“An Exceedingly Dirty and Nasty People”: Exploring the Patriot Forces of 1775
Department or Program American Cultural Studies Abstract In popular revolutionary iconography, New England colonists are praised for their dramatic rush to arms during the first few months of the American Revolution. While this enthusiasm led thousands of colonists to take up arms, it faded by 1776 resulting in a dramatically diminished force. What happened? Why did the forces of 1776 differ so much from those of 1775? My research focuses on how the changing military organization of New England forces in 1775, from a collection of local militias to an army, impacted colonists’ enlistment and enthusiasm. To understand the development of New England forces, this thesis explores the connections between the local militia system, the creation of the Continental Army, the appointment of George Washington, and the changes in revolutionary rhetoric during 1775. Level of Access Open Access Date of Graduation Spring 5-2012 Degree Name Bachelor of Arts Recommended Citation Maxwell, Katharine A., "“An Exceedingly Dirty and Nasty People”: Exploring the Patriot Forces of 1775" (2012). Honors Theses. 53. https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/53
American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People
This is a story of rumour, charity, vengeance, and restraint. "American Insurgents, American Patriots" reminds us that revolutions are violent events. They provoke passion and rage, a willingness to use violence to achieve political ends, a deep sense of betrayal, and a strong religious conviction that God expects an oppressed people to defend their rights. The American Revolution was no exception. A few celebrated figures in the Continental Congress do not make for a revolution. It requires tens of thousands of ordinary men and women willing to sacrifice, kill, and be killed. Breen not only tells the history of these ordinary Americans but, drawing upon a wealth of rarely seen documents, restores their primacy to America's road to independence. Mobilizing two years before the Declaration of Independence, American insurgents in all thirteen colonies concluded that resistance to British oppression required organized violence against the state. They channeled popular rage through elected committees of safety and observation, which before 1776 were the heart of American resistance. "American Insurgents, American Patriots" is the stunning account of their insurgency, without which there would have been no independent republic as we know it.
Notes on interviewing AWOL soldiers
Over 150 soldiers were interviewed to determine causes of their going AWOL. The adaptable approach of the sergeant seemed to produce good rapport. AWOL is an escape from an adjustment problem, usually a 'domestic neurosis' of strong home attachment. Good morale can lessen the escape tendency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)