Early American History
I spend most of my time doing research into the early days of the nation, years 1750-1820, the time frame has always fascinated me and after years of my research I have found a lot of info that leads me to believe that there was way more to the founding and the war then we are ever taught…….I feel that it is my duty to correct erroneous thinking………..
For instance, Paul Revere…..what do you know about this man? For instance he was a silversmith and did the engraving for the country’s first currency, the Continental Dollar” (America’s first journey into deficit spending)………but how many know of him from his famous ride? I would guess…..most people know of him from the poem by Longfellow………
The Red coats are coming…..the red coats are coming………was the yell as he rode through the countryside warning the colonists of the impending invasion from the Brits…….
On the 18th of April 1775, Revere was given a message to deliver to Sam Adams and John Hancock that the British were en route…..after he successfully did that he was ordered to ride to Concord warning people of the coming storm…….he was warned that there were Brits in the area and to be careful…..(here’s a thought…..they were not coming, they were already there!)………..he was captured after only a short ride and detained and questioned…..in his statement afterwards there is NO mention of lanterns as a signal. Revere never completed his mission/ride.
Basically, at best Revere is a footnote that has been made larger than life………he is a myth. The truth of the matter is of all the so-called messengers the only one that completed his mission was Dr. Prescott…although he ad been captured by the Brits he made his escape and continued his ride to Concord to warn of the Brits approach.
A typical historian trick…..find an event and romanticize it.
And then there is the myth of Bunker Hill!
and then there are the wild west myths. Part of that America some want to “take back”.
Larry, this so-called ‘hero worship’ will prevent the truth from being taught…..we can romanticize these people all we want but they were men and as men were NOT infallible.
All though the midnight ride story has been blown out of proportion, Paul Revere is a very important figuer in the founding of the United States. He was involved in a lot of the politcis in Boston that lead to the revolution, including the Sons of Liberty, and he was an amazing inventor of medal smithing techniques, especially in copper.
Recever is one of my favorite founding fathers, as you may have noticed. I only wish he was known for what he really did and not just for his part in the midnight ride.
FL. Revere is like so many of the so-called founders…..only a few have been deified when so many more were involved……
I agree logotero, many more than we know of where involved. But this does not mean that we can not admire the work that a few did, when that work is honestly recorded in history. Revere is one of those that I feel did more than the average colonial American to found this country.
I guess we could say that he assisted in the deficit spending we have now because it was his plates that made the first currency in the Colonies, the Continental Dollar, that the country could not afford……He will always be remembered for the poem and the ride….but what about Prescott or Mason…a couple of people that made a difference and have not gotten the accolades they deserve……yes we should revere Revere for his place in history and we should always give credit where credit is due.