Artists from both sides of the Atlantic produced prints and drawings depicting scenes of Massachusetts satirizing relations with Britain or reassuring Americans about independence prospects in the years preceding the Revolution.
Trumbull created paintings that popularized an optimistic narrative of the Revolution for Federalist audiences. His depictions of one heroic figure assuaged their concerns for stability and order.
The Pilgrims
On an autumn night in 1620, 102 passengers boarded the Mayflower and set sail from England in pursuit of their nation's oldest dream: life abroad. We now recognize them as "Pilgrims," but during their day they were considered extreme Puritans who opposed certain practices within the Church of England that didn't align more closely with Bible principles and preferred forms more similar to what could be found therein. Furthermore, these extreme Puritans advocated strict separation of church and state - something the Crown opposed vigorously.
After two false starts, those aboard the Mayflower finally reached what is now Cape Cod. Before disembarking, 41 adult men signed a simple agreement - barely more than a sentence long - to form an electoral body with lawmaking capabilities - known as The Mayflower Compact and one of America's defining documents as this marked the first time a sovereign people voluntarily established their own government.
Though more than half of the settlers died during their initial winter, those who survived formed a tight-knit community led by William Brewster, Edward Winslow and Bradford who exerted tremendous influence over its future. Their story became part of America's creation myth - but their legacy extended far beyond Plymouth alone.
The Puritans
Puritans arrived shortly after the Pilgrims and founded Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 under Governor John Winthrop's vision of creating a "city on a hill" as an exemplar for European Protestant society.
Puritans were known for working hard and condemning any deviations from their strict beliefs, such as Christmas, bear-baiting (where dogs were chained up with bears and attacked), cockfights, theater performances, or any other popular pastimes. Puritans also opposed playing cards or any form of gambling and had no tolerance for such practices.
Even more significantly, they believed the King had corrupted the Church of England and sought to dismantle its practices in a new colony where they could freely practice their faith. Anyone found disagreeing with its established order faced severe punishment such as excommunication and public whipping followed by stockade formation.
Puritans believed in God's predestination, where some individuals would be chosen for salvation while others were fated to eternal damnation, keeping them constantly striving to do good works and showing obedience and faith in Him through these efforts. According to Puritanism's belief system, those "elected" would go to heaven while punishment awaited those not chosen - creating the covenant that provided an incentive for families to stay united over generations.
The Revolution
The American Revolution revolutionized American politics by forging a new national identity. Before, its Thirteen Colonies had no common thread aside from paying taxes and allegiance to Britain; as the war progressed, however, colonies gradually developed a sense of shared sovereignty as they created a Federal Constitution that survived ratification battles in each state; at the same time however, conflict introduced new contradictions into political debates; for example encouraging more people to oppose slavery while masters who relied heavily on slave labor to win victory were finding new justifications for maintaining slavery's practice!
Historians disagree about the Revolution's effects on American society. Some emphasize its continuities with colonialism while others see more radical consequences of it. Whatever definition is applied, however, the Revolution intensified trends already underway - such as political assertion by ordinary white men and territorial expansion at native expense.
In April 1775, Britain and her North American colonies came into a violent confrontation after years of growing estrangement between themselves. British Parliament had passed a series of laws known as Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts which ignited hostilities between them and their North American colonies. Committees of correspondence were set up across colonies to coordinate responses across them during hostilities while Paul Revere's prints depicting the Boston Massacre further galvanized sentiment against Britain - all these events helped form a nation based upon ideals of liberty, equality, natural rights and civil liberties.
The Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, new technologies and inventions drastically transformed agricultural societies into urban ones. Textile mills, factories and railroads began emerging, disrupting patterns of work and home life and forcing families to depend on outside sources for food, clothing and other essentials formerly produced themselves by small farms or artisans' workshops.
Dramatically increased production was at the core of the Industrial Revolution, but for it to truly make an impactful statement it required additional elements: an expanded system of credit to enable entrepreneurs to invest in riskier ventures; and an improved transportation network so raw materials could reach factories quickly while finished products could reach consumers easily. State governments played an essential role in encouraging both developments.
Mum Bett was a woman living in Sheffield, Massachusetts during the Industrial Revolution. Her story serves as a reminder that the new constitution wasn't just an outline for how governments should function but gave citizens a voice and a chance to share their hopes and aspirations for an improved future.
The Civil War
The Civil War was not only the greatest catastrophe for Massachusetts in history but also for America at large. It overthrew plantation society and slavery while ushering in a free-labor entrepreneurial republic; upending an ancient order where brother fought brother; breaking an age-long peace between races; and setting in motion our country's lasting divisions over race, religion, and politics that have left their mark upon it all these years later.
Massachusetts citizens adapted to a new way of life and altered the world around them, becoming an epicenter for industry, commerce and education. A sense of freedom and equality spread among its inhabitants; property requirements were eliminated for voting; women gained the right to vote; religious intolerance gave way to tolerance; and African Americans gained access to government offices.
Industrial Revolution brought more immigrants into Boston. Manufacturing industries flourished and Boston emerged as a center for influential (and sometimes radical) intellectuals.
The 20th Century
The United States experienced extraordinary economic and international power during the 20th Century. Two world wars and a Cold War were marked by technological breakthroughs ranging from nuclear bombs, computers and the Internet - as well as numerous high-profile political figures like Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams as well as Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Calvin Coolidge hailing from "Bay State."
Massachusetts was at the epicenter of Irish immigration during the late 19th century, driven by Ireland's Great Famine which drove thousands to travel from Ireland and settle here, many settling near Boston and Massachusetts. Their legacy can still be found today with large Irish neighborhoods, famous families such as Kennedys and Celtics settling here, and even an entire city named after Saint Patrick!
Although Massachusetts is widely recognized for its long list of inventions, its lasting cultural identity has had an equally profound influence on American history. Massachusetts was the first to legalize gay marriage and passed antidiscrimination legislation for people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Today, Massachusetts is an industrial and technological powerhouse and home to multiple highly ranked universities. Massachusetts has long been known as an oasis of individual liberty while meeting communal needs - its ability to balance individual liberty with community needs has greatly helped shape America into what it is today; an NBC News poll recently indicated that many Americans consider its geographic isolation one of the primary contributors to its success in the 20th Century.
Post a Comment