Make sure you review Chapter Seven in The Many-Headed Hydra. Bring MHH and your copy of Fresia, Toward an American Revolution: Exposing the Constitution and other Illusions, to class with you.
In this assignment we look at two questions. First, who benefitted, materially and financially, from the American Revolution? Second, the rebellion of lower-class soldiers in the Continental Army against bad treatment by their upper-class officers. This rebellion occurred here in New Jersey, near Morristown, and ended near Princeton. A very important event in the Revolution, it is seldom even mentioned, much less studied.
Charles A. Beard was a famous American historian (at Columbia University) in the first half of this century. His book, The Economic Interpretation of the Constitution, first published in 1913 and still in print, is the most famous argument that the "Founding Fathers" were the elite, fashioning the Revolution in their own interest. Here is an essay in which he argues his case in briefer fashion, put on the web by an historian at Ohio State.
Please read the following:
Sterling North, review of Howard Fast, The Proud and the Free, from the New York World Telegram & Sun October 9, 1950, page 22.
Howard Fast, "Reply to Critics," Masses & Mainstream, December1950. In this essay Fast attempts to refute North, who he says accused him of "treasonable distortioni of history", and discusses his historical research and evidence.An important piece. It is reproduced from the literary and cultural journal of the Communist Party USA, which Fast was very active in for many years.
(If you wish, you may read Paul V. Lutz, "Rebellion Among the Rebels," Manuscript, 1967. This is one of the very few academic articles on the Revolt of the Pennsylvania Brigades to have appeared in recent years. This is not required -- I provide it only for those who want to get a little more information about this revolt).
Please study these two documents, and then write about 300 words on the issue of conflicts of interest and class conflict within the Revolutionary side during the Revolution. You can refer, in passing if you wish, to our previous readings (MHH and Fresia), but please concentrate on these two new readings, Beard, North and Fast (if you read Lutz, you may refer to that also, but it is not required).
Please email me to me and to your group.