Tilda Sutter:

Tilda Sutter                                                                                                                                                                  

November 15th, 2016

GSS7B

A Day in the Life of A Burgess’s Wife

I wake up to the cold air flowing into my dark room and the bright light blinding my eyes. I look around and see my empty bedroom, looking like a ghost-town. Besides where I have slept, my room sits still, untouched, motionless. Even the lavish, bright, colorful decorations can’t hide it. I slowly stand up and call for my servants, because today isn’t a day for me to sit alone at home. My maid frantically runs into my room and helps me chose my day gown. I scan my eyes over the vivid gowns staring me down, but none of those grab my attention. Sitting in the corner of the room is another grey, boring gown lays on my couch. Even with the disapproval of my servants, I run to that gown. It might be the plainest, it holds enough memories for a library. I remember when I made it, for the Homespun Ball of 1769. I’ll remember that day forever. With my husband a Burgess, and the same for all of my friends, they have political power. Still, they do not use it well. With English constantly taxing us, just one dress can cost so much because of the taxes of shipping in materials. So instead of spending money, all of the wives wore old dresses, homespun dresses or day gowns. The look on the men’s faces when we walked into the room was priceless. Most of them agreed with taxation, so we were rebelling against them. So now I run up to the plain dress and put it on, grab my bag and leave.

As I walk to meet my friends, I look around. The town is busier today, and it has been recently. The air is crisp, cold, so goosebumps run up and down my back. Soon I see my friends, and I quickly hurry to meet them. I’m not the only one to wear my Homespun Ball Gown, so that is how I tell they are my group. There are about five women waiting for me in their grey, old dresses. Other women walk by, wearing bright pinks and blues and they look down at us. Even with my class higher than theirs, what I am about to do will push me down.

“Do you have it?” My friend asks me.

I motion to my bag and open the clasp and pull out a jar of tea.

This tea is from England, so when I bought it I paid tax.  She smiles and motions to her bag so I know she brought her part.

“Should I do it?” I ask.

“People are starting to gather, so now is the best time,” she responds.

I dump the tea on the floor and smell the aroma of Earl Grey fill the air. Men and Women gather around, and some gasp as the leaves hit the floor. They understand how expensive this was, but what they can’t predict is what happens next. One of my friends lights it on fire. The group that has gathers quickly steps back, and I watch their expressions as the red lights reach for the sky.

“Oh my!” One of the colorful women cries out.

Some men look disappointed, angry and storm off. I see other men wearing blue and white, signs of a Patriot, jump back at the sight ahead. Even Patriots don’t believe that women can really protest. I see the women I saw before, with the bright clothes, shake their heads in disgrace. I see another girl’s mouth open, and I see a spark of curiosity in her eyes. Soon the fire goes out, but I know the fire we started wasn’t just measured by that light.

Walking home, I try to imagine what the next few months are going to be like. We might split from England, but even now our country is divided. Everyone is either a Patriot or Loyalist, and yes there are some moderates, but they can’t stay like that forever. Our country is split. Even my family is split. I’m a Patriot, but my husband is a Loyalist. In an average gentry class family like mine, that would make me Loyalist, and my family would be considered Loyalist. Still, I can’t imagine agreeing with something like that. I’m of the only families I know that both parents don’t agree with everything. As I walk home, I ponder all of that and try to think of how I will explain it to my husband. There is no way an act like this won’t be brought up in a Burgess Meeting. I arrive to my house, slowly open up my door and pray that fire I lit won’t be the last.

Tilda Sutter:

Without protest and resistance the world we know and love wouldn’t exist. Outdated and biased laws would still control our lives today. Even though uprisings and revolts might seem uncivilized, they were the foundation of America. Tea burnings, the Homespun Ball Act, vandalizations, and the first worker’s strike were pushes for an America where everyone was represented and cared for.  Americans protested and whether they were black, white or Native American. The people who revolted changed how we think of representation today. No matter the size, from smuggling items to dumping tea into the water, every resistance mattered. Through oppression and wars, all of America relied on protests as a way to speak their mind. Without people speaking their minds we still might live in a world with an insane amount of gender inequality. But to this day Americans still protest for everyone to have an equal opportunity to have higher job positions and representation in government. Revolts make a large impact on how we think of society today even though they may seem dangerous. Protest and resistance shaped America, our government, our thoughts and opinions about society. Because no matter the circumstances, anyone and everyone can protest against unfair treatments because history can prove it does make a difference.

Tilda Sutter

Notecards

Natives Americans in The Revolutionary War

Source:

“The Native American’s Role in the Revolution: Choosing Sides.” EDSITEment , edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/native-americans-role-american-revolution-choosing-sides. Accessed 1 Nov. 2016.

Quote:

“‘We desire you will hear and receive what we have now told you, and that you will open a good ear and listen to what we are now going to say. This is a family quarrel between us and Old England. You Indians are not concerned in it. We don’t wish you to take up the hatchet against the king’s troops. We desire you to remain at home, and not join on either side, but keep the hatchet buried deep.’  —The Second Continental Congress,  Speech to the Six Nations, July 13, 1775 “

Paraphrase:

– The Congress spoke to Natives about the war

– They didn’t want the Natives to be involved in the war

– They thought the Natives weren’t part of the war

– They wanted the Natives to stay neutral

My Ideas:

America tried to convince the Natives to not fight in the war. That was a very smart move, because if they sided with the English the Patriots would have had a major disadvantage. The Native-Americans had been fighting with the Americans for hundreds of years, so they knew their battle tactics and how to defeat them. And unlike the English, the Natives knew their way around America, which would mean they could run sneak attacks. The Natives might have been the most powerful group the English needed to win the war. 

Throughout the rest of the article, the author mentions that some Natives actually did take sides. England did it’s best to recruit as many Natives as they could, and I can infer that is why the Congress made that speech. I think Natives sided with the English because they didn’t want America to take all of their lands like they were doing at the time. They were also always fighting with the Americans, so siding with them would be a lot harder. I also think that some might of sided with America because England originally was the ones to start of taking their land. Maybe they thought with a new country, they could have a new start and get the land back. 

I wonder how they people in power persuaded Native-Americans to join their team? I can infer like how they were doing with the slaves, America promised them something. They probably promised them land. But I can also infer they spent more of their time trying to convince them not to fight, because if they sided with English they would have an advantage. I think England must have used the common hate for Americans the Natives and they shared to convince them to fight with them. 

I wonder how the Natives that fought in the war interacted with the slaves and white colonists? I think that slaves and Native-Americans never really encountered each other because the slaves were mostly kept to the work on where they lived. Because America was always fighting with the Natives, I can infer fights might of broke out between the two groups.

I think the Natives at the time were kind of like the Swing States in our current election. If the colonists and England were both running to see who could run America, they needed the Natives to win. But instead of votes the runners needed, they needed fighters. While England was trying to convince all of the natives to fight or vote, America was trying to convince all of the natives to not fight or vote. Like in this current election, the Natives or swing states were crucial for one of the two sides to win. The Natives knew how to fight because they had been doing it in America for hundreds of years which made them so important. 

All of the above must have been a way the Natives protested. From my research, I am aware that most Native tribes never really resisted against what the leader said. By choosing sides, they areihj protesting against the Americans telling them not too. If they chose loyalist, they are protesting against the people that live on their and. If they chose patriot, they are protesting against not only England, but other parts of America that are telling them not to fight. 

History:

Created: 11/01/2016 10:23 AM

Tilda Sutter.

“There was also a ball that was held, called the Homespun Ball. That was a mark of um…, it was supporting the Non-Importation Act the colonists passes to say that was in protest of taxes on imported goods. So they basically said this  ball instead of wearing this new silk that they got from England, either we wear old dresses or day gowns. Or we’re going to make our own homespun with rough cotton, for the gown. So all of their husbands are on the court working for the government, it was at that point, the British Government, they are protesting acts that their husbands are supporting.”–Historical Interpreter, Wig Maker

Elijah M:

Laying Down the Facts

By Sampson Kenly

The courthouse is clean and polished, just the way my shoes look at the beginning of every morning. I sit at my desk, facing the judge, and justices. Most of them are looking in the direction of the defendant, but the justice to the judge’s left is staring directly into my eyes. In unnerves me a little. He averts his gaze, as if his test was completed. Then I remember that most of the people here are on my side. I am the “good guy” here. I have a job to do, and I plan to do it. I look over at my opponent. He has been accused of robbery. It shouldn’t be too hard to convict him. He hasn’t opted for a lawyer because he believes it isn’t necessary. Poor man, I almost feel sorry for him. I myself have never been to jail, or felt the scorching, searing, smoking, scalding hot branding iron against my cheek. But I do know of some who have. Of course the iron would be an R, for robbery. I can see it, propped up against the wall, over in the corner. It’s lying in the light of the sun, through the window. You can see the tavern and the milliner’s out on Duke of Gloucester street. It’s a beautiful day outside, without a cloud in the sky. Only the deep blue of the ocean, mixed with the rays from the glittering sun. A perfect day to win a case if you ask me. I rub my hand along the smooth surface of the polished mahogany fence between me and the people behind me. It’s like rubbing hard silk. I look behind me and see the expectant faces of many people, who have come to watch. But through the expectant faces, there are a few of devastation and sadness. Loved ones of the accused. The judge taps his gavel on the desk with a deafening bang. To tell the truth, I really shouldn’t be here. But it is my job, and I have to. In fact, it’s a great honor. A lot of things depend on me.

I am a lay person, which means that I do legal work because I am highly regarded by my community. I actually have no legal experience whatsoever. But because there are almost no lawyers, people like me are asked to do this. I am of the gentry class, and am proud of that. I have worked hard in my past, to live in luxury now. I also coincidentally, just so happen to have inherited a large sum of money from my deceased father. But that has nothing to do with it. I am white of course. Only white people are allowed to be lay people. A white male. Actually, a white male, who owns over 100 acres of land, and is Christian Protestant. I, luckily fit all of those qualifications.

Eli Harris:

Two Sides of the Family

I wake up. It’s very early and Pheobe, my wife is not up yet. I look outside. There is a slight drizzle outside but nothing too bad. After I look outside I get dressed for the day ahead of me. As I start to put on my boots Phoebe wakes up.

She says, “Good Morning Jeremiah.”

I respond with a grin, “Good morning.”

After I walk over to her to say good morning, I slowly walk downstairs to set out for my day. You see, I am part of the house of Burgesses in the English government. There is a trial today on the crime of witchcraft and I need to be present at the trial. Although it is drizzling, my wife and I live very close to the capitol and the walk should not be that bad. I step outside, it is a crisp autumn morning. The sky is grey like the hide of a wolf as I look ahead and see the capitol. I start to walk as my boots crunch below me on the gravel. My position is very important in this colony and I know this is a privilege. One problem though you see is that, well, my wife doesn’t love my job. She is kind of against it in a way. I do not think she understands the power and privilege of being part of the house of Burgesses. At some points I don’t think she even respects me. Do you know how hard it is to work without her support? I believe so deeply in what I work for and live for and she doesn’t even acknowledge that at all. She doesn’t understand how important I am in society, and sometimes it feels like she is against everything I am with, but nevermind that. I just carry on with my life trying to ignore it.

I arrive at the courthouse. In a matter of minutes after I arrive the trial begins. Although I am supposed to be present in this, I can’t stop think about the disagreements my wife and I have. It just bothers me so much. You see my family is from England and I carey on the legacy that they created there. Her family is also from England but sometimes I don’t think she remembers that. I think she needs to remember where she is from and who and what her husband works for. She is all about protesting but really that is not important and the government and my work is most important in our family and society. It just infuriates me that she does all of this protesting. She doesn’t support me at all and frankly she doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in for a rude awakening when she doesn’t get what she’s protesting for. Who in their right mind would ever protest for that? I could talk all day about this but I have to watch a trial.

Although I am supposed to be paying attention, I just can’t help myself from thinking about the grief between my wife and me. I want so so much for her to believe in what I believe but there is just something that I believe that she just doesn’t seem to stand for. I really do not want to think this but really I think it is horrible that she is protesting for these things. Trust me I love my wife but women are really not going to be taken seriously while protesting. I think she should stop and really focus on what’s most important and that is my work. She also needs to start believing in her religion. I totally forgot about this part. Sometimes she doesn’t even go to church. Actually that makes me the angriest because why would you go against the religion of your home country? I mean it’s everything we live by and she just ignores it. It is just really disappointing.

The judge raps his gavel once more, and shouts “The court is now in session!” Everybody quiets down at his fierce tone. I’ve met the judge before. Actually we’re long time friends. He was a very compassionate man, and I admired him. Of course, I’ve done a few things myself that were cause for admiration. “Prosecution, call your first witness,” he says with a wink at me. I am a bit taken aback, because everyone knows you can’t let your personal life interfere with the courts, but I continue anyway.

“The prosecution calls on Mr. Duncan Templeton,” I say in a confident voice. On the inside, I have almost no clue what I’m doing. Duncan Templeton stands up, and shuffles forward. He is walking with a slight limp, and his clothes showed that he wasn’t too wealthy. Probably from the middling class. His ragged left shoe drags against the carpet and makes a swishing sound as he walks. It seems like it takes forever to get to the stand, but in truth it was just five seconds. He finally gets passed the bar, and is sworn in by the bailiff. He speaks in a very confident voice, and almost rushed, like he’s ready to get this over with. He sits down, and I start my questioning. I ask him a few questions about the events that took place three days ago. The defendant, Linus Pedan, had allegedly stolen an entire box of fruit and vegetables from Mr. Templeton’s market stall. He answered all of them with complete certainty. This was great for me, because it sounded like he was telling the truth. But actually, I had no clue whether he was or wasn’t. After Mr. Templeton stood down, I started to question the defendant, Mr. Pedan. He looked frightened but I kept on pressing. Of course it was my job to forcefully interrogate the defendant until he or she confesses. It sometimes gets a bit rough, but that’s just how the court system works. As our argument advances to a bellow, Mr. Pedan breaks out into tears.

“I didn’t do anything!” he sobs. “I didn’t do anything! Notanythingididn’tdoanything…” he starts to slur his words and mutters to himself. He curls up into a little ball, and cries softly to himself.

The jury and justices confer for a few minutes. My eyes lay on the poor defendant, unwilling to move. So much depended on these next few minutes for him. He could either suffer, or go on with his normal life. And his punishment will be harsher of course because he’s in the middling class. Had he been from the gentry class, he might not even be punished at all. The justices and jury all go back to their seats. The bailiff escorts Mr. Pedan out of the room. The judge asks for a vote.

“All who believe Mr. Linus Pedan is guilty, raise your hand.” Almost everyone raises a hand. A few stray members keep their hands down. “All who believe he is not guilty, raise your hand.” One of the people with their hand in the air sighs. He raises his eyebrows and slowly shakes his head as if to say: “Sorry. At least I tried.” I would feel good about winning this case, but I know that the odds were in my favor. The odds are always in the prosecutor’s favor. Who knows if Mr. Pedan was guilty or not? I don’t want to hear is reaction when the judge rules him guilty. I stroll out of the room, with my papers hand.

My job is actually pretty easy. All I have to do is verbally spar against someone, and the Colonial court system will do the rest. It’s designed in my favor, and the prosecution almost always wins. I’m very important to this colony, and they couldn’t thrive without people like me. Law enforcement is a crucial part of society, and I am its patron.

Elijah M:

The House of Burgesses was established in 1619, and it was the first form of representative government in the colonies. However, it wasn’t representative of majority of the population. To vote, or be on the ballot, there were very many qualifications you had to meet. You had to be white, male, own at least 100 acres of land, and be a Christian Protestant. “The enfranchisement of all land-owning white male inhabitants made the assembly a model for future representative institutions that eventually characterized governments throughout British America,” (McWilliams, James. E Government in Colonial America) . This quote shows how small a group the Burgesses were. It was by definition, a representative government, but it only represented the views of a small select group of people. The views of women, Africans, Native Americans, people in poverty, and people who didn’t practice Protestant Christianity were totally unheard. They couldn’t be in charge, they couldn’t even help decide who would be in charge. There was prejudice, and sexism. This was so unfair because they might have really good ideas about things like politics and the way the colony should be run. So not only was the system oppressive towards all groups other than white land-owning, Christian Protestant men, but they were harming themselves as well. They were depriving themselves of huge possible changes for the better. Our world might look completely different today had they let the other groups take parts in government earlier. These restrictions were similar to the restriction of the judges and juries in court.

Eli Harris:

In the year of 1619 the first Africans came across to the new world. This was an important year for the colonist because this was when slavery started. In this year many firsts occurred in the colonies. One of them was the first Africans to come over to the colonies. This was the start of slavery. Slavery was around for most of the Colonial Era. Rich landowners would buy and sell these slaves frequently. Slave life was hard, you were constantly being beaten and you were constantly working. But the Enslaved Africans had many forms of resistance from these things they had to do. Some would run away, some would sing about uprisings that could occur in the future and some would work very slowly. Slavery played a major role in the Colonial Era. Africans were brought over from their homes and forced to work for the colonist. What started this all was tobacco. Tobacco was the plant that saved the colonies. But tobacco only helped the British and it harmed the Powhatans and the Africans who came over and who were forced to help grow it. Slavery was a major part of the Colonial Era and it played a major role in it as well. Slavery was a horrible thing but there were so many instances where it could have been avoided. Some of the most famous politicians in that time had tons of slaves and never brought it up at all. Nobody ever realized the significance of how bad slavery was and instead they ignored it.  Slaves would be treated so poorly on so many different accounts. There were so many different types of punishments for them.