Unit 2: New Nation, 1760-1820
UNITED/DIVIDED
“The Liberty Song”
words by John Dickinson, tune “Heart of Oak,” 1768
America’s first patriotic song composed to protest the Townshend Act taxes.
Lyrics
“Free America”
tune of “The British Grenadier,” 1774
A warning to Americans not to bow to tyrants and end up like ancient Greece and Rome.
Lyrics| Recording
“Chester”
William Billings, 1778
A popular patriotic song by one of America’s first professional musicians.
Recording
“Rights of Woman”
tune of “God Save the King,” 1795
An unusually early statement of women’s rights.
“The Desponding Negro”
William Reeve, text by John Collins, 1792
An early anti-slavery song, which tries to arouse compassion.
"Jefferson and Liberty”
Irish tune, 1801
This Irish tune, popular in America, gained this set of lyrics to mark the end of Sedition Act.
Lyrics
WAR AND PEACE
“As Near Beauteous Boston Lying”
Tune "Hosier's Ghost,"
Traditional, 1774
Ballad of the Boston Tea Party.
Lyrics
“Yankee Doodle”
Traditional, 1770s
British made up the song to mock colonial troops, who turned around and adopted it with pride.
Lyrics| Recording
“The Rebels”
Captain Smythe, 1778
A Tory song expressing loyalty to the crown in the face of the “rebels.”
“The Old Woman Taught Wisdom” (The World Turned Upside Down)
Traditional, 1766
An allegorical plea for America and England to settle their differences.
Lyrics
WORK
“Rolling Stone”
Mr. Henry Purcell, text by D’Urfrey 1695
(published in America in 1800)
A country “bumpkin” wishes to leave the country and to seek fame and fortune in the big city.
HOME
“Address to the Ladies”
Traditional, 1767
A song urging women to conserve and buy “home-grown” American goods.
“Johnny’s Gone for a Soldier”
Traditional, based on an Irish tune, 1770s
A woman laments her lover’s service in the army.
Lyrics
MOVING ALONG
“Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
c. 1700s
A modern folk song with roots in an African American rowing song/spiritual.
Lyrics
FAITH AND IDEALS
“Wayfaring Stranger”
Traditional, 1780s
A “white spiritual,” a folk hymn expressing a longing for home in the midst of hard times.
Lyrics
“The President’s March” and “Hail Columbia”
words by Joseph Hopkinson; Philip Phile, 1798
The U.S.’s unofficial “national anthem” written to foster unity during John Adams’ term
Lyrics| Recording
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Unit walk-through:
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