1. The Firebrands

2. Firebrand- Stick of wood w/a spark of fire on 1 end Firebrand dictionary definition- Someone who is a hothead, triggers a revolution, or lights a fire in ppl.’s minds & hearts 3 firebrands for the American Revolution Samuel Adams- Inspired & moved ppl. Patrick Henry- Great speaker Thomas Paine- Great writer

3. The Firebrands Samuel Adams New Englander from Boston w/Puritan culture Patrick Henry Southerner from VA, country boy, & Anglican Thomas Paine Came from England Lived in Mid. colonies- Philadelphia Deist-God is creator of the universe, but does not intervene in the universe Quaker friends Different- Said it was necessary to break away

4. The Firebrands Americans thought of themselves as British colonists Stopped looking at themselves as Eng. Carolinians, New Englanders, & Virginians Hard to see being the same country

5. The Firebrands Travel b/t the colonies was difficult Bad roads & few bridges Fastest stage coach w/no travel issues-8 mph Poor ppl.-Travel on foot Most ppl.-Travel on horseback If had to cross a river-Had to find a boat Horses had to swim Baggage- had to take it across=dangerous

6. The Firebrands 1760- Sail from Baltimore to London in 4 weeks- (Good winds) Wealthy Marylanders, S. Carolinians, & Virginians went to London instead of MA London was exciting Firebrands wanted to change this Committee of Correspondence-Prominent citizens of the different colonies wrote back & forth to help solve issues Sons of Liberty started-Met under old elm tree in Boston & British chopped the tree down

7. The Firebrands Sam Adams helped mastermind the Boston Tea Party Agitator Came from a prominent Boston family & lost almost all of his family’s money Went to Harvard British said-A public enemy, outlaw, & rebel He wanted America to be where ppl. rule themselves & be perfect society for all ppl.

8. The Firebrands Thomas Paine did not have roots in America like Sam Adams Apprentice to corsetmaker in England-didn’t like it Ran away & went to sea-This didn’t last Tried to be a grocer, schoolteacher, & tobacco seller-These didn’t work either Continued to learn-Went to lectures & read Met Ben Franklin in London & wanted to go to America

9. The Firebrands Thomas Paine was able to come to America Ben Franklin got him a job as a writer & an editor at a magazine in Philadelphia Magician w/words Wrote the pamphlet Common Sense Monarchy not a good form of gov’t Taxes were hurting the ppl. & a country 3,000 mi. away shouldn’t be ruling over America Many copies were sold Enlisted when the Revolution started & gave 1/3 of his salary to help the cause

10. The Firebrands Patrick Henry was born on the VA frontier Taught by his father to read in English & Latin Used English language like no American had before Nickname- “Forest-born Demosthenes” Great orator & fighter of freedom in ancient Greece A storekeeper & planter-failed at both Studied law & became a politician

11. The Firebrands Elected to the House of Burgesses-Met in VA capital Williamsburg At the House of Burgesses when the Stamp Act was passed Said the Stamp Act was a threat to liberty Some said he was committing treason because he was attacking the king Thomas Jefferson heard Henry’s speech & thought “he spoke, as Homer wrote”- which was great VA gov. was mad when he heard about Henry’s speech & ended the House of Burgesses

12. The Firebrands Delegates were mad- went to Raleigh Tavern & kept the meeting going 1775- Not safe for burgesses to gather in Williamsburg- Met in a Richmond church Gave most famous speech Boston Harbor is closed English soldiers were in the city MA assembly was ended “Give me liberty, or give me death”