The Shoemaker and the Revolution Article Reviewn

In Alfred Young’s The Shoemaker and the Revolution, the American Revolution is experienced by a regular citizen of the colonies, George Robert Twelves Hewes. This gives a new, different perspective on the events leading up to the revolution. Robert Hewes had encounters with British Soldiers and did not like them. This is what fueled his drive to help lead the revolutionary movement. Alfred Young wrote this piece using the writings of James Hawkes and Benjamin Thatcher from their face to face interviews with Hewes himself. Young is able to paint a perfect picture in the reader’s mind about what influence and importance Robert Hewes had in the events that sparked the revolution. After Robert Hewes had been wronged by a British soldier, Sergeant Mark Burk, he had something against the British troops. This was his beginning to becoming a patriot in the American Revolution. He played key roles in The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, and the tarring and feathering of John Malcolm. The author believes that Hewes was standing up for the rights of those living in the colonies because British is taxing them under absurd acts because of the debt acquired during the French and Indian War. Hewes was important within the Boston Tea Party because he was chosen to get the keys from the captain needed to get the tea from the storage of the boat. It is said that Hewes worked alongside John Hancock in dumping the tea into the ocean. This is a great equalizer showing that the common man is just as good as those higher in class and that they should work together. In contrast to what is learned in the classroom, this literary work provides a unique, unknown perspective on the American Revolution. This is the perspective of a common citizen of the colonies. Before, I only knew that some people got together and threw a bunch of tea into the ocean. I now know that leadership was taken up by common men and they had the greatest impact on the citizens of America. Without these enthusiastic, driven patriots, the revolution might not have happened. Prior to reading this, I had barely ever heard about the Boston Massacre or the feathering of John Malcolm. The article provides great insight into personal experiences during these horrific events. As we are studying U.S. history, this article is very important because it gives a new perspective that I would have never imagined. Without it, I would never know how vital the common citizens were to the revolution and the events leading up to it. This article is very interesting and informing. It broadened my view of the American Revolution and how it started. Although the article was very helpful, it did not have very much emotion to it. Hewes speaks mainly about facts and events and very little about how he felt during those times. Given his emotions during this time, the reader would be able to learn even more about Hewes and what inspired him to provoke the British and help lead the American Revolution. This information is not different from what I have learned before, it’s just more detailed. In most people’s opinion, the American Revolution was the most important event in United States history. Now that I know more about what fueled the beginning of the rebellion, I can understand why it occurred and who was involved.