Foner, Give Me Liberty: An American History, Fourth Edition Chapter 6, The Revolution Within

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• Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences
  
  
  

  Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences. This 1792 painting by Samuel Jennings is one of the few visual images of the early republic explicitly linking slavery with tyranny and liberty with abolition. The female figure offers books to newly freed slaves. Other forms of knowledge depicted include a globe and an artist’s palette. Beneath her left foot lies a broken chain. In the background, free slaves enjoy some leisure time.

  Credit: Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift of the artist, 1792

   

   

• John Dickinson’s copy of the Pennsylvania constitution
  
  
  

  John Dickinson’s copy of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1776, with handwritten proposals for changes. Dickinson, one of the more conservative advocates of independence, felt the new state constitution was far too democratic. He crossed out a provision that all "free men" should be eligible to hold office, and another declaring the people not bound by laws that did not promote "the common good."

  Credit: Historical Society of Pennsylvania

   

   

• Discontent with rising prices, 1777
  
  
  

  A cartoon from 1777 illustrates discontent with rising prices. One soldier identifies "extortioners" as "the worst enemies of the country." Another complains about serving "my country for sixteen pence per day."

  Credit: Reproduced by permission of the Huntington Library, San Marino, California

   

   

• The "cruel fate" of American Loyalists
  
  
  

  A 1780 British cartoon commenting on the "cruel fate" of American Loyalists. Pro-independence colonists are likened to savage Indians.

  Credit: Library of Congress

   

   

• America Triumphant and Britannia in Distress
  
  
  

  America Triumphant and Britannia in Distress. An elaborate allegory representing American independence as a triumph of liberty, from an almanac published in Boston in 1781. An accompanying key explains the symbolism: (1) America [on the right] holds an olive branch of peace and invites all nations to trade with her. (2) News of America’s triumph is broadcast around the world. (3) Britain, seated next to the devil, laments the loss of trade with America. (4) The British flag falls from a fortress. (5) European ships in American waters. (6) Benedict Arnold, the traitor, hangs himself in New York City [in fact, Arnold died of natural causes in London in 1801].

  Credit: Library of Congress