Shoemaker and the Tea Party free essay sample

Throughout history, historians have spun events In order to alter and adjust others views on the event. This Is especially true during Colonial times and the time leading up the American Revolution. During this time, Information about the colonists events was passed on through word of mouth. One such man that was notorious for this was George Robert Twelve Hews. Hews was a Boston shoemaker, who at the age of twenty-eight witnessed four of his closest friends shot to death by The British red coats; he also participated in many of the key events of the Revolutionary crisis.Hews recollections of the events that took place were passed along in the monograph The Shoemaker and the Tea Party: Memory and the American Revolution by Alfred F. Young. HIS recollections of the dumping of the tea Into the harbor lead the reemergence of how significant the dumping of the tea was for the united States of America. We will write a custom essay sample on Shoemaker and the Tea Party or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, stories of Hews were also spun in order to alter the views of others. In 2008 we saw a reemergence of an everyday person taking center stage in a presidential race when John McCain, the republican nominee, introduced Joe the Plumber.Although he was a fictional character, he stood for the average, everyday working class person, much Like how George Robert Twelve Hews was portrayed as an everyday person making a difference In the world during the 19th century. George Robert Twelve Hews was present at the Boston massacre and three years later at the dumping of the tea into the Boston harbor. At the time of the event it was played down and nearly blocked out of many colonists minds all together. In fact, the term Tea Party does not arise until the sass. The discovery of George Robert Twelve Hews, who until 1834 was an unknown historical figure in either print or oral culture, save, of course to his family and the circles around helm. 3 It can be said that Hews helped to bring light to how revolutionary and significant the dumping of the tea really was. The dumping of the tea was a significant event for virtually all colonists. Men in almost every patriotic family had taken part in the event, either attending the body meetings, watching the action at the wharf, or Joining the boarding parties. 4 However, colonists played down the significance of the Boston Tea Party that occurred December 16, 1773. At the time, the event was perceived as over stepping the boundaries; It was even looked upon as a radical event. The colonists, with a wiliness to forget, chose to not compose articles containing information about the dumping of tea in order prevent repercussions from Parliament, among other things. However, to the dismay of the colonists, these repercussions would come about anyways.Their actions would inevitably led to severe retaliation from Great Britain in the form of the Intolerable Acts. When the Intolerable Acts were enacted upon the colonies, It gave Parliament the power to eve trials to other colonies or back to England If the King feared that the Jury would not try the case fairly, also all law officers were subject to appointment by the royal governor, and all town meetings that didnt have approval of the royal governor were banned. The Intolerable acts also had tw o additional clauses that closed the port of Boston until the price of the dumped tea was recovered. Also enacted with the Intolerable Act was the Quartering Act, which allowed royal troops to stay in houses start of the American Revolution and the fight for independence. While colonists ride to spin events their way, it failed and the colonists were faced with harsh punishment. In addition to the events leading up to the American Revolution being spun, Hews character was also spun by many different people, including James Hawkers and Benjamin Thatcher. Both these authors wrote biographies about Hews, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.Hawkers tried to write about Hews in first person; however, he quickly lapsed into third person. He also dragged on with long digressions in order to add to the story. Eh biggest mistake was not knowing enough about the Revolution in order to accurately portray Hews. This made him portray Hews with the same virtues of Benjamin Franklin and a selfless patriot. On a positive note, he allowed Hews to add his own feelings and ideas into the bibliography, thus, creating a simplistic and truthful story. On the contrary, Thatcher embellished and falsified dialogue in order to add to Hews story.He would regularly add anecdotes about Hews youth and the revolution that were more than likely fabricated. Thus, Hatchers portrayal, while fuller than Hawkers, is also more laded. Both authors took an average Joe and made him into a radical figure. Others have also chosen to alter the character of Hews, even in a painting. The painting, which ordered by John Davis, president of the Massachusetts Historical Society and United States Attorney at law, depicted only one side Hews. When the painting was finished it was hung in the Boston Athenian described as a place of fashionable resort. Although the painting of Hews was a nice gesture, it failed to show both sides of the story. He was a vital figure in the events leading up to the American Revolution but he was also a shoemaker for his entire life, which the portrait failed to portray. Additionally, the portrait failed to portray the real life characteristics of Hews. For example, an indentation in his forehead from John Mallows cane was intentionally left out, as were his wrinkles in his face. The portrait was very politically correct, but it did not show how Hews struggled as a shoemaker throughout his entire life. The discovery of Hews brought to light how the Sons of Liberty help jump start the American Revolution on the road to independence for the colonies from Great Britain. Hews, like Joe the Plumber, found himself dragged into politics. Dry. Samuel Van Creditworthiness Smith a conservative Jackson recognized that Hews should be known for his age of 93 instead of his actions during the radical event of the Boston Tea Party. 8 Hews took part in the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre not to be a historical figure, but to fight for freedom. He endured a long and hard life as a middle-class shoemaker.Although he may not have had all the amenities, he made the most of his life. Dry. Creditworthiness feels that Hews should be remembered for this and not as a radical colonist. Despite the inaccuracies of Hews character, the discovery of Hews led to a reemergence of patriotism by citizens during the sass. No longer was the dumping of the tea looked at as destruction but rather looked upon as the tea party. Because of Hews, the public memory of the dumping of the tea was transformed, creating a new spin on the Boston Tea Party, a spin that will even work its way into textbooks.Often the dumping of the tea into the Boston harbor can be incorporated with No taxation without representation said by Patrick Henry at the Stamp Act congress in 1765 vents often occurs due to the lack of record keeping in the early periods of American history. Before textbooks or the World Wide Web, history was hard to keep track of. Often history was passed down orally from generation to generation. Each generation took each historical moment differently; no one person knew all the history due to the lack of keeping records.But when all the records are complied together to create an abstract, it shows different variations in stories. During the sass, citizens were learning how to embrace the Boston Tea Party instead of looking down upon the act. With the transformation of the dumping of the tea came new stories and the forthcoming of new heroes. For instance, before reading this monograph, a common person would only know about what George Washington and other big named icons in American history did during the American Revolution.But now the public has knowledge about new heroes, like George Robert Twelve Hews, with the help of the by Alfred F. Young. This monograph has changed the way people look at early the early history of America. Through his monograph Young has brought to light a new hero, George Robert Twelve Hews, who has endured time. Through enduring time he was able to pass on his wealth of knowledge and wisdom about the events that occurred. Young provides a balance of knowledge from Hews as well as his own insight into the historical event.One, after reading Young monograph, can draw comparisons to modern day history. Also, one can draw their own conclusions of historical events from reading Young monograph. I now have a new perspective on the events that help shape the American Republic. Now I can appreciate how history has evolved throughout time, from word of mouth to documentation in textbooks and now to the World Wide Web. Also through Young monograph I have seen how throughout history historian have spun events to have what they want out of the situation, much like how lawyers do when arguing a case to make a point. 0 Though historians put spin on historical events, I feel it is necessary in order to give historical events some perspective. Having a vast array of different perspective on an event can create new takes on an event that perhaps have never been explored. By creating new takes on events, it can reveal new details, perhaps changing the event all together. If George Robert Twelve Hews was not dragged into the political realm ring Ethel sass, would the name Boston Tea Party be used in todays society?