Farmer Refuted
From England traditions there was in place a Two-Party Political system: The Whigs and the Tories (compare today with Democrats and Republicans). In the South the majority of the public were Tories and remained loyal (loyalists, Tories, Royalists, and the King’s Friends). During the Stamp Act Congress, the First and Second Continental Congress there were vigorous arguments for and against war as the majority of Southern Tories liked their English connection (economically), and did not have the troubles that Boston was having. The South (mostly farmers) were against the Revolution and enter the conflict later than the North. The Patriot’s “swamp-fox”-Mel Gibson-character reflect the reluctance of Southern sympathies. Also this is why George Washington-a Virginian-was seen as a perfect choice as Commander of the Continental Army-to unify the colonies.
Because they were used to the English traditions, they believed that their natural rights (John Locke) were tied to the earlier documents Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights, and thus tied to England. However, in the writings of Alexander Hamilton we can catch a glimpse at what some of the arguments in these early congresses were about was applying natural law and tying it to being born human, arguing that it was universal-not tied to, or belonging to a certain government to bestow upon you.
After the first Continental Congress, a Farmer wrote a pamphlet entitled “Free Thoughts” and condemned the idea for separation and war against England. This demonstrates the division between the South with their Plantation Aristocracy against the industrialists of the North who wanted independence from England.
- What colonial region was not very interested in independence? Why?
- Listen to the song, Farmer Refuted; Who is the farmer? What is his argument?
- Compare the song with the documents. Explain the differences:
- Read primary source of Hamilton. What is his true argument?
Song:
One set of lyrics say rebel and another say rabble. It could be either.
Intelligence Quotient: There are several reasons why Hamilton asks “Is He in Jersey?” Name 1:
“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the wholevolumeof human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” Americans, just as Turks, Russians, Frenchmen, Spaniards, or any other people, may assert their independence, “shake off the yoke of servitude,” and “model their government, upon the principles of civil liberty.”
“Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society.” Accordingly, “the first and primary end of human laws, is to maintain and regulate [that is, derive the rule of law from] theseabsoluterightsof individuals.”
Alexander Hamilton
Farmer Refuted