Week 23 of 32 • Page 4
Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Roger Sherman Roger Sherman is often overlooked when studying the American Revolution, but he played an important role in creating the revolutionary government and securing American independence from Great Britain. Sherman was born in Massachusetts in 1721. He began working at an early age after studying the techniques of surveying land. He also trained to become a cordwainer, a person who makes goods and products from leather. After his father’s death, Sherman moved with his family to Connecticut. Sherman was known to be hardworking, dedicated to service, and extremely sensible. These traits led to his appointment as the surveyor for New Haven and Litchfield counties in Connecticut. Sherman became interested in politics while working as a county surveyor. He taught himself law and became a lawyer in 1754. Sherman served as a member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives and the General Assembly. Sherman opposed the acts and restrictions passed by Great Britain in the colonies. He believed the colonists should have an equal voice in Parliament. Following the passage of the Tea Act in 1773, he stated that, “no laws bind the people but such as they consent to be Governed by.” Because of his beliefs and dedication to the colonies, Sherman was selected to represent Connecticut at the First Continental Congress. He worked diligently in support of American independence. He served as a member of the Committee of Five and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Sherman also helped write the Articles of Confederation and served on multiple committees during the war. His ideas and perseverance helped form the Revolutionary government.
Portrait of Roger Sherman by Ralph Earl, c. 1775
Primary Source Analysis: The Minutes of the New Government The following text contains excerpts from the Journals of the
____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 2. What is the purpose of this entry? ______________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3. How does it help you understand the events that took place? _______ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Nov. 15, 1777 A copy of the confederation being made out, and sundry small verbal amendments preserving made in the diction, without altering the sense, the same was agreed to, and is as follows: Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, between the States of … Ordered, That the committee appointed to revise and arrange the articles of confederation, have three hundred copies printed and lodged with the secretary, to be subject to the future orders of
Continental Congress, 1774-1789. These journals were kept to record the day-to-day activities and decisions of the new government. Read the primary source and answer the analysis questions. July 2, 1776 The Congress resumed the consideration of the resolution agreed to by and reported from the committee of the whole; and the same being read, was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion between them, and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the declaration on independence. Write this excerpt in your own words. ___________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ What is the purpose of this entry?______________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ How does it help you understand the events that took place?______ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ July 4, 1776 Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the declaration; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair. Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that the committee of the whole Congress have agreed to a Declaration, which he delivered in… Ordered, That the declaration be authenticated and printed. That the committee appointed to prepare the declaration, superintend and correct the press. That copies of the declaration be sent to the several assemblies, conventions and committees, or councils of safety, and to the several commanding officers of the continental troops; that it be proclaimed in each of the United States, and at the head of the army … 1. Write this excerpt in your own words. ___________________________
• Connecticut, • New York, • New Jersey, • Pennsylvania, • Delaware,
• Maryland, • Virginia,
• New Hampshire, • Massachusetts Bay, • Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
• North Carolina, • South Carolina, • Georgia.
Congress; and that the articles of confederation, as now agreed to, be entered on the journal… Write this excerpt in your own words. _ ___________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ What is the purpose of this entry?______________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ How does it help you understand the events that took place?______ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
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