Moment+of+Decision--Structure+of+Colonial+Society

Moment of Decision : Commitment and Sacrifice

Matthew Patten was born in a Protestant Irishman family in Ulster, and moved to New Hampshire with his friends and relatives. He settled at Bedford and farmed on the rocky area. On Aprial 20, 1775, his son John volunteered to support Massachusetts soldiers, and joined the march on British Canada. He was killed in action during the battle at Bunker Hill. Matthew Patten wrote "...he now lyes in defending the just Rights of America to whose end he came in the prime of life by means of that wicked Tyrannical Brute of Great Britain [George III). [[image:http://www.history2u.com/battle_bunker_hill.jpg caption="http://www.history2u.com/battle_bunker_hill.jpg"]] Battle of Bunker Hill

The rebellion was started by rich people who resented Parliament's effort to defend their rights from Britain After 1765 leaders of the society urged people to join the protest and newspapers, sermons, and pamphlets brought many people into the movement. Many brave soliders stood up to face bigger and better-trained British army. Most American soldiers died during the Revolution among all of the wars in American history.

Structure of Colonial Society

After the Seven Years’ war, colonists enjoyed time of heightened economic and political expectation. The population grew 2.5 million people in 1775. There was increased population for mixture of people, such as French, Dutch, German, Africans, etc. As the population was growing in population and prosperity. National standard of living rose considerable amount. However, there were regional differences in wealth. Southern colonies built wealth by slave trade and capital investment. Middle colonies were also successful economically except for in New England. New England failed to meet large amount of exports for world market. The colonists were also becoming more independent politically. They started to develop more effective political resistance from Great Britain. The reason for independence can be contributed to continuing mobilization of young people