Portfolio: Essay #2

Essay 2; Patriots & Loyalists
------In Connecticut today, I am deeply in disgust at those who do not wish to follow the laws of Britain. There are multiple consequences that can bring our colony into chaos. As a loyalist, I believe that we colonists should stay faithful to our home country. I am a young poor miss who does not have the right to contribute my political and religious thoughts for the greater good for Connecticut.

December 1775; Entry One
------Today, as I was shopping at the market, I could not help but over hear a conversation between two gentlemen. One man was slender and pale white like flour and was well dressed. As for the other man, he was quite the opposite. He was round and short, and was dressed in shaggy clothes. As the slender man talked of separating with Britain, the rounder man shook his head in disapproval. I wanted to speak up but, I am a poor woman of color and my words and opinions can not be heard of cared for. But, I strongly believe that keeping a bond with Britain will create a stronger government in Connecticut. Without Britain‘s help, the local government would not be successful. Britain’s way of governing keeps the colonists satisfied. Soon enough, the colonists began to seek the privileges of the new way of governing Connecticut. “The outbreak of hostilities brought no upheaval here in the leadership of affairs. The legislature worked together in harmony, and being chosen by the freemen themselves, were enabled to legislate favorably to popular will”(Gilbert 274). Keeping peace within the colony is the most important virtue to maintain. From having personal experience, I know that peace will bring serenity to Connecticut and, having the legislatures work together will resolve problems peacefully and equally. The colonists set the boundaries in the constitution and have the freedom to exercise authority lawfully.
------Following the laws of our Mother Country will keep the colonists from rebelling and will satisfy their daily lives. “Every town had its three or more selectmen, two or more justices of the peace, two or more constables, town clerk, town treasurer, surveyors of highways, fence-viewers, listers, collectors of taxes, leather-sealers, grand jurors, tithing men, hay-wards, chimney-viewers, gaugers, packers, sealers of weight and measures, key-keepers, records of “sheep-markers” etc”(Gilbert 275). With this in action, every town will have order and will be considered as an organized town because, unlike the patriots, the British government has more organization and will be more effective than self government. Self government will only make our colony grow weaker. I have learned that being independent is not always the right decision to make. Depending on others can give you the will to work harder and really help you realize how two heads are better then one. Britain and Connecticut working together will make our colony become strong and, we will have a government that will be able to support us. Self government is not organized and will not lead the growing population into the right direction of the future Connecticut. “[I]t is the duty of every person in the colonies to oppose by every lawful means the execution of those acts imposed on them, and if they can in no other way be relieved, to reassume their natural rights and the authority the laws of nature and of God have vested them with”(http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ct_resolutions_1765.asp). We are still British subjects, and we are responsible to be apart of the Constitution and to participate in the rules of the Constitution. By British Law, Parliament has the right to tax the colonists, which the colonist has to obey the laws and orders given to them.

December 1775; Entry Two
------Growing up colored and female was very hard. As hardship grew, I turned to God as my savior from the pain and sufferings I went through. I strongly believe that faith and the church will keep the colony and the King strongly bonded. Following the practice of the church helped me through tough times, and always helped me find the silver lining to every grey cloud. If the colonists follow the practice of the church, the King will be pleased and will support the colonists in America. This will show the King that we are proud to be British, while living in America. Not only will we be pleasing the King but, we will be obeying our civil duties as a loyal subject to Britain. “[I]t speaks well for the influence and Christian character of the Episcopal clergy [in Connecticut,] that their congregation so generally sympathized with them in their views both of religious and civil duties; ‘that inculcated upon their members, both from the pulpit and in private conversation, a peaceful submission to the King and to the parent state;’ that ‘they were fearless in avowing and vindicating what they conceived to be not only the essential rights of the British Crown, but the essential interests of their venerated communion”(Gilbert 277). The influence of the King’s Christianity will build Connecticut into a stronger colony. Not only will we be connected with the King but, we will all be more united and whole as a colony.
------Following the religion of our King will do great to our colony and the civil duties to Connecticut will be established. “The Churchmen throughout the colony ‘espoused for the most part the cause of the mother country, and thereby showed themselves loyal subjects of the King’ (Gilbert 277). Following the ways of our King shows our loyalty to our Mother Country. We must stay devoted to our Mother Country, after all, our Mother Country is what keeps us secure and supplies our Connecticut colony with food, clothes, tables, and other important daily accessories. Although, some colonists seeks otherwise and believes in becoming a self government. Instead, they seek the loyalists as unfair. Patriots are going to ruin the hard work of constructing this colony. Britain gave me an opportunity to live a new life. Without Britain, I probably would not be living in Connecticut. I for one am very grateful to Britain. We are all still British! What ever actions the patriots take, they will always be British and nothing can change that fact. Becoming a self government will create chaos and will make living in America hard. Independence from Britain will destroy our hard work into building a strong colony. Our import and exports will no longer exist, and we, the colonists will have to learn how to support our colony. This would mean learning how to make clothes, chairs, spoons, and other daily accessories. What the patriots need to realize is that we may be living in America but that does not mean we are Americans. We are a united colony that is devoted to Britain. I am proud to be a loyalist in Connecticut.








Citations:
1.
Daniels, Bruce . "Connecticut's Villiages Become Mature Towns: The Complexity of Local Institutions, 1676-1776." 13 Nov 2008 .
2.
Fingerhut, Eugene . "Uses and Abuses of the American Loyalists' Claims: A Critique of Quantitative Analyses." 13 Nov 2008 .

3.
Gilbert, G. A. "The Connecticut Loyalists." 13 Nov 2008 .

4.
The Massachusetts Gazette, "Connecticut Resolutions on the Stamp Act: December 10, 1765." 19December1765. 10 Nov 2008 .