According to david ramsay, one of the first historians of the american revolution, in establishing american independence, the pen and press had merit equal to that of the sword. Aug 15, 2019 thomas hutchinson 17111780 was a colonial american politician, judge and historian. As bernard bailyn wrote in the foreword to his 1965 book, pamphlets of the american revolution, there were more than four hundred pamphlets published in the colonies on the imperial controversy up through 1776, and nearly four times that number by wars end in 1783. The american revolution, 17631783 thomas hutchinson s home was the target of.
What was thomas hutchinsons impact in the revolutionary war. The hutchinson letters affair was an incident that increased tensions between the colonists of the province of massachusetts bay and the british government prior to the american revolution. The son of a wealthy merchant, hutchinson devoted himself to business ventures before. Had writs of assistance and tracked down smuggled good. Hutchinson spent his final years in england, serving unhappily as an advisor on north american matters to the king, and yearning to return to his homeland. The american revolution and the war that won it new york. Thomas hutchinson 17111780 thomas hutchinson was the last royal governor of massachusetts bay, a prominent loyalist, and a noted historian, both of his colony and his times. Thomas hutchinson responds to the declaration of independence. Read thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution by andrew stephen walmsley available from rakuten kobo. The history of the colony and province of massachusettsbay back to history is a weapon s front page. Thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution ebook written by andrew stephen walmsley. The history of the province of massachusetts bay from 1749 1774 by thomas hutchinson thomas hutchinson wrote his own account of the events that lead to the american revolution. Thomas hutchinson responds to independence 1776 after being recalled to england, former massachusetts governor thomas hutchinson wrote a lengthy response to the declaration of independence, answering each of its arguments and grievances in turn.
Thomas hutchinson recounts the reaction to the stamp act in. Margaret sanford, thomas hutchinsons wife distantly related to him by birth, was the second of three sisters. Walter edgar, professor emeritus of history, university of south carolina, shares the role south carolina and the south played in the american revolution. As historian joanne freeman points out in affairs of honor, mere words could tarnish a persons reputation and career irreparably. Statements such as it is better to submit to some abridgement of our rights as americans, than to break off our connection with our protector, england often made him a target of violence. Thomas hutchinson 17111780 was an americanborn loyalist who became an object of derision and hatred for americans during the revolutionary period thomas hutchinson. Rarely in american history has a political figure been so pilloried and despised as thomas hutchinson, governor of massachusetts and an ardent loyalist of the crown in the days leading up to the american revolution. Walmsley reveals to the reader an understanding of this mans social stance, governmental allegiances, and his true stature as a statesman as hutchinson rises and falls through the american political landscape of the times. What role did thomas hutchinson play in the revolutionary war. New ideas and issues affected social customs, political ideals, and gender and racial roles as the thirteen colonies evolved into the united states. Another mans bookbernard bailyns pulitzer prizewinning look at hutchinsonis clearly on his mind. Another mans bookbernard bailyns pulitzer prizewinning look at hutchinson. Hutchinson s was only the most notable version of a familiar story during the american revolution. Governor of boston who ordered cargo of tea to be unloaded in boston despite colonial objection.
War of independencewas the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which of great britains north american colonies threw off british rule to establish the sovereign united states of america, founded with the declaration of independence in 1776. Born september 9, 1711, thomas hutchinson was a successful merchant, prominent politician and one of the most important loyalists in the massachusetts bay colony before the american revolution. This extract is from the first part of hutchinsons missive. The era of tensions between britain and the colonies leading up to the american revolution has been well documented and researched by historians such as freeman. He plays a major role in the albany congress 1754, where representatives. Thomas gage in 1774 on the eve of the american revolution. August 1765, mobs again destroy thomas hutchinson s private home. He was a successful merchant and politician, and was active at high levels of the massachusetts government for many years, serving as lieutenant governor and then governor from 1758 to 1774. Thomas hutchinson born in boston and educated at harvard, hutchinson entered colonial politics in the late 1730s and came to hold a number of important positions. The woman whose words inflamed the american revolution. Thomas hutchinson 17111780 was an americanborn loyalist who became an object of derision and hatred for americans during the revolutionary period. His actions, particularly his correspondence to britain regarding the political actions of bostonians, caused many to. He saw a role for the colonies in the empire similar to the role he and franklin.
National humanities center thomas hutchinson, strictures upon the declaration of independence, 1776, excerpts 2 we hold these truths to be selfevident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that to. Thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution. Hutchinson, quincy, franklin, and the coming of the american revolution. But james otis career was cut short in 1769, when a british customs officer bashed. May 20, 20 thomas hutchinson was a historian and a prominent loyalist politician in the years before the american revolution. Primary source collection a list of imaginary grievances. Governor thomas hutchinson was a strong and faithful loyalist. News reports state his home was reduced to a splintered shell, out of the ruins came a trail of dinner plates and family portraits, books and childrens clothes. Hutchinson finally left the colony for england in june 1774, where he took the side of his fellow colonials by lobbying in vain against the coercive acts that closed boston s port and suspended the massachusetts constitution. He built a ha ha sunken fence behind the house, which is on the national register of historic places as gov. Blockade of all american ports 1775 prohibitory act 3. Andrew stephen walmsley, thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution new york. By 1774, hutchinson had become a political liability and was replaced as governor by general thomas gage, who had both political and military roles to play.
Born in boston and educated at harvard, hutchinson entered colonial politics in the late 1730s and came to hold a number of important positions. Because of the unstable and fragile notions of unity among the thirteen american colonies, print acted as a binding agent that mitigated the chances that the colonies would not support one. The ordeal of thomas hutchinson this book provides a sympathetic view of thomas hutchinsons political life. Governor hutchinson s tenure during this period of history was at the focal point of colonial uprising and dr. During the stamp act riots, hutchinson s house was burned to the ground. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution. The boston tea party was a political protest staged on december 16, 1773 at griffins wharf in boston, massachusetts. In june 1773 letters written several years earlier by thomas hutchinson and andrew oliver, governor and lieutenant governor of the province at the time of. Dec 01, 1998 thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution book. British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a. Hutchinson was born in boston, a greatgreatgrandson of the seventeenthcentury. Hutchinson was educated in boston from grammar school through harvard5 from which. Hutchinson had built a country estate in milton, massachusetts, part of which, governor hutchinson s field is owned by the trustees of the reservations and is open to the public.
Debate and conflict over government authority, diverse state economies, federal control. He was born into a prominent boston family and studied at harvard. Thomas hutchinson, royal governor of the british north american province of. Born and raised in the province of massachusetts, thomas hutchinson is an american who is also british subject forced by events to choose between political separatism or loyalism to the crown.
The revolution generated radical changes in the principles, opinions, and sentiments of the american people. A native bostonian, born september 9, 1711 to a wealthy merchant family, hutchinson was, like many of his future political opponents, educated at harvard university. He attended harvard college and earned his degree at age 16. Thomas hutchinson was a businessman, historian, and a prominent loyalist politician of the province of massachusetts bay in the years before the american revolution. An american indian leader who played a pivotal role in the beginning of the french and indian war when he killed jumonville in front of george washington, after they had become allies. View notes 5the american revolution from hist 1 at collin college. Like many active loyalists, thomas hutchinson incurred the wrath of patriots. Rarely in american history has a political figure been so pilloried and despised as thomas hutchinson, governor of massa. September 1711 in boston, province of massachusetts bay. In the younger hutchinsons case, this lineage was defying the likes of samuel adams and james otis, jr. An entertaining and thoughtprovoking view of revolutionary events from the perspective of the losing side, thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution tells the story of the american revolution through the prism of one of its most famous detractors.
Thomas hutchinson was the last royal governor of massachusetts bay, a prominent loyalist, and a noted historian, both of his colony and his times. The history of the colony and province of massachusettsbay back to history is a weapons front page. Thomas hutchinson, royal governor of the british north american province of massachusetts bay 177174 whose stringent measures helped precipitate colonial unrest and eventually the american revolution 177583. What role did thomas hutchinson play in the revolutionary. Thomas hutchinson 17111780 was a colonial american politician, judge and historian. Written debates with the assembly extended to the role of parliament in governing the policies, and further. During the conflict in the era 1700s, when the american society was suffering from british cruelty, barrow also incorporates the importance of thomas hutchinsons and one our founding fathers, john adams stance on the american revolution. Thomas hutchinson 17111780, american governor of colonial massachusetts and a staunch defender of english colonial policy, was also a jurist and historian. The life of thomas hutchinson, royal governor of the province of massachusetts bay. His loyalist bent during a time when patriotism and devotion to the american cause was rampant and respected led to his being the target of raids and protests. On the similarities between hutchinson s and his revolutionary opponents arguments against the sugar and stamp acts, see andrew stephen walmsley, thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution new york. Facts about thomas hutchinson boston tea party ships.
In june 1773 letters written several years earlier by thomas hutchinson and andrew oliver, governor and lieutenant governor of the province at the time of their publication, were. The older sister, mary, married andrew oliver, who became secretary of massachusetts when hutchinson became lieutenant governor, and lieutenant governor when hutchinson became governor. Thomas hutchinson, born september 9, 1711, boston, massachusetts u. Thomas hutchinson, one of the leading loyalists in the american revolution. Thomas hutchinson 3 could have been the most successful american political. Thomas barrow explains how the end of the colonial war played a large role in what many call the. A strongbox had been broken open and nine hundred pounds taken.
Thomas young1731 1777 no copy of doctor youngs address has yet been discovered. In 1754, hutchinson played a major role in the albany congress. Thomas hutchinson was a historian and a prominent loyalist. Thomas jefferson played an important role in the new country after the revolutionary war. His political career began when he was elected as a selectman in 1737. The cambridge history of english and american literature in 18 volumes 190721. Thomas hutchinson 9 september 1711 3 june 1780 was a businessman, historian, and a prominent loyalist politician of the province of massachusetts bay in the years before the american revolution. He was succeeded as governor by major general thomas gage. He has been referred to as the most important figure on the loyalist side in prerevolutionary massachusetts. He was blamed by lord north the british prime minister at the time for being a significant contributor to the tensions that led the outbreak of the american revolutionary war. He plays a major role in the albany congress 1754, where representatives from seven colonies debate and draft a plan of union. Print, the press, and the american revolution oxford. Political cartoon from 1774 by paul revere, depicting death attacking governor thomas hutchinson. Thomas hutchinson and the origins of the american revolution book.
Thomas hutchinson british colonial governor britannica. Thomas hutchinson recounts the reaction to the stamp act. He was the symbol of loyalty during the prerevolutionary period, and he was also one of the most hated people in boston. Those who remained loyal to england and the king found themselves on the losing side of history. American colonists, frustrated at britain for imposing taxation without. Thomas hutchinson is perhaps one of the most controversial figures of the american revolution.
He was a politically polarizing figure who, despite initial opposition to parliamentary tax laws directed at the colonies, came to be identified by john adams as a proponent of hated british taxes. On march 5, 1771, one year to the day following the boston massacre, the town fathers of the town of boston decided that there needed to be a public oration to remember the event. His actions, particularly his correspondence to britain regarding the political actions of bostonians, caused many to question his motives. Thomas hutchinson 17111780 was an american born loyalist who became an object of derision and hatred for americans during the revolutionary period. Andrew stephen walmsley had a tough assignment as he wrote a biography of colonial massachusetts gov. Hutchinson s boston mansion was ransacked in 1765 during protests against the stamp act, damaging his collection of materials on early massachusetts history. A case study of samuel adams and thomas hutchinson. America, and thomas hutchinson s experience in massachusetts showed how attacking public actions was enough to ruin someones political life.