REVOLUTION IN THE MID-HUDSON: SELECTED SOURCES FOR TEACHERS

This guide was created to help teachers bring primary source based stories of the Mid-Hudson region in the Revolutionary War into the classroom. The counties covered are: Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Dutchess.

Common Core Standards and Local Content: Late Colonial & Early Revolutionary Period


Standard	Topic	Primary Document / Local Theme
7.3c Influenced by Enlightenment ideas and their rights as Englishmen, American colonial leaders outlined their grievances against British policies and actions in the Declaration of Independence. Students will examine the influence Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and social contract and ideas expressed in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense had on colonial leaders in their debates on independence. 10.2: ENLIGHTENMENT, REVOLUTION, AND NATIONALISM: The Enlightenment called into question traditional beliefs and inspired widespread political, economic, and social change. This intellectual movement was used to challenge political authorities in Europe and colonial rule in the Americas. These ideals inspired political and social movements. (Standards: 2, 3, 5; Themes: MOV, TCC, GEO, SOC, GOV, CIV)	The rise of individualism; personal freedom vs. social contract	Pamphlet: Free thoughts on the proceedings of the Continental Congress by Samuel Seabury, 1775. [a tract appealing to the people of New York for reconciliation, focusing on individual rights and consequences, and the rule of law as established by Britain]. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=aeu.ark:/13960/t1ng5785k;view=2up;seq=7 Flipping the view: The pamphlet burned in Kingston (Full article, see file below) The New York Journal prints a letter written from Kingston on December 21st, giving an account of the burning of the pamphlet “Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress” and asking “is not the fate, then, it has met with in Kingston, worthy of imitation, wherever copies of it may be found?” [social contract; suppression of dissenting voices] (The New York Journal or the General Advertiser: January 12, 1775)
7.3 AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE: Growing tensions over political power and economic issues sparked a movement for independence from Great Britain. 11.2 CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS (1763 – 1824): Growing political and economic tensions led the American colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain. Once independent, the new nation confronted the challenge of creating a stable federal republic. (Standards: 1, 5; Themes: TCC, GOV, CIV, ECO)	Iron Act [see also 10.2 above]	Precursor: The Iron Act 1750 Governor Clinton’s report on compliance with the Iron Act (closing of the Bellvale Forge in Warwick NY) Text in Google Books Text in Warwick Heritage site (includes location & context)
4.3d Growing conflicts between England and the 13 colonies over issues of political and economic rights led to the American Revolution. 11.2a Following the French and Indian War, the British government attempted to gain greater political and economic control over the colonies. Colonists resisted these efforts, leading to increasing tensions between the colonists and the British government. Students will examine British efforts to gain greater political and economic control, such as the Proclamation of 1763, the Stamp Act, the Townsend Acts, the Tea Act, the Boston Massacre, and the Coercive Acts, and colonial reactions to these efforts.	Non-Importation [see also 10.2 above]	Poem Encouraging Non-Importation (see file below) Dispute about selling tea, Kingston 1775 (see file below)
7.3 AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE: New York played a critical role in the course and outcome of the American Revolution. 11.2b Failed attempts to mitigate the conflicts between the British government and the colonists led the colonists to declare independence, which they eventually won through the Revolutionary War, which affected individuals in different ways.	Loyalist views [see also pamphlet, 10.2 above]	Statement of Loyalists in Dutchess County, 1775 (see file below) Henry Wisner of Goshen Precinct-- Signature on the Olive Branch Petition [see file below]

Burning of the Pamphlet "Free Thoughts" at Kingston
Courtesy of M. Hendrickson
Tea Selling Dispute at Kingston, May 1775
Statement of Dutchess Loyalists, 1775
Olive Branch Petition - Wisner Signature
From the British National Archives. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/museum/additional_image_types.asp?item_id=28&image_id=36&extra_image_type_id=1
Non-Importation Poem: Address to the Ladies

Common Core Standards and Local Content: Revolutionary Period

Standard

Topic

Primary Document / Local Theme

11.2b Failed attempts to mitigate the conflicts between the British government and the colonists led the colonists to declare independence...

The Association Pledge

The New York State Association Pledge [see file below]
Henry Wisner, Voted for Independence & Gunpowder Manufacturer. See: "Memorial of Henry Wisner"

11.2b Failed attempts to mitigate the conflicts between the British government and the colonists led the colonists to declare independence, which they eventually won through the Revolutionary War, which affected individuals in different ways

Food Shortages

Sufferings of the militia

Prisoners of War

Loyalists

Women

Slaves

Depreciation of currency

Henry Wisner of Goshen Precinct writes of food shortages, 1776 [see also file below]
John Hathorn writes of the dire straits of the militia in winter, Dec. 1776 (see file below)
Pension file of Hall, POW (see file below)
Plceholder
Sarah Osborn, Camp Follower (see file below)
James DePuy, Slave & Veteran (see file below)
Scale of Depreciation of Continental money vs. gold/silver, 1781 (see also earlier broadside attempting to stem the depreciation of NYS bills of credit).

Common Core Standards and Local Content: The Early Republic

11.2c Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to a convention whose purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead resulted in the writing of a new Constitution.....Students will examine the key points of debate expressed in the Federalist Papers and the Antifederalist Papers, focusing on the protection of individual rights and the proper size for a republic.

Federalism and Anti-Federalism

NYS Governor's Race: Antifederalist Essay and Petition, 1801 (see file below)

7.4c Advocates for and against a strong central government were divided on issues of States rights, role/limits of federal power, and guarantees of individual freedoms. Compromises were needed between the states in order to ratify the Constitution.

Students will examine from multiple perspectives arguments regarding the balance of power between the federal and state governments, the power of government, and the rights of individuals.

11.2d Under the new Constitution, the young nation sought to achieve national security and political stability, as the three branches of government established their relationships with each other and the states...

Students will examine Hamilton’s economic plan, the debate surrounding the plan, and its impacts on the development of political parties.

Debates over powers of the Federal government

Liberty Pole protest of Alien and Sedition Acts, anti-Constitution sentiment, Orange and Ulster 1798 (see file below)