Essay NEw JERSEY 1

------In the words of Strahahn , we are to be “looking upon England as our home” (William Franklin of New Jersey 363), and this is something I agree with. In many ways England has treated us like her child, caring for us when we were in danger , protecting us ,growing us and helping us learn to walk and take our first couple steps into these blooming world. And being of the New Jersey colony, the umbilical cord still remains fairly intact with Britain leaving a deep bond still in between us two. Many communities, towns , and colonies would disagree with the deciding of being loyal , most would refer to us as “Tories”, but we find plenty reason of why to stay loyal , more reasons then to become what those true “Tories” call being a “patriots” If you take it from my view and the view of many other New Jersey folk alike, we have made the decision to stay close by the side of our country due to its maximum influence in and around our colony and as well as the encouraging possibilities and additions doing so gives to the people.
-------- The British are very well disturbed and represented within our town and our neighboring trading town New York, alike. And we find their presence not only economically useful, but it makes our decision to remain loyal an easier path. “British domination of the trade outlets in the southern part of Bergen County by strongholds at Paulus Hook and Staten Island provided practical reasons for supporting the royal cause” (E BOOK), and its very true, the pretty have always been a great support to the colonies when it comes to finance. Not to mention their currency is one “the inhabitants of the county preferred to sell their produce for British gold rather than for the nearly worthless provincial and continental currency.” ( 560 Keesey). Of course similar to all other colonies , the revolution did have negative affects on our town but the positives of the British remained dominant throughout most of the revolution. “Harassing militia raids which disrupted trade and personal indignities inflicted on the people by both sides did not deter the population from trading constantly with the British and supplying them with produce and forage.” (560 Keesey). Along with the British within the colony and having a fair amount of loyalists, our governour has also remained loyal and obedient to the crown , even though for us if affects our trading even to a point more than most.
--------When it comes to trading, lots of virgins resource was New York, who , being so close with Boston trade, were affected in the British acts of shutting down the harbor. This harshly affected us but the governor, along with many of the people remained in support of Britain. " The New Jersey legislature was inclined to accommodate its young American Governor , and there were no difficult, unpopulat British ruling with which to contend. All that began to change in 1765, when William Franklin kept that assembly obedient to the mother country in the Stamp Act controversy, yet realized that he dislikes the measure as mush as did his people, though on different grounds... he, if not his wife, was finding it difficult to take Strahan's advice in "looking upon England as our home", (William Franklin of New Jersey 363) but they did. Us loyalists did not stand behind the British because it was “easier” for us at any rate . With the growing passionate patriot crowd if anything it was harder. There was strong reasoning behind the decision to remain loyal, he patriots were fighting for their freedom, and so were we.
------ "[T]hat the rebels sought the Whig ends of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; that the rebels desire for those ends stemmed from their participation in the empire-wide enlightenment; that those ideals sparked revolt because of the colonists homogeneity and distance from London "( Economic Burden: Spark to the American Revolution? pg 82 ). Yes money, protection, and authority within the colony had an affect on the loyalists group within our colony, "The loyalty of officeholders and wealthy person closely allied to the machinery of government involved decisions fundamental dissimilar to those made by tenants, indentured servants, poor mechanics, and artisans who were induced by cash bounties to join loyalists regiments" (pg 261 of the American Loyalists: notes on their organization and Numerical strength) . This is in every way true but a view overlooked is that this revolution and division of the people was simply and naturally a difference in opinion. Yes, it’s a well known fact that many loyalists were wealthy and of a good ranking within their communities, they were happy where they were at so an automatic assumption was that therefore they saw no need for the change that the less fortunate did. But the truth is (FIND QUOTE) those who remained loyal did so with the possibility of the house being ransacked, torched an torn to bits and pieces. They had more to loose than most. Families like The Bayards, Doremus, Dr. Abraham L. Van Buskirk, Zabriskie , their families were wealthy and by choosing to stand up for what they believe, what the felt to be the way to freedom they gave up more than most had. They choose where to stand “not for the government but for the right and freedom is represents” (The early years PAGE 3). When you see all those who claim “Freedom” the reason the spur into action, destroy homes and put families onto streets, I am pushed away from them towards the opposing side from what I’m seeing done by those who claim us “Tories”.