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HENRY ROBERTSON
Name: Sir Henry Robertson Age: 38 Gender: Male Occupation: Politician in Mid-Atlantic Social Class: High, Politician Financial situation: Owns lots of land, very rich Appearance: Gentleman, sharp, clean, attractive Location: (show us on a map) New York Habitual locations: His room, church, and town meetings. Daily routine: He wakes up 5 in the morning and goes to a morning walk everyday. Then he usually goes to the town meetings to discuss on colonial issues. Sometimes he meets royal governors and has meetings. At night, he loves to spend money with other politicians and have drinks together. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Very delicate, sharp, and politically smart. Past/individual-family history: His great grandfather first came the new world and established a strong and wealthy family. Family: wife, son, daughter Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): Religion: Anglican Education: Very Educated, Dartmouth University graduate Portrait: (create or add your own picture)

Entry #2 1764 Who rules?
Every town meeting is about protecting parliamentary sovereignty. Scholars and politicians are gathering up from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Virginia to reinforce the colonists' voice to preserve our deserving rights. We have to inform Parliament clearly and incisively that colonies are neither sources of revenue nor opportunities to implement imperial reforms. Great Britain has been asserting the concept of virtual representation which claims that a member of parliament virtually represents the people in the empire without specific representatives present from the colonies. Ludicrous! How can no representation of the colonies in parliament be equivalent to a subordinate legislative among themselves?

Mr. Otis and I have been keeping a correspondence about this issue, and his firmly established will to protect colonial is admirable. As Mr. Otis says, No legislative, supreme or subordinate, has a right to make itself arbitrary. **Therefore it would be impossible for the parliament to judge so well of their abilities to bear taxes, impositions on trade, and other duties and burthens, or of the local laws that might be really needful, as a legislative here.**

Inspired by Mr. Otis's letter, many colonies' politicians including myself attended the New York City Hall to hear and support Mr. Otis's speech. At the City Hall, I met my colleague from Harvard University, Drake Brighterman, from Massachusetts. We stood there together with the same passion and zeal to insure the colonists' right that are granted by the God. His words were enlightening and I record few verses from it, lest I lament that I did not do so:
 * "[…] every man in the dominions is a free man: that no parts of his Majesty's dominions can be taxed without their consent: that every part has a right to be represented in the supreme or some subordinate legislature: that the refusal of his, would seem to be a contradiction in practice to the theory of the constitution: that the colonies are subordinate dominions, and are now in such a state, as to make it best for the good of the whole, that they should not only be continued in the enjoyment of subordinate legislation, but be also represented in some proportion to their number and estates in the grand legislation of the nation: that this would firmly unite all parts of the British empire, in the greatest peace and prosperity; and render it invulnerable and perpetual."**

Mr. Otis's magnificent speech spoke for of all colonists, and the politicians presented at the city hall all appreciated Mr. Otis for representing colonial rights. Yet, somehow, although my passion tells me not to fear, these ardent speeches fills me with an ineffable anxiety, and I wonder why.>

Entry #3 ** The Stamp Act 1765 **
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‘It has finally spread to the limit where the anger is no longer controllable. People are crying out for the nation’s sovereignty from the British, and they are raging with their soul. **The radicals are not concerned about themselves with the legitimacy of parliamentary taxation; they are challenging Parliament’s power to enforce the measure it had passed.** The Sons of Liberty are rising and Daughters of Liberty are anxious. Both to sooth these angry civilians and to secure colonies’ deserving rights, the Stamp Act Congress shall declare the repeal of the Stamp Act.’ While I was thinking about the news on riot in Boston, the delegates from twenty seven different colonies arrived to my office. It was my colleague Drake Brigherman’s suggestion that each colony send delegates to a special intercolonial congress that would formulate a unified response to the detested British legislation. “Robertson, you look like you are deeply concerned about something. We don’t have enough time. The delegates are arriving. Are you ready for this conference?” “Yes yes, Sure I am. I was just thinking about that riot in Boston few weeks ago. When I think about those people…I can picture them…the farmers in desperation of becoming free from taxation…and…” “In order to help them we must be sure to get away in good time. This is our twelfth day of meeting and we are seeing the end of our declaration!” On the twelfth day of Stamp Act Congress meeting, the twenty seven delegates prepared a petition to the king, a memorial to the House of Lords, a petition to the House of Commons, and a series of “Declarations…respecting the most Essential Rights and Liberties of the Colonists.” Declarations include… **“that the only Representative of the people of these Colonies, are Persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no Taxes ever have been, or can be Constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective Legislature.” “[…] that no Taxes be imposed on them, but with their own Consent, given personally, or by their Representatives.”** As twenty seven delegates gathered to write the declarations of the Stamp Act Congress, we tried our best to provide the clearest statement of the pragmatic and philosophical positions of the colonists on the stamp act and the efforts of the British government to institute general imperial reform. I hope colonists are granted what they deserve. 5-5 Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress (1765) The Dynamics of Rebellion (1765-1770)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [LETTER FROM CATHY'S CHARACTER] Dear Mr.Robertson, [Julia's character]

Sir, my name is Emel Smith, a black slave in Southern Carolina. Some time ago, I had encountered a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, and I must say that I was deeply moved by (and let me quote), “People were originally all equal. Therefore, it is ridiculous that one capable man who becomes king should have all the future generations of his family also rule.” Sir, an educated gentleman such as yourself would understand what this means—both for the betterment of the white man and black. I would like to help in this war, which now seems inevitable. If I am not wrong, the American troops would soon need more fighting men, sir. If allowed the chance, I would like to fight for the cause. Perhaps by creating a new Black Regiment. Me and my fellow black men will fight bravely, sir. There is just one thing we ask in return: freedom following the end of the war (-or the end of VICTORY!). The plantations owners of the south are already talking about this possibility, sir. All they ask is a little payment for our service. So you see, everything fits. The colonies will be able to strengthen their forces (as they wish), plantation owners will be able to benefit from the war (as they wish), and we slaves will able to fight in the army and gain our freedom (as we wish). It is a win-win situation, sir. Please consider this option, sir. A person with your influence and integrity should be able to make the right choice and spread the idea. Once again, thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Emel Smith

**Entry #4: ****//Common Sense //**** 1774 **

Dear Drake Brighterman, How have you been? It’s been a long time since I met you last time when you visited my office in New York. Time seems to go by so fast with so many incidents that we don’t even realize how long it has been since we saw each other. But those incidents seem so near. I still remember James Otis Jr.’s speech at the New York City Hall, and his words ring my heart every time I recall his speech word by word. As you may know, another imposing man, Thomas Paine, has spread his words on a pamphlet and has touched the hearts of innumerable number of colonists in New England. His pamphlet, //Common Sense,// is printed over 150,000 copies and is discussed everywhere by countless numbers of people. This population not only includes the numbers of colonists, but also the slaves. Encouraged by Thomas Paine’s //Common Sense,// one slave from South Carolina wrote me a letter saying that he wants to help in American independence movement. //Common Sense// is bringing colonies’ population together and is encouraging people to get involved in independence movement. People are informed with reasons why they should support American independence from Britain, and they started to realize the necessity of unity among the colonies in order to succeed in their pursuit. I am pleased to see the active population of independence grow. Thomas Paine’s words are too extreme at times, but there is no argument to be raised for //Common Sense// as a politician of New York. His logic of drawing conclusion that colonists deserve rights for independence has no flaw to be criticized or condemned. His views on the origin of government, his explanation about the nature of monarchy, and his appropriate reasoning for independence are the factors that have been attracting people to support American independence movement. As he stated, we will get help from France and Spain when we break with Britain and we will ensure better relationships with other foreign nations. I see this independence movement as a necessary step for us to take in order to grow into a bigger and unified country. We should get the delegates representing each colony together and promote American independence movement as soon as possible. As Thomas Paine warned, let’s not delay this issue and face it to fight for our independence.

Sincerely, Henry Robertson.

REPLY LETTER FROM DRAKE BRIGHTERMAN (Hanna)

**Entry #5: Horrors of War 1777 ** Dear Emel Smith, I have been living in a chaos and didn’t even have time to write any letters. Since the time when I received your letter, Mr. Smith, the war already had begun. The war spread further and further, and when it finally reached New York, the largest battle broke out after the Declaration of Independence. When British military raided New York on August 27, Washington moved on General Howe’s army to prevent them from occupying New York. As a result of Washington’s inexperienced judgment, we suffered a blistering defeat. Out of 10,000 New York militia reinforced from Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland, 1,407 Americans were wounded, captured, missing, and 312 were killed. On the contrary, out of 32,000 British and Germans on Long Island, they sustained only a total loss of 377 men. Moreover, British captured New York City meaning that New York has now become the center of British operations. When I look outside my window, the scenery of New York streets are not the same as it was years ago. I see British soldiers seizing the farmers’ food, and I see them taking away their perspiration. After the Battle of Long Island, some are loosing faith in victory of American independence. As more and more people are turned down and disheartened, I feel obligated to consolidate the principle of Declaration of Independence. We cannot give up our aspiration because we lost this war. The moment we started this movement and decided to pursue our right of freedom, we have prepared our minds to bear such conflicts. No one can force us to revoke the Declaration of Independence. This letter is my lamentation over the past year, and I finally feel like I’m letting my agony to escape. Thank you for helping us in the war, and after all we are part of each other. We must put all our fervor to pass the Declaration of Independence and find our FREEDOM. Best, Henry Robertson.

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