Unit 2 - Chapters 5 - 8 - People

Question 1

John Dickinson:

Answer 1

John Dickinson (1732-1808) was a Founding Father of the United States, a lawyer, and a writer. He is often known as the “Penman of the Revolution” for his influential writings. Here are some of his key works:

1. “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania”: Dickinson’s most famous work, a series of 12 essays published in 1767-68. They argued against the Townshend Duties and the British Parliament’s authority to tax the colonies. This work had a significant impact, as it helped unify the colonies against these British policies.
2. “Petition to the King”: As a member of the First Continental Congress, Dickinson helped draft this 1774 document. The petition declared loyalty to the King but also protested the Intolerable Acts.
3. “The Liberty Song”: Published in 1768, it was one of the first patriotic songs of the American colonies, with the phrase “by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall” that later became well-known.
4. “The Articles of Confederation”: Dickinson was instrumental in drafting the Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution of the United States from 1781 until the establishment of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

Question 2

Phillis Wheatley:

Answer 2

Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784) was the first published African American female poet. She was enslaved at the age of 7 and was educated by her owners, an unusual occurrence at the time.

1. “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral”: Published in 1773, this was the first book published by an African American woman. Her work was praised by influential figures of the time, including George Washington. Her work proved that African Americans could produce notable literary work, challenging prevailing stereotypes.
2. “To His Excellency, George Washington”: A poem Wheatley wrote in 1775 in honor of George Washington. He praised the work and even invited her to visit his headquarters in Cambridge.

Question 3

Judith Sargent Murray:

Answer 3

Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820) was an early American advocate for women’s rights, an essayist, playwright, and letter writer.

1. “On the Equality of the Sexes”: An essay published in 1790, two years before Wollstonecraft’s similar treatise. Murray posited that women were just as intellectually capable as men given the same opportunities for education, making her one of America’s earliest feminist writers.
2. “The Gleaner”: A collection of Murray’s essays, published from 1792 to 1794. They included her thoughts on topics such as gender equality, education, and the new United States government.
3. “The Medium”: An essay in which she suggested that women could be equally as persuasive and influential as men, if given equal opportunities.