HELPS TO STUDY Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, was a close associate of Washington and secretary of state in his first cabinet. This opinion was written after Washington's death and is a very careful estimate of his character. 1. Why was Jefferson fitted to delineate Washington's character? 2. With what great men does he compare him? 3. In what ways did Newton, Bacon, and Locke show their penetration of mind? 4. Was Washington's mind stronger in invention or judgment? 5. How was this shown in councils of war? 6. What does Jefferson say about Washington's prudence? his integrity? his self control? 7. Can you relate incidents in Washington's life that illustrate any of these qualities? 8. What does Jefferson say about Washington's generosity? about his appearance? 9. About Washington as a conversationalist? as a writer? 10. How is Washington's character summed up? For Study with the Glossary: intimately, delineate, penetration, judiciously, deranged, readjustment, obstacles, integrity, consanguinity, bias, colloquial, mediocrity, diffusely, journalizing, constellation, arduous, scrupulously. Phrases: councils of war, enemy in station (in fortified positions), habitual ascendancy, visionary projects, copiousness of ideas, conversation with the world, agricultural proceedings (the affairs of his farm). 5 10 15 THE CONCORD HYMN By the rude bridge that arched the flood, And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, Spirit, that made those heroes dare RALPH WALDO EMERSON. HELPS TO STUDY The first fighting in our Revolutionary War was at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. In "Paul Revere's Ride" (FIFTH READER, p. 201) you have read how the British had planned to send troops from Boston to destroy stores that the patriotic had collected at Concord, and how Paul Revere carried the warning and aroused the minutemen. You have read also how at Concord bridge the minutemen faced the British regulars, who retired to Boston with heavy losses. Thus the war began that resulted in the establishment of our great republic. This poem was written to celebrate the erection of a statue of a minuteman to mark the spot by the bridge where the battle was fought. RALPH WALDO EMERSON has a place among the greatest of Americans, along with Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lee, and a few others. He was born in 1803 and died eighty years later at Concord, Massachusetts, where he had lived for half a century. Thoreau, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts were among his neighbors, and Longfellow, Lowell, and Agassiz lived a few miles away in Cambridge. Emerson was a philosopher and a thinker as well as a poet, and his ideas have influenced men of many nations. Like the shot of the embattled farmers, his voice has been heard round the world. To Americans in particular, his writings teach independence, self-reliance, faith, and cheerfulness. 1. At the beginning of what war did the battle of Concord take place? 2. What was the state of affairs in Boston? 3. Recall the story of "Paul Revere's Ride." 4. Describe the fight at Concord. 5. Explain the meaning of the last line of the first stanza. 6. Explain votive and redeem in the third stanza. 7. Why is the monument to be erected? 8. What is the "spirit" of the first line of the last stanza? 9. What can you tell of Ralph Waldo Emerson? SUPPOSED SPEECH OF JOHN ADAMS ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But "there's a Divinity that shapes our ends." The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and, blinded to her own interest for our good, she has obstinately persisted till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why, then, should we defer the Declara10 tion? Is any man so weak as now to hope for a reconciliation with England, which shall leave either safety to the country and its liberties, or safety to his own life and his own honor? If we postpone independence, do we mean to carry 15 on, or to give up the war? Do we mean to submit to the measures of Parliament, Boston port-bill and all? Do we mean to submit and consent that we ourselves shall be ground to powder, and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust? I know we 20 do not mean to submit. We never shall submit. Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into by men, that plighting before God, of our sacred honor to Washington, when, putting him forth to incur the dangers of war, as well as the political hazards of the times, we promised to adhere to him, in every extremity, with our fortunes and our lives? I know there is not a man here who would 5 not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground. For myself, having twelve months ago moved you that George Washington be appointed commander of 10 the forces raised or to be raised, for defense of American liberty, may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him. The war, then, must go on; we must fight it through. 15 And if the war must go on, why put off the declaration of independence? That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character abroad. Nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign. 20 If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies. The people - the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously through this struggle. I care not how fickle 25 other people have been found. I know the people of these colonies; and I know that resistance to British |