Integrated Literary Assignment

5 – U3.2.3 Compare the role of women, African Americans, American Indians, and France in helping shape

the outcome of the war.

By: Elise Wiegers

Joseph Brant (Thayendanega)

A society of patriotic ladies, at Edenton in North Carolina

On Virtue – By Phillis Wheatley

O thou bright jewel in my aim I striveTo comprehend thee. Thine own words declare

Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.I cease to wonder, and no more attempt

Thine height t’explore, or fathom thy profound.But, O my soul, sink not into despair,

Virtue is near thee, and with gentle handWould now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head.

Fain would the heaven-born soul with her converse,Then seek, then court her for her promised bliss.

Auspicious queen, thine heavenly pinions spread,And lead celestial Chastity along;

Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,Arrayed in glory from the orbs above.

Attend me, Virtue, thro’ my youthful years!O leave me not to the false joys of time!

But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,

To give an higher appellation still,Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,

O Thou, enthroned with Cherubs in the realms of day!

Our WomenALL hail ! superior sex, exalted fair,Mirrors of virtue, Heaven's peculiar care;Form'd to enspirit and enoble manThe immortal finish of Creation's plan !

Accept the tribute of our warmest praiseThe soldier's blessing and the patriot's bays !For fame's first plaudit we no more contestConstrain'd to own it decks the female breast.

While partial prejudice is quite disarm'd,And e'en pale envy with encomiums charm'd,Freedom no more shall droop her languid head,Nor dream supine on sloth's lethargic bed.

No more sit weeping o'er the veteran band,Those virtuous, brave protectors of her land;Who, nobly daring, stem despotic sway,And live the patriot wonders of the day.

For lo! these sons her glorious work renew,Cheer'd by such gifts, and, smiles, and pray'rs from you!More precious treasure in the soldier's eyeThan all the wealth Potosi's mines supply.

And now ye sister angels of each state,Their honest bosoms glow with joy elate,Their gallant hearts with gratitude expandAnd trebly feel the bounties of your hand.

And wing'd for you their benedictions rise,Warm from the soul and grateful to the skiesNor theirs alone th' historian patriots fir'd,Shall bless the generous virtue you've inspir'd.

Invent new epithet to warm their page,And bid you live admired from age to age;With sweet applauses dwell on every name,Endear your memories and embalm your fame,

And thus the future bards shall soar sublime,And waft you glorious down the stream of time;The breeze of panegyric fill each sail,And plaudits pure perfume the increasing gale.

Then freedom's ensign thus inscribed shall wave,"The patriot females who their country save;"Till time's abyss absorb'd in heavenly lays,Shall flow in your eternity of praise.

In Their Own Words - Native-American Voices from the American Revolutionby Alan Fitzpatrick

Betsy Ross and the American flagby Kay Melchisedech Olson

Molly Pitcher : heroine of the War for Independenceby Rachel A. Koestler-Grack

The American Journey by McGraw-Hill Staff

We the People: Creating a New Nation 1765-1820by Jean Hanavan, Genean Stec

African American History by Lisbeth Gant-Britton

Liberty’s Kids

The Role of African American’s in the American Revolution

Women of the American Revolution

LessonsNative Americans’ Role in the American Revolution: Choosing Sides

American Revolution

Web

Works CitedA society of patriotic ladies, at Edenton in North Carolina (n.d.). In Library of Congress. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96511606/

American Revolution (n.d.). In Maps of World. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/american-revolution/

Appleby, J., Brinkley, A., & McPherson, J. M. (2003). The american journey (pp. 164-176). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Gant-Britton, L. (2008). African American history (pp. 57-63). N.p.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Hanavan, J., & Stec, G. (1989). We the people: Creating a new nation 1765-1820 (pp. 47-62). Chicago, IL: Chicago Historical Society.

Koestler-Grack, R. A. (2005). Molly Pitcher: Heroine of the War for Independence. N.p.: Chelsea House Publications. Retrieved November 25, 2013

Moore, F. (n.d.). Songs and Ballads of the American Revolution. In American Revolution. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.americanrevolution.org/warsongs.html

The Native Americans' role in the American Revolution: Choosing sides (n.d.). In EDSITEment. Retrieved November 24, 2013

Pearson, J. (n.d.). Women of the American Revolution. In National Center for History in the Schools. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/pdf/WomenRev_LOne.pdf

Olson, K. (2006). Betsy Ross and the American flag. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

Wheatly, P. (n.d.). On Virtue. In Poetry Foundation. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174734