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Colonial Life
Never before this year had my heart pounded so hard that a racing, dry, aching beat was missed. A beat meaning I was working twice as hard as the loud yet still men directed to my left. My name is Polly Forde and I am a 17-year-old girl. Last year a boat came to pick my family up. I asked my parents where we were headed, but at the reply Pennsylvania I was astonished. I had heard of this place before as well as others in the “new world”. It was supposedly hot, and humid during the summer, and freezing in the winter. The boat trip to Pennsylvania puzzled me. My family was poor, what business would we have there when we surely had no money to buy land?

Unfortunately for me the answer to this disturbing question came after a horrendous announcement. My mother Susan at 38 years old had not survived the boat trip, yet now I was to work as an indenture servant for 7 years! What a preposterous statement. I could only imagine the reason for coming here, and I later found out that it was for religious freedom! That living as a servant could grant us a small area of land! Looking back the idea of land was amazing to me. Do not think like I did! The overly exaggerated precaution of having “land” led not only to an aching body, and a constant quiver in my right hand but also led to my mother’s death.

Benjamin Johnson is the man in charge of my father; Roger, Noah, Marcy, and I. Benjamin’s family consists of his wife, Ivy, and seven children, James, Tim, Stephanie, John, Adam, Simon, and Liza. The family is a perfect example of how the men in town out number us women. They also show how numerous children were usually produced. Especially on a farm the multitude of kids were important, and needed to perform chores. Because of the immense family us servants are building another room on the other side of the chimney so all of us are able to fit.

Each day I awake at 5:30 am to head out to the field and tend to crops, later I head back inside to cook and clean. To anyone ells walking onto our farm site you would have thought it beautiful, but to me, the one bending down picking medium sized corn “tenderly” like my boss had warned me to, it was pure torture. Though the skies are blue, and cloudless, and each crop just as big and succulent as the next, to me the ﻿ day was as dingy as the ones I had spent in debater’s jail. So far this first year in the colony has been dreadful; I’m just a kid, yet my lifestyle is all work and no play.

**Source**: Hart, Diane, and Bert Bower. //History alive!: the United States through industrialism//. Palo Alto, Calif.: Teachers' Curriculum Institute, 2011. Print.
**Topic**: Victory in Trenton **Research**:

“Washington gave his men a password for the long night march ahead: ‘Victory or Death’” (92).

On their way to Trenton the Americans were //“//chilled to the bone” by snow. Their worn shoes were cut by rocks and ice and it was pointed out that the guns were to wet to fire. Even so the army didn’t give up they used the bayonets of their soaking weapons to carry on, “The town must be taken” (92).

At the Americans approach the Hessians were still “sleeping off their christmas feast”. Caught completely off guard the Americans declared a Victory hauling in 868 prisoners without sparing one of their own (92).

**Source 2:** "The Battle of Trenton." //The American Revolutionary War//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/761226.htm__]> **Topic:** Trenton Victory **Research:**

December 26, 1776 Trenton, New Jersey

Three regiments of troops lead by Colonel Johann Rall; Nathanael Greene leading the north and John Sullivan the west, the south never made their way across the river. Enlistments kept dropping out reducing the troops. A spy named John Honeyman mislead the Hessian defenders and reported their estimated strength.

“Winter was coming fast and the British would be able to continue their pursuit... River froze over.... Washington decided to attack the British forces who had entered winter quarters... hoped to salvage a victory at the end of a disappointing campaign”

At first they were going to attack Bordentown, but their militia was weak, they proceeded to attack Trenton. On christmas night at predawn knowing that the the Hessians “partied” heartily, they would surprise the Hessians from the North by crossing the Delaware River at McKonkey’s Ferry about nine miles above Trenton. They crossed around 11:00 P.M. The Southern troop didn’t cross the river and were was suppose block a retreat from the south. The troops were well behind schedule and not ready to march until about 4:00 A.M.

“Even with intelligence... told him the day and hour of the attack, Rall did not know how large the American attacking force would be. He figured... small hit-and-run patrol actions to which he had become accustomed and indifferent.”

By 6A.M. troops were more than unhappy with their weapons and had to use their bayonets. At 8 A.M. Washington’s party asked a man chopping wood where the Hessian sentries were, he indicated a nearby house. They were spotted and shot at, it ended ineffective for the British who dropped. The two troops headed into Trenton. The Hessians were unprepared and surprised. The two main exits out of town were blocked. The ones who managed to escape to the south to an apple orchard found the bridge and the fords upstream blocked; they were surrounded by americans and surrendered. Others who retreated to Bordentown were also found surrounded. With the escapes moving towards Princeton and Bruneswick was an easy decision.

By noon they were back in Pennsylvania with their prisoners and new supplies.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">**Source 3**: "Social Studies for Kids." //Social Studies for Kids//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/__]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">**Topic:** Hessians <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">**Research**:

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">King George III who’s from Hanover, Germany called for soldiers to fight in the new world. Hessians were his loyal soldiers.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Source 4**: "Washington's Crossing." //Pennsylvania Historical And Museum Commission//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/crossing.htm__]> <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Topic:** The Crossing of the Delaware River <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Research**:

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They crossed the River using ferry boats, Durham boats, and other craft. It took longer than originally thought because a “nor’easter” or a wind from the northeast created sleet and freezing rain.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“Large ice flows and flood-like conditions hindered the nighttime maneuvers. Colonel Glover's Marbleheaders from Massachusetts steadily rowed the boats back and forth until all of Washington's troops were on the New Jersey side. However, Cadwalader and Ewing were unsuccessful in crossing the River. Cadwalader turned back because he was unable to get his artillery across and Ewing abandoned the plan entirely”

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Source 5**: "First War- Weapons of The Revolution." //Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire//. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/firstwar77/wep.html__]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Topic**: Bayonets <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Research**:

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They were very dangerous. The triangular was extremely hard to repair.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“There will always be one side stretching, and breaking the wound open, so if the bayonet did not puncture a vital organ you would probably bleed to death... also threat of infection... not sharp.... have to thrust it into an enemies body... more often tear not cut making it even deadlier.”

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“During the early days of the War the Americans were scared of the bayonet and because of inexperience they were useless in the hands of the Americans. (Well, they were not useless, they made excellent tent stakes and worked well for roasting meet over a fire.)”

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Source 6**: "The Durham Boat." //Ushistory.org//. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/durham.htm__]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Topic**: Durham Boats <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Research**:

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Where used in Washington’s Crossing of Delaware.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“Washington wrote to Governor Livingston of New Jersey, directing him to secure "Boats and Craft, all along the Delaware side...particularly the Durham Boats" for his anticipated crossing... had, no doubt, observed these stable vessels, painted black, at the docks in Philadelphia and... would be ideal craft to transport troops and supplies for his surprise attack on Trenton.” <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The boats were large and had flat bottoms, it needed a captain and a six member crew.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“The crew captain at the stern wielded the long steering sweep, while two to four men pushed against the river bank or bottom with iron-tipped setting poles (12 to 18 feet long), and the rest of the crew oared against the current. Along each side of the vessel was a narrow gangway, which provided footing for the crew as it poled the boat upstream.”

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Source 7**: "Washington Crossing Historic Park." //Ushistory.org//. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <[|__http://www.ushistory.org/WASHINGTONCROSSING/__]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Topic**: Crossing the Delaware River <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**Research**:

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They would “make a nocturnal river crossing, covertly entering New JErsey, march 9 miles, and attacking these Hessians at a Trenton outpost”.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They saw bursts of breath created by “agitated” horses being loaded onto ferry boats at dawn. Also “ice floes clogging the Delaware and the river’s choppy water churning past.”

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They heard the Glover’s Marblehead sailor’s oars hit and infiltrate the water as the Durham boats were manipulated to move across the river. They heard orders being given from Colonel Knox, “rising above the confusion, as to how the assembled 2400 troops, cannons and equines should be shuttled across the Delaware.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They may have thought about the plan working, “attracting” hessians, the element of surprise fading because of daybreak, their families at home (it’s Christmas), would they survive another season of fighting?

I. Exposition A. 1776 B. Trenton, New Jersey II. Rising Action A. Leaving home to fight in war 1. His dad is a loyalist (tension) B. Crossing the Delaware River 1. Colonel Glover’s Marbleheaders rowed the boats till everyone was on the New Jersey side a. Cadawalader ad Ewing did not cross b. The crossing was slowed by a nor’ easter III. Climax A. Defeating the Hessians IV. Falling Action A. Traveling back to Pennsylvania 1. They now have new supplies and prisoners V. Resolution A. Going back to war 1. The decision was unanimous with the escapes to move towards Princeton and Brunswick B. Flustered because he is in a bad situation with his father 1. His dad is not happy with home and will not take him into his home

This will show social impact because his dad is a loyalist while he himself is a rebel, him going to war divides their relationship.