- He fought in the Revolutionary War, just recently lost a battle. 

- His wife and child are at home.

- Dislikes England because of past experience when the British used his house as a place to quarter soldiers.

- He hasn’t seen his wife and child in over a year. 

- The British killed his brother after he was captured and executed for treason. 
-From Connecticut

Dear Beloved Wife,

 My time in the army has been taxing on my soul. I dearly miss you and Alexander, and I long for the day I get to see you again. Our morale as a unit is low due to our recent loss of New York. Our next mission involved crossing the ice covered Delaware River which in itself would have been an easy task if our shivering bodies could contain heat and breathe without clinging on to each breath as it may be our last. All hope was lost, and we were just waiting on the orders from General Washington to begin our mission that would guarantee the death of many before dawn. When Washington appeared, he had a message for us; a message that would lift our spirits and ignite a new sense of patriotism that hadn’t been alive in us since the beginning of the war. He read the words of Thomas Paine’s The Crisis. Paine’s words reminded us why we were fighting, and how Britain was ruling us as if we were a puppet on a string. They were stripping us of all our freedom with each tug of the strings, and it reminded us of the noble cause for which we were fighting. The words of The Crisis condemned our actions of last winter. Bringing to light how we could have, how we should have done something sooner. We felt guilt but also a small sense of empowerment. We wanted desperately to make up ground for our poor efforts in the winter of last year. Paine’s final part of Paine’s words that stuck with us was his motivation. He spoke on his own confidence about how America must be free from the subjugation of Britain before she can prosper and flourish. His good will, confidence, and enthusiasm inspired us to do good for our country and fight for her people. Paine’s speech attacked every part of us: our soul, our mind, and our morality. It inspired us to take action, and most importantly it gives me hope to see you and Alexander once again.

                                                                                                        Love, Philip

started fighting Britain, and I see no progress from when we started this mess.  All these men are making great speeches about how these wars will be worth all the pain, however, I have lost almost everything and I feel no closer to the end of this war.  Many of these men that lead the cause of the war have never lifted a gun on the battlefield or lost what I have lost.  How can you tell such men like us to continue this war when all you have done is sit at your desk and write “inspiring” articles? How can you tell me to keep going when the worst you have done slightly more for paper than you would like?  How is it that you have pride for your country if you have never truly fought for it?  Those men supported this cause and died for it.  In this battle alone, many lives have been lost from freezing to death, food shortages, and infection.  What have you done?  How much blood have you seen?  I think your argument is just, but I don’t think you seen what I have seen. I don't think you want to live the life I’ve lived. 

March 27, 1775

Dear Patrick Henry,

I am addressing you today on the concern of the speech you gave at the Virginia Convention recently. Before your speech, I had been a loyal citizen to the King of England. However, your speech has caused me to rethink the reasoning of myself and fellow men’s views of the King. I have also begun to question the motives behind the King’s rash decisions regarding the taxes he has imposed upon us in the New World. It has irritated me that the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, has promised our colonists’ slaves freedom for supporting the Loyalist cause.

Because of the strong language of your argument, I have reconsidered where my loyalties lie. The lines about the tyranny of the unrepresented taxation, the emotion in your words, and your comparison of that to slavery, really planted the idea in my mind that what they are doing to us is wrong. The ethical way you explained that we have done all that we can to appease the King and that war is inevitable, seemed to be a logical conclusion to why we cannot lie down and hope the Royal Government is merciful. We must fight!

Thank you, good sir for showing me, through logic and reasoning, why we must rebel again this tyranny. 

Respectfully, George Williams 

“Seems realistic, and historically makes sense.” - They hadn’t uploaded their argumentative part yet, but the profile is very nice.

“Where is he from?”-They did not mention where he was from.

 Before crossing the Delaware River with Washington’s army, a man named Thomas Paine was ordered to give a speech to the men. Despite having just been defeated and the harsh freezing weather, this speech boosted the morale of the soldiers. For Pat, there was one quote that stood out: “It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all.” This meant a lot to Pat because it made him think about his family. It gave him a reason to fight: to bless his family.

Dear My Beloved Parents,

The day is December 23, 1776. We have just suffered a great loss and our passion and morale was down in the sewer, but that is not the point. I am writing to you because I want to assure you that everything will be alright at the end of all this. We are about to cross the Delaware River to Trenton, but before we did, a man named Thomas Paine stood up and began a very inspirational speech. It inspired me to write to you before I take part of this dangerous mission. I just want you to know that we are fighting because the British have gone too far. They have unfairly taxed and binded everyone. What we are fighting for is very reasonable because the British are evil snakes. Also, I can see now that everyone is being reminded of the reason to fight, everyone is starting to get back into the spirit. Thomas Paine says that If we don’t fight, the evil will reach you guys and I am not going to let that happen. Lastly, you don’t need to worry about me. I am stronger and more motivated than ever. We have the power of God and hope on our side.

The quote that inspired William the most during Patrick Henry’s speech was the quote of , “Give me liberty or give me death!” This quote was William’s cup of tea. This inspired William because he came from Britain as as child, and had experienced the Monarch and his ruthlessness first hand. William’s style in his response was based off of this quote, and was a passionate and moving speech.

 “Give me liberty or give me death!”. An inspirational quote (coming from Patrick Henry’s previous speech before thine own) could send hearts flying into action with the act of words leaving this mans mouth! All delegates and representatives here must realize that our beloved New World should be galvanized into movement, and that we have sat idle for too long. It can be clearly seen that we the people have the resources and the manpower (with God’s spirit on our side) to revolutionize against the brutal monarch! As a man born under the wretched king, I may describe to you the monstrosities and unfaithful encounters I experienced as a younger babe. Oh, what horrors may have lain upon thine own eyes, when the soldiers rid through my house and destroyed my belongings! Believe me, you can trust my faithful recounting of these older days. And still, the British want to be OUR rulers? They do not wish for the peace and liberty of our New World, they wish for thine own resources and manpower! Imagine this, as you stand in this great hall: our families, whether being small or large, may never see the light of freedom if we do not fight for what our forefathers believed in! Your child, whether a growing man or woman, may never taste the sweet nectar that is involved in living in a free country with a free will! Care not about what the Tories may think of you decision, for you shall always have a free will if you believe in it so! As I end my thoughtful conclusion, I must leave you with this: ask not what your freedom may do for you, but ask what you can do for the freedom of your nation. For you are the only one that can provide our future the freedom it deserves.

ABLEFORD: There was a lot of passion in that room, today. It is a tragedy that it was pointed in the wrong direction.

THOMAS: Do you not agree with Mr. Henry and his call? He swayed much of the convention. He may sway me, too, before this convention is brought to a close.

ABLEFORD: War can and will only hurt us. It is not too late to return to the crown. We are still waiting for a response to the Olive Branch Petition - 

THOMAS: That is… true.

ABLEFORD: And think of who this war will hurt. It will not be the gentlemen here tonight. It is the men in the Boston Massacre, and poor farmers in their fields, and boys not yet men dragged into something they only half believe. My best friend,  They will be the ones to suffer. We speak of war but do not live the consequences.

THOMAS: We could die for what we believe in, too.

ABLEFORD: But do you not see the difference? We could die, if something goes wrong, but we are asking these men and boys to lay down their lives regardless of what happens. My fourth cousin, Thomas Jefferson, talks a big game about indepence, but he keeps slaves and will not fight in the trenches. These men are hypocrites, and should be renounced as such.

THOMAS: They will renounce you, too, for being loyal to the crown after everything the King has done to us.

ABLEFORD: I am loyal to the cause, the same as all of you. But, I have seen first hand what war can do. My first cousin, Jonathan, lost an arm to those French scoundrels. That and worse will happen before we see independence. If we win.  

THOMAS: I see your point. Let us see what the rest of the committee has to say in response to Mr. Henry in the morning. 

Elijah B. Roberts was a farmer in New Jersey.  He lived with his family of 4, his wife and his 2 little girls.  Elijah decided to fight in the fight for independence.  His wife, Hermione, was worried about his safety.  She needed him to help farm the land and care for their twins, Betty and Polly.  Elijah, however, felt strongly about defeating Britain, and his father had been drafted into war.  Elijah’s mother traveled to New Jersey to help the family while Elijah left for war.  Once he joined the war, Elijah received a letter that said Betty was very sick with smallpox.  Elijah told himself to keep his head high in these tragic times.  A few months later, Elijah was given news that his father had died on the battlefield.  Another letter came telling him that his mother had killed herself because she was so heartbroken over her husband’s death.  Hermione was forced to care for the farm and the children herself.  Elijah was now changing his mind about this fight.  Was it worth it?  His family had suffered so much.  The battle in New York left his regiment in a devastated condition.  By this time, Elijah was not fully on board with risking everything for this fight.  He was very unsure that this new county had a chance, and he wanted to leave the army and help his poor family.