Colonial Independence Roles

1. You are a well-to-do merchant in Philadelphia. You were born in 1734 in England. You are one of the richest people in America. Your business is one of the largest traders with England. In the past, you have stated that the move of independence might be too early. You are not completely sure you wish to support the Left wing. Your business future, at the present, depends on your relationship with England and the colonial government.

2. You were born in 1737 into a Quaker family in England. Your family was very poor. You are very ambitious and enlisted as a privateer for the English against the French at 19. You have made the English government angry by attacking the way they do things and have since lost five jobs and gone bankrupt. You came to Philadelphia and began to write many things. Many of your books deal with reasons for American independence.

3. You are a well-known son of a very famous Pennsylvania liberal. You have traveled widely with your father and helped him in many ways. You became a lawyer and the King appointed you Royal Governor of New Jersey. You obey the King's orders mainly out of a sense of duty to your country. You are a loyal Englishman and because of this your father refuses to associate with you or even mention your name. Your position as Royal Governor demands that you enforce the laws of England and stop traitors from spreading lies. 4. Your great-great grandfather came to Massachusetts in 1640. You graduated from Harvard in 1755 and three years later began a law practice in Boston. You have married into a very wealthy, well- known upper class family. You have defended many of the radicals in court and have become and enemy of the Royal Governor of Massachusetts. You are against violence of any sort but wish to see things changed through legal means. You are not totally convinced that independence is the way to go.

5. You were born in 1730 in West Brewster, Massachusetts. You later moved to Connecticut and became a sea captain. You trade throughout the colonies. You are a fearless and willing fighter. During the Great War for the Empire, you were a privateer and are now a hero in New York. You have never hesitated when action has been possible. You have helped found a radical group and have always been able to call up a mob when needed. The British have tried to stop your privateering and trading but have failed so far.

6. You were born in 1738 in Connecticut and have very little education. You were not happy to be a farmer and went to New York and settled on the Royal Governor's land and have been fighting to keep it. You are a big, powerful, fearless, impulsive man. You will fight the New York Colonial government in order to keep your land.

7. You are a long time member of the Pennsylvania Colonial Assembly. You have been a Justice of the Peace for Delaware County in Pennsylvania. You are a respected member of the Assembly and have been elected Speaker of the Assembly. You tend to side with the left wing abut at this time you are not completely sure.

8. You are the Royal Governor of Massachusetts. You entered Harvard at 13 and graduated in 1727. You may not agree with the actions of the English King and Parliament but you will always obey them. You will stand by your King but are also interested in making money for yourself. You are a member of the upper class and consider yourself way above the "common sort." 9. You were born in Boston in 1722, the son of a wealthy ale brewer. You have a degree from Harvard, but you have been a failure in your study of law and as a merchant. You were a tax collector in Boston and failed at that too. You are one of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty. You have an intense hatred for the Royal Governor and are very suspicious of everything the English King and Parliament do.

10. You are the Speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly. You are not afraid to stand up for your rights as an Englishman and will strongly oppose any attempt to deny you those rights. You were born in 1741 and graduated from Harvard 18 years later. You are an exceptionally successful doctor in Boston.

11. You were born in 1725, the son of a famous Boston lawyer and politician. You studied law at Harvard and became a lawyer. You are extremely intelligent and you are an outstanding speaker. You are against many of the things England has done, mainly because you believe them to be illegal. You have a great influence among the people of Boston.

12. You are a member of the Massachusetts Assembly and have been re-elected five times by the people of Salem, whom you represent. You do not wish at this time to become involved in any extreme ideas. You feel that some of England's acts are unjustified but you aren't sure you are ready for a change. You are a merchant and trader dealing mainly with English merchants.

13. You were born in 1732 in Maryland and came to Philadelphia in 1757. You have become a famous lawyer and now serve in the Pennsylvania Legislature. You are opposed to many of the things England does but you do not wish to break the law in any way. You are also very suspicious of any revolutionary change.

14. You were born in Maryland in 1731 and later moved to Philadelphia. You have become a well- known lawyer and a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly. You are against many of the things Parliament does, but you are a loyal Englishman. Your main goal is to see the two sides get back together again. You plan on remaining loyal to the King.

15. You are very well-known in Pennsylvania and have even help a political office from time to time. (The people do not know this, but you are a reader of the reactionary Tory movement.) You command a militia regiment in York, Pennsylvania. You own a lot of land in that area and hope to help other loyalists in that area. 16. You were born in 1706 in Boston but later moved to Philadelphia. You are the son of a soap boiler with 2 years of schooling. At ten you went to work for your father. You later became editor of a newspaper and were jailed for "improper comments" by the English government. You became a printer in Philadelphia and are quite well-known. You are a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly and oppose most of the things England does.

17. You were born in Virginia in 1743, the son of a surveyor. You began poor but married into a well- known, rich family. You attended the College of William and Mary and became a lawyer. You have held many offices, including being a member of the House of Burgesses. You are quiet, but when you speak people listen. You have a large plantation and many slaves. You tend to side with the move for independence.

18. You were born in Virginia in 1732, the son of a rich planter. You became a famous military leader in the Great War for the Empire. You are an upper class gentleman and a member of the House of Burgesses. You have no taste for military service anymore. You now have a very large plantation with many slaves. You will go along with the radicals if they can convince you.

19. You are the Royal Governor of Virginia. You are an Earl and your family can be traced back to the Stuart Kings of England. You were appointed Governor by the King and in the beginning were very popular with the people of Virginia. You will obey the King and are an extremely loyal Englishman. If you have to, you will dissolve the House of Burgesses if they do not follow your wishes.

20. You were born and educated in Scotland and have since moved to Philadelphia. You became a Latin tutor at the College of Philadelphia. You are a lawyer and have moved to Western Pennsylvania where you have become a farmer and land speculator. You have been elected to the Colonial Assembly. You are not yet sure the radicals have the right idea.

21. You were born in 1736 on the Virginia Frontier. By the time you were 21 you had failed twice at store keeping, lost a farm, and went into debt. You have great ambitions. You became a lawyer through hard work. You have been elected to the House of Burgesses. You speak for the back-country people and have a great influence there. You are a good speaker and oppose most of what Parliament and the King do. You are considered a troublemaker even by the people of Virginia. 22. You were born in Braintree, Massachusetts, the son of a minister. You were orphaned early in your life and were adopted by your uncle, the richest merchant in Boston. You went to Harvard and inherited your uncle's business at 27. You have become a millionaire. You are not a natural leader, but the radicals want you on their side - especially because you are willing to fund their activities with your own money.

23. You were born in 1722 as the son of a well-known lawyer. You became a lawyer in Maryland, and most people would agree you are one of the best lawyers in all of the colonies. You were appointed Secretary of the Colony of Maryland. You oppose some of the actions of Parliament but do not support the radicals in any way.

24. You are one of the colonies' leading scientists. You are mainly interested in advancing your own cause. You are a friend of the Governor of New Hampshire and everyone knows that you side with the English on the issue of independence.

25. You were born in England in 1738. You moved to the American colonies where you are a preacher in Maryland. You are a close friend of George Washington. Your sermons are about being loyal to the King of England, and you use your speaking talents to spread British beliefs. 26. You are a German printer in Philadelphia. Your father started the business and you have now taken it over. You are one of the wealthiest men in the colony of Pennsylvania. You are leader of the loyalist group in Pennsylvania.

27. You are the son of a wealthy New York merchant. You became a lawyer and rapidly became very well- known. You are a very sly person. When asked about the move for independence, you answered, "What's the hurry?"

28. You were born in Boston in 1738 to Irish immigrant parents. You taught yourself how to paint, and by the time you were 20, you were already a well-known portrait painter. You are more interested in your art career than in politics. You do not support the growing interest in fighting against the British for independence.

29. You are the son of a wealthy merchant planter and became a member of the Governor's Council of Virginia in 1764. You studied in England and returned to become a member of the House of Burgesses. You have many radical friends although you are not a loyalist yourself. 30. You were born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1735, the son of a silversmith. You learned your father's trade and later took over the family business. You are not happy with how the British taxes hurt your business and you have close ties with Patriot leaders.

31. You were born a slave in Virginia. You grew up on a plantation with your family, and you had a cruel master. You ran away and became a slave of various owners. You believe that God wants the American Colonists to stay loyal to England, and you hope that the British will eventually free all slaves.

32. You came from a very wealthy, well-known family, and you married one of the leading lawyers in Massachusetts. You strongly believe women should have equal political rights with men, and you see independence from England as a way of obtaining such freedom for women.