Excerpts from: Americanism Redux: April 4, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago today, in 1774
The terminology and spirit of constitutionalism and political philosophy has permeated much of daily life in the British colonies. Hannah Winthrop casts her friendship with Mercy Otis Warren in such words and ideas. The permeation has a particular reality to it—the fact of the imperial-colonial crisis is encountering other issues already unfolding, be they disputes over uncolonized lands (as in the Ohio valley) or in existing religious and civil liberties in towns and counties (as in Virginia).
And the call for a “general congress” is now being heard at the same time that the British imperial reaction to the tea protests takes its first formal shape with the Boston Port Act, the shutting-down of Boston’s harbor as of June 1.
Americanism Redux, a series by historian author, Dr. Dan Miller, explores what Americanism meant 250 years ago and its significance for America today. Visit Dr Dan Miller’s website>
Reference: The Remnant Trust Collection
Hannah Winthrop describes her excitement in hearing the oratorical abilities of several colonial-rights leaders. She calls them “Ciceronian” in their rhetoric. For an early edition of Cicero’s writings, see the archives of the Remnant Trust, Item (#0468), Thoughts of Cicero, published in 1754 and likely the edition read by Winthrop.
View The Remnant Trust “Wisdom of the Ages Athenaeum PDF for reference>