Themes in American History

Fraunces Tavern is part of historic New York that is still operating in New York City.  The tavern is located on the corner of Pearl and Broad Streets in lower Manhattan.  The ground floor still operates as a restaurant and bar and the upper floors are a museum operated by the New York chapter of the Sons of the Revolution.

The Long Room is the most famous room in the Tavern.  This is where General George Washington gave a farewell address to his officers at the end of the Revolutionary War.  During the American Revolution New York was captured and held by the British.

The Long Room

When the British retreated on November 25, 1783, Washington and his troops marched into New York City victorious.  Evacuation Day, as it is known, was celebrated in New York up until World War I, at which point America’s alliance with Great Britain undermined the celebration.

The complete list of who was in attendance to hear the General’s heartfelt goodbye is unknown.  Most of the information that we have regarding that day and Washington’s words comes from the journal of Benjamin Tallmadge, who was in attendance.  Tallmadge recorded in his journal, which is on display, the words of Washington at the request of his children.  Historians will never know for certain whether or not what Tallmadge recorded were Washington’s exact words but his description of the moving event helps to paint  a picture of what it must have felt like to stand in that room on December 4, 1783.  Tallmadge records Washington as saying,

With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable. I shall feel obliged if each of you will come and take me by the hand.

Tallmadge recalled that Washington was quite moved and emotional during his brief remarks.  Washington certainly felt a connection with the soldiers who had served with him through the long years of the war.

There are several other artifacts from the colonial period that are on display in the museum.  The museum does a good job of explaining how taverns were integral in the political and commercial activity of the city.  Taverns were a place where leaders met to discuss matters.  Samuel Fraunces, the proprietor of the Tavern, was a supporter of independence and allowed the Sons of Liberty to meet at his establishment.  The focus of the museum is very narrow with lots of information about the history of the Tavern and how it functioned in colonial society.  There is little about women or daily colonial life in New York.  There is also little mention of slavery in colonial New York.  The thrust of the focus of the museum is on the period prior to 1799, when New York began gradual abolition.  There is one example of a birth certificate that was issued to a freed slave, Cato Ramsey.  According to the text panel that accompanies this document, Fraunces Tavern was the location of trials that granted freedom to enslaved African Americans by British officials.  Freed African Americans with a documented birth certificate were then able to travel to England or join the British Army.  From my visit this appears to be the only reference to slavery in colonial New York in the museum.

Another interesting artifact in the museum is the lead tail from the statue of King George III on a horse that used to stand in Bowling Green only a few short blocks from Fraunces Tavern.  The statue of the King was pulled down by the colonists and melted down to make musket balls for the Continental Army.

Fraunces Tavern is worth the trip downtown to get a glimpse into New York at the time of the American Revolution.  Once inside the museum it is easy to forget the 21^st century world outside and gain a better understanding of the hustle and bustle of 18^th century New York.

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After the American Revolution many cities started to develop, this allowed man y business enterprise to form. Some of those cities that grew because a strong national government was formed were Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.  Before they became cities they were small towns trying to foster growth, this motive for growth allowed small towns to become cities. They competed against each other by creating incentives lure many merchants. Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit were small cities that had no direction but to become megacities. They looked to other cities like New York, Baltimore, and Boston for consult. The main cities they looked for help were Boston and New York.

Boston and New York were the main cities that many small towns looked at for help to grow. Both cities were similar in many ways. New York and Boston were formed during the colonial era before   the American Revolution. New York City and Boston were located near the port because their access to the ocean was vital to many merchants. What is really amazing is that their origins started because merchants wanted to have an area that allowed business to operate. Because of their business friendly atmosphere the British Empire saw how economically important they are to the crown. But there to response to the Crown activity in their daily affairs makes them different.

Even though Homberger focused on how important New York is to America history, Chaudacoff sees Boston played the most important role to America history. After the crown repealed the Townshend Act many cities stop protesting except Boston, Boston sought that welfare of its people were treated appropriately. In New York City, merchants had the final decision while in Boston it was the collective decision of townspeople. That is why Chaudacoff writes that many people lost interest in Boston due to its expensive taxes. That is why many people did not stop the protest. They were given taxes that they did not like or voted on. Boston became the center where hatred and resistance toward the crown was persistent. They also became center of the crown punishment on spread fear among the colonist if they provoked the king. But what really separate Boston from New York or any other city was that it can became center of change.

After the revolution Boston became an experiment city. Well every city was an experiment but in Boston the most social experiment was formed.  They were the first to have base salary policemen to encourage public safety. Even though Boston did not have a large population compared to Baltimore and New York, it was a city that resembled more of our present day European welfare cities. Where the public welfare and quality of life is the most important.

Boston

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