Irfan Tara
HIST 130
Fall 2016
American Insurgents, American Patriots Essay
Due: Saturday, 10/15/2016
In American Insurgents, American Patriots, T.H Breen attempts to show new perspective
in the American Revolution by explaining ordinary American colonist’s insurgency that
challenged the authority of British imperialism. In this essay, it’s imperative to understand that
Revolutionary War was not dictated solemnly by famous revolutionary leaders, but the actions,
and experiences of ordinary colonists. Factors shaped insurgency in different ways, some of
these factors included a religious perspective and the colonists’ response to frustrations within
their community towards British imperial policies. “Two years before the Declaration of
Independence, a young, evangelical colonial population accomplished something truly
extraordinary.” (Breen, 3) Small communities from New Hampshire to Georgia challenged the
legislative ruling of the British empire. “American insurgents resisted parliamentary rule, first
spontaneously, as loosely organized militants who purged the countryside of officials, and then,
increasingly after late 1774, as members of local committees of safety that became schools for
revolution.” (Breen, 3)
“The insurgents were generally drawn from white families-in other words, from a body of
people who made up approximately 70 percent of the free inhabitants.” (Breen, 25) Most of these
people were immigrants, and descendants of Britain. “Immigrants from German, Scotch-Irish,
and England had helped population increase and more workers for the agricultural industry.”
(Breen, 26) These unknown ordinary individuals who was motivated by the state of mind of
anger, grievance, and injustice fueled by religious beliefs and often came to organized resistance
“The insurgents who most often go missing from modern narratives of the revolution were
ordinary people. That adjective, “ordinary,” should not carry erroneous connotations.” (Breen,
25) Because these ordinary people helped to shape future of America, the best way they can
while sacrificing everything they had for an independent and free America. T.H Breen reminds
us that the American Revolution required tens of thousands of ordinary men and women willing
to sacrifice, kill and die.
Two years before the Declaration of Independence, American Insurgents, American
Patriots demonstrates that all thirteen colonies decided that resistance to British imperialism
required organized violence against the mother state England because of the first insurgencies
flickered shortly after the passage of Coercive Acts has levied on the colonies. From that
American perspective, anger was continued to increase, over the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, to collect
more tax from colonies ‘in other words, when colonists became fully aware of the substance of
the Coercive-the possibility that trust had been misplaced or betrayed by a corrupt Parliament
slowly dawned on ordinary people.” (Breen, 52, 53). Citizens in small farm communities
rejecting claims of British authority long before the Continental Congress issued a declaration of
independence.” (Breen, 52).
The American colonist disagreed with British empire because British Empire never
separated religion from the politics. The leading figure in the awakening of America was
Reverend George Whitefield, and he was a young Anglican preacher from England (Breen, 33).
Reverend George Whitefield’s encouragement by announcing “No one who had personally
witnessed Whitfield’s enthusiastic reception could doubt that the religious site in America had
transformed endlessly. Reverend George Whitefield leading revivalists invited ordinary people to
challenge the authority, even the legitimacy, of their ministers. Whitefield gave them a voice in
religious affairs, and in congregation after congregation they spoke up as they had never done
before” (Breen, 33). During this time, individuals who took the floor up and confronted religious
authority of England church were banished or sentenced to death. Advanced thoughts and
changed views become apparent during the “Great Awakening” which lastingly reformed
spiritual and religious views in America.
According to T.H Breen, great awakening led to pressures within the communities, over
the proper structure of community and power and some insurgents take matters into their hand.
The news of the Boston Massacre news raised political troubles and first public rebelliousness
began during the summer of 1774 on the countryside and not in urban centers. “The Boston Port
Act sailed through both houses of Parliament, becoming law on March 31, 1774. The Royal
Navy took responsibility for enforcement.” (Breen, 65) The Coercive Acts and occupying of the
