To what extent did Samuel Adams use of propaganda and strategy influence loyalists toward adopting anti-British policies?

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To what extent did Samuel Adams’ use of propaganda and strategy influence loyalists toward adopting anti-British policies?

Carine Alexis

003339-003

IB 20th Century World History

Internal Assessment

Word Count: 1,697

Mrs. McGinnis

December 19, 2011

To what extent did Samuel Adams’ use of propaganda and strategy influence loyalists toward adopting anti-British policies?

  1. Plan of Investigation

The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate whether or not Samuel Adams’ use of propaganda had a substantial influence upon loyalists who were wary of change. The main body of this document will analyze Adams’ use of communication in attempt to affect the opinions of others. It will also assess the extent to which said communication influenced loyalists toward revolutionary motives. Personal letters as well as accounts of historians will be used to evaluate Samuel Adams’ role as a political incendiary. Two sources used in this essay,  a personal letter written by Richard Henry Lee to Adams and Samuel Adams's Revolution, 1765-1776; with the assistance of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George III, and the people of Boston by Cass Canfield will be evaluated according to their origins,  purposes, values, and limitations.

  1. Summary of Evidence

Adams’ Use of Propaganda and Social Standing

  • Adams won his first political office in 1746 (Canfield 6).
  • In 1747 Adams created a club for discussing political problems (Alexander 7).
  • Adams published his Independent Advertiser essays in the 1740’s based upon the works of John Locke (Alexander 8).
  • Adams was sympathetic toward the taxpayers. He failed to collect the amount required, which resulted in conflict with the British (Canfield 7).
  • Adams was reelected by the town meeting as a tax collector for Boston multiple times despite his failure to collect his quota (Lewis 24).
  • During this period, Adams carefully challenged Parliament while avoiding being declared as disloyal (Alexander 20).
  • Adams was appointed clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1766 (Canfield 25).
  • In 1768 Adams writes the circular letter (Puls i).
  • Adams  wrote over 40 articles for the Boston Gazette from August 1770 to December 1772 (Canfield 27).
  • Peter Oliver, a loyalist, believed that Samuel Adams sounded moderate, but his initial desire for independence made him a radical (Alexander 23).
  • Adams sought for ways to exploit British mistakes after non-importation failed during the “quiet period” in the 1770’s (Alexander 93).
  • The “quiet period” was a span of years in which relatively no conflicts occurred among the British and the colonists (Alexander 93).
  • In 1773, a failed British attempt at forcing the British East India Company resulted in Adams writing two essays for the Boston Gazette criticizing loyalist governor Hutchinson (Alexander 94).
  • Adams wrote to James Warren and Richard Henry Lee concerning protection of natural rights (Alexander 154, democraticthinker.wordpress.com).
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Anti-British Policies Adopted

  • In 1765,  Stamp Act Congress is formed after Adams’ suggestion (Puls, i).
  • Several colonists follow Adam’s protest campaign against the Stamp and Sugar Acts (Puls 47, 59).
  • British merchants aided in the repeal of the Stamp Act (Puls, 62).
  • Adams’ correspondents challenged the claim that colonists were represented in Parliament upon his urging (Alexander 36).
  • The first Continental Congress is called together by Adams in 1773 (Puls i).
  • After correspondence with Adams, Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution to the delegates in the Second Constitutional Congress that stated that the colonies should be ...

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