Game Review: Assassin's Creed III

The past couple months now I have made a deep dive into the American Revolution much thanks to the video game Assassin's Creed III. The game was released in 2012, however I bought the remastered version which made the experience all the better. As a big fan of American history I would rank this one among my favorite of the Assassin's games yet (maybe not quite as great as Odyssey, but pretty close). The game completely expands from AC I and II with a totally new frontier and hunting option. The ability to pretty much go wherever you want, is what I love most about gaming, and this game certainly has the open-world feel to it.

While this game was released as the 3rd installment in the series, it actually serves as a sequel to AC IV Blag Flag, and AC Rogue (set during the Pirate Age and French and Indian War). There is also the expansion of AC III: Liberation which I wished I would have played before AC III, since it is also set during the French and Indian War. And the alternate expansion of The Tyranny of King Washington (which I played a little bit but did not care for the story). Nonetheless I intend to play AC Liberation next which is set in New Orleans circa 1760-1770s. However back to this game at hand, AC III which is mostly set during the American Revolution.

I was quite shocked upon starting this game, that the main assassin hero was actually a Native-American warrior. From the cover alone it's hard to tell, and honestly I hadn't done too much research before starting this game. Nonetheless the main character is Ratonhnhakton (referred to as Connor) and he makes for a fitting assassin. Just like all AC assassins he is out for vengeance and has an instinctive warrior hunger about him. His costume and weapons alone, made him perhaps one of my favorite of the assassins yet.

The Setting

Once again I could really care less about the modern-day setting of Desmond and wish the game developers would just do away with the whole animus/abstergo present-day story. What makes the AC series so great is the full immersion into a historical era, and the game should just leave it at that without the present day arch. Anyway the first couple sequences of this game start as Haytham Kenway the British son of pirate Edward Kenway (from the AC IV: Black Flag). Haytham travels to the colonies during the French and Indian War where he assassinates the British General Braddock. He also develops a romantic relationship with a Native woman, named Ziio, and together they give birth to Connor. However in quite the twist it is revealed that Edward is actually a Templar (the rivals of the Assassins Brotherhood).

The game then fast forwards to Connor's teenager years where he learns to hunt yet witnesses his mother killed by a Colonial raid, led by Charles Lee. At this point Connor swears vengeance upon the Templar, Charles Lee and travels to a homestead in Davenport (a made up town near Rockport, MA) where he seeks out an assassin named Achilles to train him. Achilles reluctantly agrees to train Connor who over the years becomes a deadly killer. As a young man in 1770, Connor runs an errand for Achilles in Boston, where he witnesses several Templars (led by his dad) incite the Boston Massacre. At this point on, Connor becomes engulfed in the events of the American Revolution while also seeking out vengeance against the Templar Order.

He later meets Samuel Adams in Boston, and helps the Sons of Liberty win back Boston from the British Redcoats, and takes part in the famous Tea Party of 1773. He then aids Paul Revere on his famous ride thru the frontier to warn the militia of the oncoming British soldiers. He takes part in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, as well as the Battle of Bunker Hill. He also later intercepts a Templar plot by Charles Lee to assassinate General George Washington. This wins Connor favor with Washington, but the feeling is not mutual as Connor later discovers that Washington intends to raid Native villages throughout the frontier.

Connor later reunites with his father, and the two share a common goal of hunting for the Patriot-turned-British-spy, Benjamin Church. Together they are able to assassinate Church, however after the Battle of Monmouth Connor witnesses Charles Lee sabotage the fight and stays committed to seeking out his vengeance. Although Connor no longer supports Washington for his slaying of Natives, he still plays a major role in the battles of Yorktown and the Chesapeake. With the help of the French navy Connor is able to locate and hunt General Lee. He first however must eliminate his father, who intends to defends Charles Lee. After this in a rather dramatic chase sequence where Connor makes it very hard on himself he finally achieves his revenge and kills Charles Lee. The story ends with American liberty while Connor takes over Achilles' homestead in Davenport with a new community of friendly and diverse settlers.

The Gameplay

The format of this game was a big jump from AC I and II, with a much larger and free-reign map. I would mostly associate the controls on par with AC IV, AC Rouge, AC Unity (all four of these games were released within a couple years 2012-2014). The big changes from AC II was the open frontier terrain, the hunting, the crafting, and also the shipping missions. This game introduced the concept of sea missions although it does not have the free-reign flow of later sea-based AC games such as AC IV, AC Rouge, and AC Odyssey. Therefore this is mostly a land based game, with some minor sea missions on the side.

Visiting the cities of Boston and New York City during the American Revolution, are of course a major appeal (however this has become a trademark of the AC series to be expected). For me what really took this game to the next level was the frontier terrain. It's nice to be take a break from the urban settings controlled by British or Colonial soldiers, and openly explore the wild filled with dangerous animals. There is a wide array of animals to be hunted in this game, and Connor's ability to track and climb make it a very entertaining side option. He can even set traps and bait which is some pretty advanced hunting gameplay.

The hunting is not-for-nothing as it can be used as side missions, yet more so for crafting new weapons. Honestly it took me a while to figure out how the crafting works and think this might have been a little too complex. In order to craft, Connor had to first help Homesteaders on various missions so that they could produce materials. Once the materials were available (such as ore, lumber, vegetables, etc), he could then make purchases to add to his stockpile. I made an added effort to partake on these side quests in conjunction with the main quest (too often I zip thru the main quest and have so much more to do on the side afterwards). I will say despite the crafting being a bit overly-complicated, I did very much enjoy the Homestead characters and missions and made sure to complete them all before calling it quits on this game.

The fighting is on par with most AC games prior to AC Origins and Odyssey with the basic three elements; attack, break-defense, and counter. It is very difficult to take on multiple enemies at a time, however in a 1-on-1 fight Connor can easily beat about anyone. The stealth assassination option is always the best bet, however once again in overwhelming situations I would always revert to the smoke bomb to either make multiples kills or make an escape. There are also various levels of enemies, such as the grenadiers or the Jagers. These axe-swinging brutes often made for more challenging fights. Connor had a unique arsenal of weapons, including a tomahawk axe, clubs, swords, pistols, a ropedart, and a bow-and-arrow which were some of my favorites. I wasn't a big fan of having to equip the horse whistle however.

Just like most AC games, there is a ton of side quests, liberation missions, and collectibles to obtain. This includes winning back fortifications, sea missions, treasure chests, and helping various people along the way. Despite my added effort to play the side quests along with the main quest, I still only achieved about 55% synchronization when I finally called it quits. That is no doubt another credit to the game developers for producing so much game content. Perhaps some day I may return to this game and all the other AC games I have enjoyed over the past year now. However first I still have several more games to play. Next up for me will be AC Liberation, then AC India, AC Syndicate, and AC Russia. Hopefully I can have these all finished before the latest major release in November of AC Valhalla.  

Biography of Alexander Hamilton

I wasn't planning on writing a post about Alexander Hamilton, but sometimes inspiration just comes quite unexpectedly. During my summer of American Revolution appreciation, I've read various books, watched movies and TV shows, and played video games pertaining to the era. My first biographical study I wrote was about the life of Ben Franklin which I learned mostly from his autobiography. The second was the biography of George Washington which was inspired from David McCullough's book, 1776. Now this third biographical study pertaining to the founding fathers, will be about Alexander Hamilton. As for the inspiration, well that is almost entirely another post, but I will detail it here in brief.

Before I get to what inspired me to write this post, I will first share what I knew before about Alexander Hamilton. I knew he was one of the main founding fathers of the country along with George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Although he never became president he played a significant role in the establishment of the federal government during Washington's presidency. However sadly I have more associated his name with the famous duel he had with Aaron Burr that cost his life. Despite his death at an early age, Hamilton established a legacy for his name that is celebrated today thru many monuments as well as his face on the 10$ bill.

Now what inspired me to make a deep study into his life was watching the 2015 musical Hamilton. I have heard of this critically acclaimed Broadway Musical for several years now and just watched it for my first time on Disney Plus a couple months ago. Honestly the first time I watched it I was not very impressed with it's unique hip-hop style. Nothing against bebop and rap, but with musicals I usually prefer the traditional harmony and show-tune format. Also it was very long at a resounding 3 hours and eventually lost my full attention half way in. However just a week ago I gave this musical another try as I am still in the midst of my fascination with the American Revolution. And this time I got a better understanding of the setting, the characters, and the remarkably interesting story of Alexander Hamilton.

The musical was written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda a major up-and-comer known for his musical work of In the Heights, Moana, Mary Poppins, and the Disney Star Wars films. Miranda was inspired to create this musical from reading Ron Chernow's 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton. I also hope to someday read this book, but for now I derive most my understanding of Hamilton's life from the musical. The play depicts Hamilton's ambitious rise to the top, as an orphan immigrant from the Caribbean islands who studies law in New York. From the on-set it is clear that his own ambition is his downfall as he establishes a rivalry with notable figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The musical also brings new light to his partnership with George Washington, which I was not aware that Hamilton was Washington's political right-hand man. The show also gives a deep insight into his personal life and his marriage to Eliza Schuyler.

Although I still probably wouldn't have this musical in my top 10 favorites, (not quite at the level of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, or even Greatest Showman) I am starting to enjoy it more and more. While the musical numbers mostly have a catchy be-bop style there are also elements of traditional show tune harmony. I especially enjoy the songs "Dear Theodisa" and "Quiet Uptown" with the beautiful singing of Phillipa Soo. However what I enjoy most about this musical is the in-depth historical account of the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton. So now just as I did with Ben Franklin and George Washington, I'm going to run thru the various phases of his life from beginning to end.

Early Life in the Caribbean

Alexander Hamilton was born in the Caribbean Islands of Nevis in 1755, in the city of Charlestown. He was born out of wedlock to a British/French mother named Rachel Faucette and a Scotsman lord named James Hamilton. However his father James quickly abandoned Alexander due to the scandalous affair and left his mother to raise him Alexander. She relocated to the Virgin Islands, and established a store in the city of Christansted, St. Croix. However in 1768 at the age of 13, Alexander's mother died of the yellow fever leaving him as an orphan.

As a young teenager Alexander found work as a clerk at a local import-export company. He quickly developed a knack for business trade and during this time he began an interest in reading books and writing. Although he was not properly educated he excelled early in the skill of writing, and in 1772 he published a letter in the Royal Danish-American Gazette which brought him great attention in the Caribbean. His essay pertaining to a hurricane that had hit the island of Nevis, was the catalyst that launched him to bigger things. The community leaders collected a fund to send Alexander to study abroad in New York.

Arrival and Education in New York

Alexander Hamilton arrived in Boston in 1772, then traveled to New York where he found residency with Hercules Mulligan (who was a member of the Sons of Liberty and later became a spy during the Revolutionary War). Alexander found work in the city as cargo merchant and enrolled in a preparatory school in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. During this time he took the liking of a very influential politician and revolutionist William Livingston (who later became governor of New Jersey from 1776-1790). It was perhaps thru this association that Hamilton was able to enroll in the prestigious King's College of New York in 1774 (which would later become the Ivy League school of Colombia).

During his time at Colombia University, Hamilton established a literary and debate society, that became the famous Philolexian Society (one of the oldest student groups in the country). He also began publishing political essays in opposition to British taxes and loyalist ideals. It was during this time that Hamilton partook in the patriotic fervor spreading throughout Boston, New York, and the colonies. He was more than eager to join the revolution in some capacity and establish a new legacy for his name. Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in mid 1775, Hamilton joined the New York militia and his law practice came to a pause as he began his military service with the Continental Army. 
 
Service in American Revolutionary War

Hamilton and the other students of King's College established the volunteer regiment known as the Hearts of Oak. He quickly transformed his interests away from legal practice and onto military tactics which brought him a promotion to captain. He later led a successful raid on British cannons, which established the Hearts of Oak as an artillery company. The regiment took part in defending the British Siege of Boston in 1776 as well as the victorious Continental victories at Trenton and Princeton in 1777. He later refused invitations to work for Nathaniel Greene and Alexander McDougall, however could not pass up a request from General Washington to become his aid as lieutenant colonel. 

Although Hamilton preferred to fight on the battlefields with glory and honor he quickly garnished the trust of General Washington as his chief staff aide. This was more office work, located in the general's headquarters, that required writing letters to Congress and other prominent leaders. He also wrote letters pertaining to secret intelligence as well as diplomatic emissaries to France. During this time he established a strong correspondence with his fellow aides-de-camp Marquis de Lafayette and John Laurens from South Carolina. In December of 1778 Hamilton supported John Laurens in a duel with General Charles Lee for slandering Washington's name.

Hamilton served for four years in Washington's aide-de-camp office, however he grew more and more frustrated to have a field command. This later led to arguments between Washington and Hamilton, which resulted in Alexander returning home to his wife Eliza. Hamilton continued to write to Washington after this asking for a field command, by which Washington would tell him he wasn't qualified enough. Eventually however Washington did give in, and assigned him the command of a light infantry battalion from New York. Hamilton aligned his battalions with the French armies to storm the British fort of Redoubts, during the Siege of Yorktown. The capture of this fort was the major turning point that caused the British surrender at Yorktown and ultimately the end of the war. Although the French played a bigger role in this battle, Hamilton finally had ascertained the field glory he was after.

Law Practice in New York

By March of 1782 with the war coming to an end, Hamilton resigned his position in the military and returned to New York to finish his study of law. Within six months he had passed the legal bar exam and accepted a post working for the New York Congress of Confederation. This was the new branch of congress that replaced the Continental Congress in ordinance with the Articles of Confederation. However despite his proud role to litigate for his new nation, Hamilton was an early critic of this constitutional government early on. He essentially felt it gave states too much independence from one another, and felt there should be more of a unified government.

During his legal practice in New York, Hamilton mostly defended loyalists and British soldiers. He helped re-instate King's College which took on it's new Ivy League name of Colombia College. He also in 1784 founded the Bank of New York, which has become the oldest still-existing bank in America. Alexander married Elizabeth Schuyler the wealthy daughter of General Philip Schuyler (who later became senator of New York from 1789-1791). During their residency in New York, Alexander and Eliza had 8 children, including their elder son Philip (who would die at the very young age of 19 in a duel).

Hamilton also worked vigorously to improve soldier funding and threatened congress that if they did not provide the funds the military could lead a coup. Washington however, always the level-headed compromiser, refused to use the army as leverage and found a middle ground between Congress and the military reparations. This however did not fully solve the agitation among Continental soldiers who continued to threaten the congress for better pay. Thus Hamilton furthered his call for a new federal government that could collect taxes and establish an army. Hamilton also introduced the idea of separating the three major branches of power; legislative, executive, and judicial. This paved the way for his key involvement in the US Constitution. 

Constitution and The Federalist Papers 

The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia in May of 1787 and was intended as an amendment to the Articles of Confederation Convention. However key figures such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton sought to establish an entirely new system of government. George Washington was chosen to preside over the assembly, and sided with Madison and Hamilton's desire to establish a new federal constitution. Hamilton was at odds with the other delegates from New York who favored more state authority. Furthermore Hamilton pushed for a president-for-life, whose power could be balanced by impeachment if need-be. This idea was also shared by John Adams, however ultimately was considered too similar to the British monarchy and rejected by James Madison and even the future president, Washington himself. 

While not fully satisfied with the draft of the Constitution, Hamilton still felt it a major improvement from the Articles of Confederation and thus signed it. He then worked tirelessly to urge other congressional delegates to ratify this new constitution. It was during this time in October of 1787 that Hamilton along with James Madison and John Jay began to publish a series of essays defending the new constitution known as the Federalist Papers. The essays were published anonymously in the Independent Journal under the pseudonym of Publius. Hamilton oversaw the project and wrote 51 essays while James Madison wrote 29 and John Jay wrote 5. This became the start of the nation's first political party, the Federalists. Hamilton finally achieved his goal when the Constitution was officially ratified on June 21st, 1788.

US Secretary of Treasury

With the establishment of the new United States government in 1789, George Washington was chosen as the first president. Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as the US Secretary of Treasury and also served as the president's chief consultant. It was during his tenure as Secretary that Hamilton established the administration of the government, much the reason he is considered a founding father. As the overseer of finance he established the first national bank, the public credit, the production of coinage, the establishment of currency, industrial manufacturing, as well as the trade of imports-and-exports. To contain coastal smuggling and piracy he established the Revenue Cutter Service which served as a coastal police force and the predecessor to the present day enforcement branch known as the US Coastal Guard.     

However despite his alliance with the most powerful and respected man in the nation, President Washington, Hamilton made many enemies during his tenure as secretary. This especially included Thomas Jefferson, who had returned from his post of ambassador to France to serve as Washington's Secretary of State. Jefferson and Hamilton disagreed on various political matters pertaining to federal vs state authority, federal taxes, and foreign intervention. In response to Hamilton's Federalist party, Jefferson and Madison formed the Democratic-Republican Party. The first major political opposition came in response to Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey which led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791. While the US Army was able to squash the resistance, it demonstrated new internal conflicts within the young nation.

The political arena reached an even greater tension during the French Revolutionary Wars. Hamilton felt the nation should stay neutral during France's military engagement with Britain, while Jefferson felt the US should offer support to France, in return for the help that France had provided the US during the American Revolutionary War. Ultimately however President Washington sided with Hamilton and felt the nation was not quite prepared for a foreign war. This led to the John Jay Treaty of 1795 which established American neutrality and opened trade with Britain once again. This agreement infuriated France as well as Thomas Jefferson who resigned his post as Secretary of State shortly after.

Shortly after the John Jay Treaty, Washington came to the decision that he would not seek a third term. This came to a great disappointing shock to Hamilton, who had hoped Washington would preside for life. Washington however had grown weary of the political infighting furthermore wanted to set a precedent against the abuse of executive power. Hamilton thus also resigned from the office of Secretary and helped write Washington's Farewell Address which he delivered in 1796.

While Hamilton left public office to return to the private sector, he was still very much invested in the political governing of the nation. He thus intended to coordinate Washington's replacement with the candidate of his choice, the popular general and Federalist from South Carolina, Thomas Pinckney. Hamilton definitely did not want to see his political rival Thomas Jefferson become president, yet furthermore he did not care for John Adams either. John Adams was Washington's vice president, a fellow Federalist, and the obvious choice to become the next president, however Hamilton disliked him for personal reasons. Nonetheless Hamilton's plot to see Pinckney become president completely backfired and both the candidates he disliked (Adams and Jefferson) became president and vice president. Pinckney finished 3rd in the presidential elections and Aaron Burr finished a distant fourth.
   
Post-Secretary Years and Major General

During the presidency of John Adams, Hamilton still played a very influential role in overseeing the government's administration. He kept a correspondence with George Washington in Mont Vernon which once again proved to be beneficial to Hamilton's cause. During the Quasi War of 1798, there was a great fear that Napoleon's France would invade the United States and thus President John Adams recalled George Washington to once again lead the American Army. Washington gladly accepted the post from his home in Mount Vernon on one condition that Hamilton serve as the major general.

Thus John Adams reluctantly appointed Hamilton as the major general who also unofficially assumed the role as chief commander after George Washington died in 1799. There was no question the influential power Hamilton had at this point, including the loyalty of Adam's Secretary of War James McHenry and Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. However fortunately John Adams was able to diffuse the whole situation by avoiding war with France, which was perhaps his greatest achievement as president.

The presidential election of 1800 marked the first time the president could run with the vice president of his choosing, bringing an end to the bi-partisan partnership of Jefferson and Adams. Adams sought to run for re-election while Jefferson ran against him as the candidate of the Democratic-Republican party. Once again Hamilton hoped to influence the election by putting Charles Pinckney (elder brother of Thomas) over John Adams. However this ultimately divided the Federalist party and resulted in the election of Thomas Jefferson, with the New York Senator, Aaron Burr as his vice president.

Duel with Aaron Burr

Hamilton's fortune had greatly begun to decline after resigning as Secretary of Treasury. In 1797 he became involved in one of the first major public sex scandals, when the Hamilton-Reynolds affair was made public. This affair with Maria Reynolds had actually happened from 1791 to 1792, by which Maria's husband learned of it and sought to bribe Alexander years later. The affair was closed by a money settlement however the scandal was made public by journalists that exposed Hamilton's honor and affected his reputation. Hamilton was able to make peace with his wife, yet this major scandal severely affected his chance to run for public office. Things grew even more dire for Hamilton when his own son, Philip died in a duel in 1801.

The death of Washington, can no doubt be accredited to Hamilton's sharp decline of favor. At this point he had lost control of his Federalist party, and had more enemies than allies including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and especially Aaron Burr. The rivalry with Aaron Burr and Hamilton dated as far back as their early association as law students in New York. However it reached an even worse state when Aaron Burr defeated Hamilton's father-in-law for New York Senator in 1791. In the presidential election of 1800, Hamilton considered Jefferson over Burr as the lesser of two-evils. Burr eventually loss favor with Jefferson and did not return as VP, furthermore he unsuccessfully ran for governor of New York in 1804. By this point Hamilton had made his distasteful opinion on Burr quite public, with various character attacks which ultimately led to an arranged duel.

I suppose it's fair to say that both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were on the downturn at this point, and an attack on their honor was the final straw. Furthermore they both had a strong dislike of the other for some time, and it appeared the duel was unavoidable. The practice of dueling was quite common in this age of honor, especially among the upper class. Hamilton refused to recant his slander on Burr's character and appear as a coward, so thus he accepted the duel. However he also planned to "throw away" his shot as an honorable gesture to withdraw from the challenge. The duel took place on July 11th, 1804 along the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey.

The account of the duel is rather mixed and the end result was that Hamilton's shot went above Burr's head, while Burr's shot fatally wounded him in the abdomen. Who shot first is subject to debate, and there are questions whether or not Hamilton intentionally threw away his shot and Burr intentionally ignored this gesture and went for the kill. Nonetheless Hamilton died the day after from internal bleeding on July 12th, 1804 at the young age of 49. His wife Eliza mourned his death, however preserved his legacy and went on to establish the first orphanage in New York. In regards to Hamilton's life it's clear to me now that he played a vital role in the establishment of our government, yet ultimately he was blinded by his own over-ambition.  

Biography of George Washington

For the first time in this blog I will be making a detailed study of the father of our country, George Washington. This recent fascination comes from my summer phase of playing Assassin's Creed III and reading books pertaining to the Colonial Age and the American Revolution. I have recently finished David McCullough's book 1776, which is a detailed account of the first year of the American Revolutionary War. This book focuses on three major campaigns during that year, including the Siege on Boston, the British invasion of New York, and the Continental victory at New Jersey. However for me the bigger take-away from this book was the in-depth insight into General George Washington's mind during the early stages of the war.

I think at this point I can comfortably say that the topic of the American Revolution is my favorite era pertaining to American history. Much more so than the Colonial Age, the Civil War, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Age, the Counterculture, and so forth. That is because this was an age of great thinkers and heroes alike, putting the philosophy of the Enlightenment into action. It was a very exciting and romantic period where a new mentality of patriotism was born, best emphasized by Patrick Henry's famous words, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death."

There are so many great stories and characters pertaining to this historical period, all of which proved vital to establishing America's independence and years later a new heritage. Consider the Continental leaders of the time such as Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, renowned public figures who were prepared to risk their lives to establish a new nation. Consider the patriots, the rebel rousers such as Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and Patrick Henry and the militia who began the uprising. Yet all of these revolutionary leaders and figures would have died in vain, had it not been for the military leadership of General George Washington.

As I often do with my historical studies, I first like to share what I have long known about the topic at hand. In regards to George Washington, as a lifelong American citizen, I cannot remember a time I did not know that name. His name is synonymous with the United States of America; the capital of the nation, the first president, his face on the dollar bill, streets and cities named after him, as well as the great state in the northwest. His character is celebrated as one of heroic righteousness, almost with god-like quality. There aren't many other figures throughout history as iconic as the story of George Washington. (Perhaps Julius Caesar comes to mind, a person who led both militarily and politically as Washington did). For the record I had both of these leaders as #1 and #2 on my list back in this 2011 post; Greatest Political Leaders.

So now in this post I'd like to give a full account of Washington's life. Just like I did with Ben Franklin I'll break it up into the defining phases of his life. He was born into wealth no doubt however demonstrated keen physical strength and a quality of humble leadership unlike most wealthy folk. Granted he was 6'2 and often commanded respect, yet he also carried himself always as a gentlemen with great honor. He established a public name for himself quite early at the age of 18 leading a regiment during the French and Indian War. After this he worked as a plantation farmer, married Martha, and served in public office until the onset of the American Revolution. The next two chapters of his life are very well known by which he led the Continental Army to victory and served as the first president of the United States.

Early Life in Virginia

It's going to be hard to summarize the life of Washington in just one post, and I will have to omit quite a bit of detail to complete this general study. I want to focus most my attention on his military leadership during the American Revolution War. Perhaps in the future I can make more detailed accounts pertaining to his early life in Virginia. In school I remember we were taught of Washington's early childhood righteousness as the boy who would never tell a lie. He was born in 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia to a very wealthy family who had prospered in land speculation and tobacco farming. His father Augustine was an important public figure in Virginia and George's elder brother Lawrence was his father's favorite heir apparent who inherited the Mount Vernon plantation in 1743.

George was not formally educated as a child, however he still displayed a keen interest in books and mathematics. He also displayed great physical demeanor in his teenage years and was an avid fox hunter and outdoorsman. Thru his passion for nature, he found work as a surveyor and helped explore the Shenandoah Valley in 1748. During this time Washington acquired most of his outdoor survival skills that would later become vital for his military career. Following the death of his elder brother Lawrence in 1752, George inherited Mount Vernon and turned his life towards one of public service. Thru his name and outdoor experience George was able to secure a commanding post of one of Virginia's militia regiments. 

Service in French and Indian War

When Washington assumed his first military post, the British and French were engaged in territorial hostilities. At the time the colonial militia still answered to the British crown and served as their necessary ground force. Washington's first significant assignment came in 1753 when he was appointed to warn the French and Iroquois tribes to vacate the Ohio Valley territory. He delivered the message at the French Fort Le Boeuf by which the French rejected his request and sent him home peacefully. The dangerous mission was one of Washington's first credits and later led to his promotion as second-in-command of the Virginia militia during the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1754.

The Battle of Jumonville Glen was an ambush of French soldier's by Washington's militia, that became his first military victory and the start of the French and Indian War. Thru this victory Washington was appointed as commander of the Virginia regiment and he quickly established base at Fort Necessity in Pennsylvania. However Fort Necessity lasted only a couple months and Washington was forced to surrender it to the French army on July 3rd. Washington later served under the British general Edward Braddock who was defeated yet again by the French in 1755 at the Battle of Monongahela. While Braddock was mortally wounded Washington protected the retreat of the army which regained his honor. He later resumed his role as commander of the Virginia Regiment and helped lead the final assault of the French stronghold of Fort Duquesne.

Plantation and Public office in Virginia

In 1759 George Washington married the wealthy widower and mother of two Martha Dandridge. Although they never had children together they both expanded their tobacco plantation on Mount Vernon and remained happily married for 40 years until death. During this time Washington moved way from his military service to one of plantation farmer yet also public office. In 1758 he assumed his first political office as a provincial representative of Frederick County, Virginia. Also during this time he got involved in the local branch of the Freemason society. Although he was often quite soft-spoken on political affairs he demonstrated opposition to British taxation in the 1760s as the fervor for patriotism began to arise.

Thru his military leadership and acquired wealth in tobacco, Washington quickly became a prominent figure in Virginia. He doubled the size of his Mount Vernon plantation and had nearly 100 slaves working for him. By the end of the French and Indian War he expressed his agitation with the British in regards to their taxation on the colonies yet also their proclamation line of 1763. This barrier established a reservation for Native Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains and prohibited colonialists from expanding further west. As an avid frontiersmen Washington surely saw this proclamation as a blockade to freedom. He further supported protests against British taxes and the eventual uprising that emerged in Boston in the early 1770s.

Revolutionary War Campaign

Now comes the bulk of this study and what I believe to be Washington's greatest claim to glory. It was in McCullough's book 1776 that I learned some very interesting truths pertaining to Washington's role in the American Revolutionary War. For starters he was very unqualified for the job, with only some prior experience in the French and Indian War. He did not have proper education and there were many other field generals much more suited for the post of leading the Continental Army. Yet Washington did possess key affluence over the most powerful of the colonial states, Virginia. Furthermore he demonstrated a natural character of leadership, which was why he was chosen as Commander-in-Chief by the Continental Congress in 1775. This was an honor that Washington himself confessed he was not deserving of, yet he promised to perform it diligently.

The American Revolutionary War began in the spring of 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. As this point the Massachusetts militia succeeded in driving the British army back to Boston however they were still not quite well organized. This lack of military discipline became apparent at the militia's defeat at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775. However despite this defeat the Patriotic morale was still high, and with Washington's arrival to Cambridge on July 2nd, the Siege of Boston was underway.

Washington began making his military plans on the outskirts of Boston establishing what was to no longer be a band of militia yet a proper continental army. He was aided by funding from Congress and a slew of accomplished staff officers such as General Charles Lee, Horatio Gates, Israel Putnam, Nathaniel Greene, Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, and Benedict Arnold. His campaign got off to a rocky start with the Continental defeat at Quebec under the leadership of Benedict Arnold. However that winter, Henry Knox was able to acquire the necessary artillery to begin their siege. On March 9th, Washington began his attack at night, and successfully drove out the British. By March 17th nearly 9000 British soldiers and Loyalists (known as Tories) evacuated the city, and thus Boston was won by the Continentals.

However this was just the beginning of the war and brought on the wrath of the British monarchy under King George III. As Washington partook in the historic Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia the British armies were landing in New York City. Eager to squash the rebellion King George III sent 400 ships to New York City, with 30,000 soldiers under the command of William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, and Henry Clinton. Washington planned to defend the city however the sight of this invasion must of struck horror on par to the Greek invasion of Troy. Washington's decision to defend the city is often considered one of his worst tactical choices. The Continental Army was not only greatly outnumbered but also they did not have any navy which was vital to control the city of New York along the Hudson River and the New York Harbor.

The Battle of Long Island on August 27th of 1776 brought a devastating loss for Washington's army and gave the British full control of New York City. Washington was forced to retreat and loss several more skirmishes at the White Plains and Fort Washington. The city of New York was set ablaze, most likely by patriots, however the British quickly assumed control of the destruction and established the city as their new stronghold. Meanwhile Washington was forced to retreat to New Jersey facing a harsh winter with very low morale. Furthermore General Charles Lee, often considered the tactical mastermind, and Washington's likely replacement was captured by the British that winter.

However on Christmas Night of 1776 Washington devised a surprise attack on the fortification of Trenton, New Jersey. This fort was controlled by the Hessian, who were German mercenaries working for the British army. Washington famously crossed the icy Delaware river and completely surprised the Hessian stronghold. Within an hour the city was secured by the Continental Army, however knowing the British would respond, Washington did not linger. Instead he out-maneuvered the British army and led another successful attack on the city of Princeton. This marked a major morale victory for the Continental Army who were able to establish a stronghold in New Jersey and drive the British back to New York City.

In the summer of 1777 British General John Burgoyne led a new campaign from Canada into New York known as the Saratoga Campaign while General Howe led a campaign into Philadelphia. By this point Benjamin Franklin had begun his diplomatic relations with France to acquire their much needed military and naval alliance. The French sent the Marquis de Lafayette to help command Washington's Continental Army where they met with Howe's army that fall. However Washington's army was defeated at the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown which allowed the British army to occupy the capital of Philadelphia. This was yet another tactical blunder on Washington's resume, however the Continental morale was restored with the victory at the Battle of Saratoga led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold.

That winter as the British occupied the city of Philadelphia, Washington moved his army to Valley Forge. Morale was once again low that winter due to harsh living conditions and many had once again called for the resignation of Gen Washington. However by March of 1778 supplies had begun to arrive from Congress and Washington had enlisted the help of the Prussian Baron von Steuban to further discipline the soldiers. By th
is point the French alliance with the Americans was official and the Continental Army came out of the winter fully prepared to engage the British once again. With the upcoming arrival of the French navy the British decided to evacuate Philadelphia and return to their stronghold in New York City. On their return route to New York they were attacked by Gen Washington at the Battle of Monmouth, yet still able to reach their destination.

With the arrival of the French navy, it appeared the momentum was in Washington's favor. He had even established a successful spy network known as Culper Ring in New York City. However in a unique twist of fortune, one of his most ranking officers Benedict Arnold turned on him and planned to deliver the base of West Point to the British. This plan was luckily intercepted by the Culper Ring and Benedict Arnold was forced to flee for his life. He served for the British army for the remainder of the war, and then lived the rest of his days in exile forever associated as the utmost of traitors.

By the winter of 1778-1779 the British began another campaign in the southern region of Georgia under the leadership of Henry Clinton. They eventually captured the city of Savannah, Charleston, and Camden by 1780. During this time Washington had stationed himself back in New Jersey and ordered a vicious campaign to eradicate the Iroquois in the north who were causing trouble. By June of 1780 despite new alliances with France and Spain the British had secured the southern theater of America as well as their stronghold of New York.

On March of 1781 the Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation which served as the first American constitution. Meanwhile Washington was reinforced by the French General Rochambeau and began a campaign in Virginia. Washington no doubt wanted to end the war in New York, where he had been humiliated in 1776, however he must have saw a greater advantage in Virginia under the command of British General Cornwallis. With the council of the French General Lafayette and Rochambeau Washington planned a coordinated attack on the Chesapeake Bay. They began their glorious march on Yorktown in mid-August and arrived on October 19th, 1781. By this point the French had already secured naval control of the Chesapeake Bay under the French leadership of  Admiral de Grasse. Washington thus led his ground force to a decisive victory at the Siege of Yorktown, which ultimately marked the end of the British occupancy.

Following the British defeat at Yorktown, the major battles had reached a standstill. Hostilities were still fierce among loyalists and patriots however by 1782-1783 British armies had begun to evacuate and return to their homeland. By Sept of 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed which ultimately brought an end to the American Revolutionary War. The British finally evacuated New York City on Nov 25th, and Gen Washington gladly took possession of the city he was unable to defend. This was no doubt Washington's proudest moment to return to New York City as the victorious leader of the American Revolution. He resigned shortly after as commander-in-chief and returned to his wife and home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

1st President of America

After nearly 10 years away at war, George Washington was very eager to return to his wife and home at Mount Vernon, Virginia. He intended to further his plantation business however he was never free from his obligations to the new nation. After the war the United States had established the Articles of Confederation as their government. However this was a government of elected representatives free of an executive leader. Also this government did not establish a federal union, yet was more so a link of states which Washington was opposed to. The outbreak of Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786 demonstrated the problems with the Articles of Confederation and called for a new federal Constitution.

In May of 1787 Washington was chosen once again as a delegate of Virginia to attend another major convention in Philadelphia. He presided over the assembly very adamant that the constitution establish a strong national government. The document was written mostly by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. It was signed in Independence Hall on September 17th, 1787. George Washington was chosen as the nation's first executive president, while John Adams was chosen as his vice president. The following year Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York City which had become the nation's capital overseeing the Articles of Confederation. The capital was later located to Philadelphia where he resided in the president's house. 

As great of a general as Washington was he was even a greater statesman. This was because he presided over ever political matter with a non-partisan agenda. Furthermore he was very invested in the establishment of the new nation having fought for it's independence for so long. He was humble in his authority and preferred to be called Mr. President with no royal ties. While Washington is usually identified as an independent on political matter's, it's probably fair to say he favored more government over less. Perhaps his greatest counselor was Alexander Hamilton, who fought in the war with Washington and was appointed as the Treasurer of State. Hamilton was perhaps the most influential figure in the early establishment of the government, favoring a strong federal system. 

Of Washington's cabinet were mostly figures who shared the Federalist viewpoint. This included John Adams, as his vice president, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox as the Secretary of War, and Edmund Randolph as the Attorney General. The only leading figure in opposition to the Federalist viewpoint was Thomas Jefferson who favored more state independence and feuded quite frequently with Alexander Hamilton. During Washington's 2 term presidency he oversaw the establishment of the First National Bank, a new coinage branch, as well as a new customs branch. He dealt with criticism early on due to the rise of taxes to pay for the war, yet also his neutrality in France's Revolutionary Wars. 

Washington squashed various rebellions pertaining to taxes such as the Whiskey Rebellion and he oversaw the Northwest Indian War. Also during Washington's presidency was the establishment of a new capital city in the District of Colombia to be named after the president himself. Under the Residence Act of 1790, the construction of the nation's capital including the White House began. It was not completed until 1800 by which John Adam's became the first president to reside in the new capital. Washington therefore spent most of his presidency in Philadelphia. After two terms in office Washington had grown weary of the politics and formally resigned in 1796 with his Farewell Address. In relinquishing his power, Washington established a mandate that the executive branch was not to be held more than two terms, and thus be transferred via elections. 

In 1797 Washington returned to his plantation in Mount Vernon yet even in retirement he stayed active in business and the nation's affairs. He was chosen by John Adams to once again command the American forces during the rising tensions with France, which later became referred to as the Quasi-War of 1798 (mostly an unofficial naval dispute). At this point Washington's physical health had begun to deteriorate however he was still very sharp. However in 1800 he suffered from a terrible attack of bloodletting which led to his rather instant death at the age of 67. His death was a devastating loss for the nation, however his work had been complete and his legacy became the mountaintop of America. Washington was no doubt a flawed and privileged character yet he was also a very natural and righteous leader. His role in the establishment of this nation that today has become the most powerful nation, is a further testament to his glorious life.

Biography of Benjamin Franklin

I recently zipped thru the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and find myself very inspired by his life account. Unfortunately the book does not provide Franklin's full account, yet ends at 1957 before his experience regarding the American Revolution. Franklin died before he was able to give the full account of his life. Nonetheless the book is very well written and takes the reader inside the genius mind of America's most iconic founders. In this post I'm not going to make a book review, yet rather use the content to further elaborate on his complete biography.

Ben Franklin is one of America's most celebrated historical figures, a founding father alongside Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Hamilton. However he was so much more than a revolutionary leader, yet a total polymath in the likes of Leonardo DiVinci. He was a scholar in many subjects ranging from printing, business, politics, science, philosophy, writing, and diplomacy. His biography is arguably one of the most interesting and accomplished figures in American history. He lived from 1706-1790 and was already very well celebrated by the onset of the American Revolution.

Early life in Printing

What's most interesting about the life of Benjamin Franklin is he was entirely a self-made man, born without any special privileges. His quick rise to greatness is the embodiment of the American dream. He was born in Boston in 1706 to a middle class upbringing, and took a quick liking to books and academics. At the age of 12 he worked as a printing apprentice for his brother and also began writing for the local newspaper under the alias "Silence Dogood". His natural talent in the business of printing press and journalism quickly brought him at odds with his elder brother and eventually led to their parting ways.

By the age of 17 he decided to start completely fresh on his own, by relocating to the city of Philadelphia. He quickly found work in a local printing shop and was later commissioned to help establish the local newspaper; The Pennsylvania Gazette. By the age of 21 Franklin had already secured an honorable living and established a society of philosophical businessmen and political leaders known as the Junto. By the late 1720s, thru his business dealings and social circles Franklin found himself among the most prominent figures of Philadelphia and had become a Freemason grand master of the Philadelphia jurisdiction by 1734. During this time he married Deborah Reed and had two children and one out-of-wedlock child, William Franklin.


Business and Political Endeavors in Pennsylvania

Thru his quick rise in the printing business, Franklin became one of the leading figures of the city of Philadelphia during the 1730s. He had established his own publishing business, the Pennsylvania Gazette which brought him further wealth and recognition. Thru this success he engaged in societal improvements to the city, such as it's first library in 1731 (the first library in America). Also he established a fire department in Philadelphia in 1736, and later the University of Pennsylvania in 1740. Aside from his business endeavors he was appointed the public office position of postmaster in 1737.

During this time Franklin also established great regard for his writing and publications. In 1731 he created one of America's first magazine publications, known as Poor Richard's Almanac. Under the pseudonym of "Richard Saunders", Franklin wrote on various topics in this publication ranging from meteorology forecasts, astronomy, astrology, poems, puzzles, cartoons, humor, politics, and philosophical ideals. This publication quickly became popular and was eventually distributed throughout all thirteen colonies, which brought Franklin further widespread recognition.

Scientific experiments

By the 1740s having secured sufficient financial means, Franklin began engaging in more leisure hobbies, including scientific experiments. By the age of 11, as an avid swimmer, Franklin had already established himself as an inventor with his idea of swim-fins. However in his later adult years he embarked on a series of scientific inventions for the betterment of society. Perhaps his most iconic was his kite experiment that established electricity thru lightning. This scientific discovery became one of the earliest precursors to electricity and also gave way to his popular invention of the lightning rod.

Alongside his famous lightning rod, Franklin made various other scientific inventions and improvements. There was his Franklin Stove which helped improved indoor heating, his musical instrument of the glass harmonica, and also his invention of bifocals for short-sided reading. Franklin also made many scientific improvements such as in the use of street lamps, odometers, meteorology, oceanography, and demographics. For his discovery in electricity Franklin received the highest recognition of the Royal Society in 1753 as well as honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale.

Diplomatic Endeavors 

From the early years of his printing business Franklin established foreign business relations in Europe, notably in London. Thru his contributions to the field of electricity he had become well known and celebrated throughout Europe by the 1750s. In 1757, Franklin relocated to the city of London where he served as a representative to the Pennsylvania assembly and also continued his scientific experiments. During this time Franklin began to debate with English officials over the desired liberties of the Colonial states.

At the start of the American Revolution, in 1776 Franklin was sent by the Continental Congress as the very essential diplomatic ambassador to France. The US knew they would need France as an ally in order to defeat Great Britain, and thus Franklin's post was of the most crucial importance to obtaining independence. He was also the ideal candidate for the position due to his various stints and relations he had established throughout Europe. By this point Franklin was already well accomplished as a philosophical leader of the Enlightenment. Therefore the practice of diplomacy came quite naturally and he became very popular during his time in France. He also simultaneously established an alliance with Sweden and thus served as the first ambassador to Sweden.   

By 1778 Franklin had successfully secured the necessary military alliance with France which brought the Continental Army much needed naval support. In 1783 he oversaw the Treaty of Paris which brought an end to the American Revolutionary War with Great Britain. What's especially interesting of Franklin's time in France was the growing social upheaval towards the French monarchy. Benjamin Franklin established diplomatic relations with both the monarchy and the leaders of the French Revolution such as Honore Gariel Riqueti. Franklin's peer, John Adams, was not so warmly received by the radical French ideals, however Thomas Jefferson on the other hand embraced France's democratic revolution. By 1785 with the war over and America recognized as an independent state, Franklin returned to America, and Jefferson replaced him as ambassador during the French Revolution.


American Independence and Pennsylvania Governor

In 1775 Benjamin Franklin was appointed as a delegate for Pennsylvania during the historical sessions of the Second Continental Congress. In a way he arrived as the elder of the committee, already vastly accomplished in philosophical matters. This being a matter of political ideals his opinion was most valued and revered. Although he was sick during a good portion of the discussion, he served as a key member of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence. He shared this responsibility with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Franklin's greatest contribution was that the newly established state not only be separated from England but also from the church.

After the Declaration of Independence, Franklin was appointed as the first Postmaster General in 1775. In this position Franklin quickly established a postal system throughout the colonies, however his appointment was short lived due to his reassignment as ambassador to France. After the war was finished, Franklin served once again as a delegate for Pennsylvania during the signing of the US Constitution in 1787. He thus holds the distinct honor of signing the four key documents of American independence (The Declaration of Independence, The Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution). It is for this significant contribution during the American Revolution that Ben Franklin is considered one of America's most important founding fathers after George Washington.

In his final years during the established republic of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin served as president of Pennsylvania from 1785-1788. This office served essentially as the governor of the state by which he had contributed so much to. He also however continued to engage in federal matters, including the overseeing of the Philadelphia Convention where the US Constitution was signed. By this point Franklin's health had begun to deteriorate and he took a minimal role in public affairs. He died in 1790 at the age of 84 accomplishing more than any American could ever dream of. 

Franklin's Philosophical Beliefs

What I enjoyed most about reading Benjamin Franklin's autobiography was interpreting his philosophical ideals. From understanding his biography and reading his own written words it seems quite apparent that Franklin embodied the ideals of liberty. That is personal liberty, financial liberty, religious liberty, and ultimately American liberty. This was made quite clear with his early life decision to relocate to Philadelphia where he could make a name for himself. By leaving his birthplace of Boston, he stepped out into the world entirely as a free man full of great ambition. He was fortunate to have acquired a trade (press-printing) early in his life and used it to prosper, however regardless of this apprenticeship, this was a very gifted man who would of succeeded in almost anything.

Franklin is no doubt considered one of the key figures of the Age of Enlightenment, on par with other notable philosophers of the time such as Voltaire, Immanuel Kant, John Locke, and David Hume. This new era of thinking was a product of the Scientific Revolution that gave way to a separation between the church and the state. Many of these thinkers were not atheist per say, yet challenged the teachings of the church with a new scientific approach of reasoning. Benjamin Franklin associated himself as a Deist which means he believed there was a Supreme Being, however it did not belong to one particular man-made religion.

In his autobiography Franklin clearly mentions his religious beliefs as well as his 13 virtues for moral perfection. His religious belief is that there is a supreme being whom should be adored and honored thru good deeds onto others. He established his 13 virtues at the age of 20 and practiced them throughout his life. I've listed them here verbatim yet also provided my summary of each in parenthesis;

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness, drink not to Elevation (Self-control)
2. Silence: Speak not but what might benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversation (Speak with passion when you have passionate things to say)
3. Order: Let all things have their places, let each part of your business have it's time (Organization)
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought, perform without fail what you resolve (See your tasks through to completion)
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others and yourself; waste nothing (Financial control) 
6. Industry: Lose no time, be always employed in something useful, cut off unnecessary actions (Efficiency) 
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit, think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly (Act by truth and honor)
8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty (Obey the political and moral laws) 
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes, forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve (Stay balanced and neutral)  
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation (Shower, wash, clean)
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed by trifles or common and unavoidable accidents (Inner Peace)
12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or injury of your own or another person's reputation (Sexual Purity)
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates (Faith) 

Franklin admits that it is impossible to achieve all 13 virtues at all times since no human is perfect, however they still provide a very righteous course. Aside from his business and political affairs, Franklin was very much a righteous person with good ideals. He was not only an academic enthusiast yet also an admirer of sport and a great swimmer in his youth. He practiced vegetarianism, was against slavery, and was especially for the advancement of the communal society. This was no doubt a very gifted man who contributed so much to humanity in his lifetime. 

Book Review: The Crucible

Carrying on with my summer of books pertaining to the Colonial Age, I recently zipped thru Arthur Miller's The Crucible in just two days. Before I finished this book, I was familiar with the 1993 movie starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day Lewis, and knew it was set during the Salem Witch Trials, however was not familiar with the general story. It was not until just last year that I discovered that this was actually written as a play. During my study of famous playwrights I came to understand that this play by Arthur Miller was intended as a comparison to the present day political persecutions organized by Senator Joe McCarthy. During the Red Scare in 1953 McCarthyism sought to eradicate anyone with Communist association, which Arthur Miller happened to have.

Miller certainly did his historical research in this story and focuses primarily on several real characters who played a major part in the Salem Witch Trials. He does however take some liberties by establishing an affair between the young Abigail Williams and the farmer John Proctor. He also raises Abigail's age while lowering John Proctor's. The entire story takes place in four settings (four acts) and is mostly pure dialogue. This is probably why I was able to zip thru this book in a couple days. It was a very engaging story full of drama, twists, and poetic dialogue.

The Synopsis

This historical fiction is perhaps the most in-depth portrayal of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The first act begin's in the house of Reverend Parris who is horrified by his bedridden/bewitched daughter, Betty. He is however hesitant to deem it as witchcraft and begin's questioning his niece Abigail Williams. Abigail later confesses that she and some of the other girls partook in a ritual dance and she implicates their native servant Tituba as the ring leader. Picking up on this the Putnam family urges Rev Parris to make the case public despite the hysteria they all know it wall cause. The child is later examined by Rev John Hale who is able to bring Betty back to consciousness and forces a confession out of her. Both her and Abigail accuse various other names in the town that are involved in witchcraft. However the farmer John Proctor is aggrieved by this sudden madness and senses a plot with the young Abigail, whom he once had an affair with.

In Act Two, the farmer John Proctor informs his wife Elizabeth of the growing madness within the town. Elizabeth is still very troubled by her husband's affair with Abigail more so than the witch-trials. However when Rev Hale arrives to inform them that Elizabeth has been accused, she quickly determines it as a plot by Abigail. All three come to the suspicion that Abigail seeks to rid her lover's wife so that she can be with John Proctor. However that same night Elizabeth is arrested on suspicion of witchcraft, much to the anger of John Proctor. He screams profanities at the authorities as they take her wife away in chains.

In Act Three John Proctor intends to confront the authorities of the meeting house with other townspeople such as Giles Corey and Francis Nurse. Here begins a great testimony, a back-and-forth legal argument, between the judges and the husband's of the accused. Proctor insists the whole thing is a fraud while his rivals such as Rev Parris insist that John Proctor is a poor Christian. The situation grows further complex when Abigail and the other girls continue to have convulsions, accusing their rivals. Proctor continues to claim the girls are pretending, until suddenly his own maid, Mary Warren suddenly turns on him. At this point John Proctor is at a loss and damns the entire court which leads to his arrest.

The final fourth act is a brief one and pertains to the imprisoned accused awaiting their execution. This includes the righteous Rebecca Nursa, the wicked Sarah Good, and both Mr. and Mrs. Procter. However Elizabeth Proctor is granted an amnesty due to her sudden pregnancy. At this point John Proctor considers to confess so that he may be free, however struggles with the dishonor brought upon his name. While he has indeed guilty as an adulterer he is not guilty of witchcraft and eventually refuses to sign his confession. At this point he famously declares that it is his name and he may not have another one. At this point he is taken to the gallows with the others to be hanged.
  

The Characters

Reverend Parris: He is the reverend of the town of Salem, which in those days was on par with being the mayor. He is however accused of having deep pockets and more interested in money and power than he is of preaching the good word. The entire scandal begins in his house which causes him much concern.

Abigail Williams: She is the adopted niece of Rev Parris, and from the get-go she has a malicious way about her. She confesses that she has partook in witchcraft and quickly accuses Tituba and others. She also has a vested interest in seeing the wife of John Proctor be murdered, so that she can be with the man she loves dearly.

Tituba: She is the native house-maid of Rev Parris from Barbados. She quickly confesses to being a witch and out of fear she implicates others.

The Putnams: They also have an inflicted daughter and persuade Rev Parris to make the matter public. They are at political odds with other families in the town such as the Nurses and the Proctors.

Rev John Hale: He is the out-of-town specialist in the bewitched, and quickly notices a foul plot at work here. While favoring the court of law, he finds the Proctor defense to be more agreeable than the young girls' accusations. Unable to convince the authorities he later damns the court as unjust. 

John Proctor: He is an honorable farmer yet with a scandalous past, having an affair with his house-maid of the time Abigail. He seeks however to right his wrongs with his wife, Elizabeth and bring a quick end to this fraudulent case that continues to intensify. 

Mary Warren: She is the house-maid of the Proctor family who is in cahoots with Abigail and partakes in their secretive witch dance. At the bidding of her master, John Proctor, she attempts to recant her accusations, before turning on him yet again and openly accusing him. Under the influence of Abigail, she plays the tipping point to John Proctor's sudden demise.

Elizabeth Proctor: The righteous yet conflicted wife of John Proctor. She is upset with his past relations with Abigail and furthermore with the sudden accusations. She is able to escape her sentencing due to her pregnancy.

Rebecca Nurse: The old righteous lady of the town who is accused of murdering the 7 Putnam children thru spectral evidence. Perhaps the most honorable of all the accused she declares her innocence and dies with grace.

Deputy Danforth: He leads the legal proceedings with intense questioning directed at John Proctor, Gileys Corey, and Francis Nurse. Despite open consideration to both sides he is quick to deter any claims of poor judgement. The claim of fraudulence reflects poorly upon his authority, which is more so his motivation and ultimately disallows a fair trial.


My Review

I can't recall a time I've read a play like this before and can certainly a book that I have read so quickly. Despite it being quite brief at only 143 pages, I was truly engaged with every word, from beginning to end. Miller manages to capture the essence of the Puritan life during the late 1600s with proper Old English. The dialogue is very similar to The Scarlet Letter, maybe not quite as good as Hawthorne's masterpiece, yet still very poetic. After reading this engaging story I want to now see the movie and especially the play all the more now.

After reading and watching multiple accounts of the Salem Witch Trials, including Stacy Shiff's book "The Witches" and watching the 2003 film starring Kirstie Alley, it was this story that gave me the best understanding of the event. Granted Arthur Miller took many liberties with the event, he is clearly claiming that the entire trial was a hoax driven by the popular young Abigail Williams. It was her and many other young girls who were the cause of this sudden inquest into witchcraft, and it can certainly be claimed that perhaps they were just seeking attention as young girls often do. Most likely Abigail was too young to be driven by love, however her motives could have easily been for personal gain.

Whether the bewitched girls were truly possessed or were pretending, what's even more clear in this book is the stubbornness of the court. Once the accusations had been made by the court, to confront their authority was to confront the nature of God. Therefore these judges were clearly biased in hearing any case that even slightly deterred from the righteousness of God. In this theocratic stubbornness they wrongfully tried and sentenced 19 people to die, which the majority later confessed was malpractice. The events of the Salem Witch Trial marked the turning point of witch-hunts yet more so the end of a theocratic government. Miller's book makes a brilliant assessment regarding the abuse of legal power, which was certainly evident during McCarthy's Communist hunt of the 1950s.