You’re a loyalist, but what have the British done for you? In the past 10 years they are all talk, they haven’t done anything for us. It’s just back and forth, no action. Listen here Bob, we have shared tents, we have spent the past 2 years together. You know that I was an activist and I moved to the colonies to make sure everyone was represented fairly. I have your best interest at heart, and being a loyalist isn’t gonna work. The British don’t care about you, or the homeless. They want to make money off of you, they don’t care about your well being. We moved to the new world for a better life but the British are keeping us down. If you decide to be a patriot we can fight for what we deserve. Freedom and liberty. 

Regina Georgina is a housewife that is reading Thomas Paine’s “This Crisis No. 1” pamphlet at her weekly tea party with her fellow housewives. Like any other housewife, she loves to complain and agrees with anything her husband says. Because her husband is a patriot, she is very passionate about going to war with the British. She is very outspoken and Paine’s speech sets off a fire within her.

Speech: 

Okay sisters! It’s tea time! Those red coats across the sea need to hop off our case. I am done spending four whole shillings for a pound of tea, when I should be buying gowns. I am done listening to the orders of people who do not give me a say. I am done being a slave to people of my own race. Ladies, it is time we shall clean our husbands guns, and send them off to war. I am a woman of class and humility. I do not consider myself a violent person, but even I myself believe it is time to show those Brits what is coming for them. It is time to step up as strong, independent women for the sake of our families. Do you want our children that we love so dearly to grow up in a nation with no freedom? Sweet baby Martha and Johnny certainly shouldn’t. It’s time to slip on our panty hose and become the women our nation needs us to be!

Our speaker is a father named Jack who has three kids and a wife named Jane. The family lives in Boston, but Jack is at war with the British. Jack has been fighting the British for liberty, but his wife wants him to come home because she fears losing her husband and her kids losing their father.  Jack has the prior experiences of being a parent who loves his children and wants what is best for them: liberty from Britain.  Before Jack hears Thomas Paine’s speech when about to cross the Delaware River, he was planning on going home to be with his kids.  However, after the speech, he realized he must keep fighting the British so that his children will live in a future of peace and liberty.  The most convincing argument from the speech to lead him to this realization was the emotional appeal of “‘If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.’”  

Speech:

Jane, I have been thinking about this for quite some time now. I am fully aware of the possible consequences and dangers that may come, but I have made the decision not to come home from the war. I know you are weary for my safety and for our family, but I must fight for the future. A few days ago, about a month from when you receive this letter, I was listening to a speech before we crossed the Delaware River that influenced this decision - many factors were brought to my attention, but the one to hit home the most was about none other than the children. Once again, as you know, I  love you and the kids, and I would do anything for you guys, but this seems to be my calling. That is why I must stay. 

The British are subjecting us and our children to slavery. I don’t want the children, nor us, to be bound by the chains the British keep us in. I want them to be able to taste what freedom and liberty is like. As time goes on, problems continue to get worse and worse, which I know you are aware of, but by the time this letter gets to you, I’m not even sure if my life will be spared. The British are causing uproars and revolutions by taxing us without our say. They are invading our homes and privacy, which is clearly unacceptable because half of us colonists want to behead them on sight either way. 

Again, shining the spotlight on the children and their future, what do you think it will be like if we don’t fight this and win? We may not subject our children to a future of tyranny, as that is the exact opposite of what we have been fighting for for these past gruesome years. They are beginning to tax simple items such as OUR tea, such as OUR sugar, OUR paper, and OUR stamps without any representation of our set government. People are literally dying because they decided to add a tax on our sugar. Only God knows when they will decide to tax our breathing?! 

I refuse to subject our children to such tyranny, and what would it make you to be angered with this? Do you not want what's best for the children?! 

With this, God Bless, and I hope to see you again and not from my casket.

Response: 

Great General Cornwallis,

I have come to inform the crown and the British military of recent developments in the colonies. My loyalty to the King knows no limits, since I am no less British than my father who served King George II as a nobleman, and I risked my life by masking my identity and entering into the devilish actions of treason by these ungrateful men who look to benefit themselves and not where they hail from. Some of them said they wanted reconciliation, but others have decided to go against the Great Monarchy and fight for their own selfish motives.

Yesterday, I sat at the Virginia Convention as Patrick Henry delivered his speech in favor of separation from Britain. How outrageous! He truly believed that their armies could defeat the greatest military in the world. One of Henry’s main points was that the colonies had more resources at their disposal. Sadly, I can report that they do, in fact, have more natural resources in their vastly undiscovered lands, but greatly lack the ability to manufacture the ships and artillery needed to defeat his majesty’s army. 

Furthermore, it is unfathomable how they could dream of destroying our beautiful country, of biting the hand that feeds them, of disregarding the help we have given them over the years. Not to mention that their founders emigrated to America from this very country itself. I personally advise you to gather an army and crush this rebellion quickly, before it becomes anything more. Long live the King!

Your loyal countryman,

Winston Frier

Experience: A Representative of South Carolina in the Virginia Conventions

Opinions: Pro-revolution, previously agreed in fighting the war, hearing this speech solidified his opinions.

Most Impactful Argument: The Liberty or Death quote as an emotional appeal, because John already wanted to fight the British and this speech sealed the motivation of the rest of the colonies.

Speech: I return to my homestead late into the evening after a lengthy day of travel, where my eyes reveal Mary awaiting my return with a glass of the finest alcohol we own. We sat down to conversation, and discussed the Convention that I had just returned from, for I desired her countenance on the subject. I told her, “We, the Convention, have decided to initiate war with the British. The people are done waiting on the crown to give us our rights, so we must fight-” and Mary interrupted there with outcry, ***“You what! Fight? War? You must be mistaken. I am with child, and you cannot just leave for war and- and-... You will die! War will kill us all!”*** I attempted to soothe her mind, saying, “No! **We are protecting ourselves! In fighting the British the colonies are ensuring our children and their children will finally have peace.”** Mary remained unconvinced. “What problem is there with our lives now? What reason have you to fight when we have peace?” In return I replied, *“This peace is a lie, dear. When Britain can tax us so unfairly and receive no repercussion, there is no justice and peace among us.* **With this war we fight to defend the lives of our children, and we fight to defend our freedom and liberty!** It is as Patrick Henry told in his speech to the Convention: ‘I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!’” Mary grew quiet, and after a long moment she spoke. “Alright. It is for the best. Fight for us so that we shall live free.” 

Logical* Ethical** Emotional***

A soldier crossing the Delaware River that had been fighting for a while but  was having doubts about fighting. He then changes his mind after hearing The American Crisis Number 1. Specifically, he is influenced by Payne’s mentioning of the Americans becoming slaves to the British. He is then on the battlefield talking to another soldier that is having doubts. The most influential part to him is where it talks about the British not having mercy.

Response:

Listen, soldier. I know how you’re feeling. I felt the exact same way, this war has gotten tiresome, and it feels pointless. I know. But don’t abandon your country! Even if you die it means your nation will have freedom and life! This fight is not just for you but for all of us. Leave now and you won’t be forgiven by anyone, for the enemy has no mercy. There is danger no matter what you choose. Would you rather flee, get caught, and die by the hands of your captor and end up with an enslaved nation, or would you rather stay, fight, and die seeing your nation rise through the tyranny of the British?!

Why are you a loyalist? What have the British ever done for you? They haven’t helped us, they haven’t been there for us. Most of the people who have moved to the  America's came for freedom, came for peace. Britain is taking that from us. If you really want to stay loyal to the king, that is up to you but remember, who’s helping you while you’re trying to find food, while you’re trying to find somewhere to sleep for the night.
**Ethos

Why are you a loyalist? What have the British ever done for you? They haven’t helped us, they haven’t been there for us. Most of the people who have moved to the  America's came for freedom, came for peace. Britain is taking that from us. If you really want to stay loyal to the king, that is up to you but remember, who’s helping you while you’re trying to find food, while you’re trying to find somewhere to sleep for the night.
**Ethos