit, even if you not agree with it.

Clarifying Unit III's assignment

I have noticed a few consistent problems with the letter in the Unit III issue. Here are some pointers to make it better.

1. Read the clarifying note I wrote above. Note that the taxes aren't actually as high as you have been led to believe, but the point is that they should not be assigned at all without your consent.

2. Acknowledge that this is a debate, that a certain percentage are radicalized for independence, but there are is also a law-and-order group who find this horrific, and want to smooth out issues with their home country. Just acknowledging that this is going to be a messy issue that might result in Americans killing each other can add to the complexity.

3. For reference, think about how you would feel if you were in California, and people were debating breaking from Washington, because that's a pretty accurate way to look at it through their eyes.

4. For those of you who are going to go dump tea into the harbor, justify the act of theft and vandalism to me. I mean, would you do it to the Best Buy to protest foreign goods? No, because we have laws that tell us that we shouldn't do that (hint, they did then, too). I find it ironic when people in law enforcement are really enthusiastic about how they would have been breaking the law.

5. Lastly, if you are deciding for the Americans, talk to me about who you are listening to, who you are reading.
PS - the term Patriot was used by both sides. Revolutionaries didn't have a lockdown on it until they kicked out their Loyalist neighbors, sold their estates and furniture, and started writing their own histories. Just so you know.

• UNIT ASSIGNMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.....

• A Letter from Boston

Place yourself (same age, family situation, and relative occupation) in early 1770s Boston. You are inspired to write a letter to someone (family, friend, co-worker, etc.) outside of the area about what you have seen or heard happening with regards to the growing rift with Britain. Below are questions you must address in your letter.

• Your nation is on the brink of war. What has caused this?

• In your current situation, how has the foreign government impacted you, and what you are seeing evolve as the American government?

• Are you hoping to see a new nation emerge, or are you hoping for a reconciliation with Britain?

You are encouraged to be creative with the assignment, but make sure you are using facts from what you have read and learned to guide you. Your letter must be a minimum of one page, double spaced, and written in Times New Roman 12 point font.