Revolutionary War Quotations By Kristen Ballard Contents: Introduction | Before the War | During the War | Conclusion | Bibliography Introduction: Many famous quotes came from the Revolutionary War. Quotes were said by people to express and tell other people their feelings. Many quotes effected people during battles, and some quotes led to the beginning of some battles. _________________________________________________________________ Before The War: "If this be treason, make the most of it!" This quote was said by Patrick Henry at the time of the Stamp Act in 1964. His purpose for saying this was to defend himself. This quote helped from a patriot group called the Stamp Act Congress. _________________________________________________________________ "If our Trade be taxed, why not our Lands, or Produce… in short, everything we possess? They tax us without having legal representation." This quote was said by Samuel Adams after the Stamp Act of 1765. His purpose for saying this was to make people go against the idea of having the trade taxed. The effect it had was it made other Americans think about what had happened and many became discontent. _________________________________________________________________ "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I AM NOT A VIRGINIAN, BUT AN AMERICAN!" This quote was said by Patrick Henry in 1774 right after the Boston Tea Party had taken place. His purpose for saying this was to keep self-interest from destroying the common effort of some Americans. The effect it had was that it made American colonists work together and it angered the British. _________________________________________________________________ "… the very tails of American sheep are so are so laden with wool that each sheep has little wagon to support its tail and to keep it from trailing on the ground." This quote was written by Benjamin Franklin after "Braddock’s Defeat" in the London Chronicle. His purpose for saying this was to mock the English. It made the English mad and brought up several arguments about governing the colonies in America. _________________________________________________________________ "… I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" This quote was said by Patrick Henry at a meeting of the First Continental Congress in 1774. His purpose for saying this was to make the Americans fight for liberty and independence. The effect it had was it played an important part on the making of the Declaration of Independence. _________________________________________________________________ During the War: "Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." This quote was said by Captain John Parker after Paul Revere’s ride in April of 1775 in the town of Lexington. His purpose for saying this was that he didn’t want to start the war, but if the British did, they would fight. This began the Revolutionary War when one shot went off because all of the British men started firing furiously. _________________________________________________________________ "..Should the colonies send an army of two or three thousand man and attack Montreal, we should have little to fear from the Canadians or Indians, and would easily make a conquest of that place… " This quote was written by Ethan Allen in 1775 after the war had begun. His purpose for saying this was because he wanted to fight the British and to tell his army that they shouldn’t be afraid of the Indians or the Canadians because they could defeat them. This made it impossible for restoration of harmony. _________________________________________________________________ "I move that these united colonies ought to be free and independent…" This quote was said by Richard Henry Lee in 1776 at the writing of the Deceleration of Independence. His purpose for saying this was to tell how the American colonists felt about freedom and independence. _________________________________________________________________ "…On our side, the war should be defensive… we are now in a [dangerous] position. Declining an engagement to flight may throw discouragement over the minds of many, but when the fate of America may be at Stake, we should continue the war as long as possible…" This quote was written by George Washington in 1776. His purpose for saying this was to tell the Congress that the only way that the small Continental Army could win was to fight defensively, and to attack only when victory was certain. _________________________________________________________________ "Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish." This quote was said be John Adams in 1776 just before the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The reason he said this was because he was standing up for the idea of the colonies being independent. _________________________________________________________________ "These are the times that try men’s souls…" This quote was written by Thomas Paine after the writing of the Declaration of Independence in a forty-seven page pamphlet called Common Sense. His purpose for saying this was to try to persuade the Americans to demand independence, rather then try to patch up their differences with Great Britain. The effect it had was it made George Washington start to prepare his army. _________________________________________________________________ "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." This famous quote was said by Nathan Hale at the retreat of the British from New York in August of 1776. His purpose for saying this was these were his last words before he was hanged. This quote showed the spirit of the fighting Americans. _________________________________________________________________ "May it please Your Honor, I surrounded them!" This quote was said by Sam Clowney at the Battle of Camden. He said this because he was fooling five Tories into believing that he had a whole army with him. The effect it had was Clowney took them prisoner and he impressed Colonel Thomas. _________________________________________________________________ "Where a goat can go, a man can go; and where a man can go, he can drag a gun." This quote was said by Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne at the Battle at Mount Defiance. He said this to encourage his troops to drag their cannons and weapons up Sugarloaf Mountain (Mount Defiance). The effect it had was General St. Clair ordered the patriots to abandon the fort because they knew that they were at the mercy of the men on Sugarloaf Mountain. _________________________________________________________________ "…Let us die here rather than retreat." This quote was said by Alexander Hamilton at the Battle of Monmouth. He said this to convince General Lee not to retreat. The effect it had was it gave General Lee hope. It also caused the British to retreat and sneak away to New York. _________________________________________________________________ "Tie up overcoats, pick touch-holes, fresh prime, and be ready to FIGHT!" This quote was said by Ben Cleveland at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He said this as the Americans were going out to fight the British. He said this to prepare his men for the battle. The effect it had was it made the Americans aware of how badly Cleveland wanted to win this battle. The Americans surrounded the British and took six hundred prisoners. _________________________________________________________________ "…I know the cause it desperate; but Sir, we must either quit the country or attack." This quote was said by George Rogers Clark at the Battle of Vincennes in February of 1779. His reason for saying this was to convince Patrick Henry that Clark and his men must attack the Hair Buyer and his men or give up completely. The effect it had was the Indians fled because they believed Clark had about a thousand men at the bottom of a hill. _________________________________________________________________ "I have not yet begun to fight!" This quote was said by John Paul Jones at the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis in September of 179. His purpose for saying this was to show that he was not going to give up. The effect it had was the battle continued for two more hours and soon after that, the Serapis toppled into the water, forcing Pearson to surrender. _________________________________________________________________ "I request you will witness to the world that I die like a brave man." This quote was said by John André at the attack from West Point in August of 1780. He said this because he was hanged when he was pronounced a spy and even though he didn’t do the crime he didn’t fight to get free. It had a big effect on certain people. Sir Henry Clinton locked himself in his room for three days, and the English newspapers raged over the hanging. They called it murder. _________________________________________________________________ "We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distressed… we must bear the present evils and fortitude…" This quote was said by George Washington at the battle of West Point in 1781. He wrote this because he was telling the army and the people on the home front not to give up or lose heart in the battle. _________________________________________________________________ Conclusion: Many quotations had important effects on most of the people in the Revolutionary War. They made some people very mad, some happy, some confused, and they even made some people proud. Quotes had a lot of thought put into them. Some people have to this awhile before they can understand them. Bibliography: Ingraham, Leonard W. An Album of the Americans Revolution. New York, New York: Franklin Watts, 1971 Lawson, Don. The American Revolution; America’s Fist War for Independence. New York, New York: Abenlard-Schuman, 1974 Reeder, Colonel Red. The Story of the Revolutionary War. New York, New York: Meredith Press, 1959 _________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents | Projects Menu | Greece Home Page