British Colonies and the American Revolution
A political cartoon commentary on the disunity of the Thirteen Colonies during the French and Indian War, reused at the Albany Plan of Union, and later used to encourage the colonies to unite for independence during the American Revolutionary War.
Note: "Reused at the Albany Plan of Union" was added by KC Perley.
Print shows George Grenville holding a balance with scales "Debts" and "Savings", the debt far outweighs savings; among those in line to contribute their savings is a Native American woman representing America, she wears a yoke labeled "Taxed without representation". A melancholy Britannia sits on the far right.
Print shows two illustrations on a single sheet, on the top, Britannia, as the Roman general Belisarius, is dismembered, her torso leaning against a globe with a banner "Date Obolum Belli Sario" (give a penny for Bellisarius) and her arms and legs, labeled "Virg-", "Pennsyl-", "New York", and "New Eng-" are scattered on the ground before her, an olive branch has dropped from one hand. Idle ships sit in the harbor in the backgound and a broken tree on the right mimics Britannia. The scene emphasizes America's poverty as a result of the Stamp Act. On the bottom, Lord Bute, while stabbing Britannia, lifts her skirt, exposing her buttocks to two men, one with a sword, the other with a cat-o'-nine-tails; a snake strikes at her knees. She has her spear aimed at America, a young Native woman, and has caught hold of her feathered skirt; America flees into the outstretched arms of a Frenchman who has both sword and pistol poised to defend her. Behind the melee a Dutchman makes off with a ship. The cartoonist blames the British government policies for alienating the American colonies.
Print shows a re-drawn and reversed image of the famous British political cartoon where Bostonians held captive in a cage are suspended from the "Liberty Tree." Three British sailors standing in a boat feed them fish from a basket labeled "To -- from the Committee of --" in return for a bundle of papers labeled "Promises"; around the tree and in the background are cannons and British troops. The paper in the hand of one jailed Bostonian says "They tried with the Lord in their Troubl & he saved them out of their Distress. CVIL 13."
Print shows satire of American women from Edenton, North Carolina, pledging to boycott English tea in response to Continental Congress resolution in 1774 to boycott English goods.
Print shows a woman representing "America" seated in flames fanned from above by two men in clouds wielding British measures, "Quebec Bill" and "Masachusets (sic) Bay", against the colonies; four British men, representing the British Opposition, make a feeble attempt to extinguish flames. A teapot is overturned on steps in front of "America" spilling it's contents.
Print shows a half-length portrait of a woman, right profile, with exaggerated coiffure supporting three redoubts with infantry and artillery firing at close range, tents, an artillery train, and a sea battle involving two or three ships; large flags flying over the redoubts are decorated with a monkey, two women, and a goose.
Bunker Hill, also known as Breed's Hill, was one of the first major battles of the American Revolution. The Colonials were defeated, although mostly because they ran out of ammunition. Almost HALF of the involved Redcoat infantrymen involved ended up as a casualty. This report gave General Washington confidence in his army. The British, however, dug in. King George III declared a Proclamation of Rebellion, and the British military proceeded cautiously in future engagements. This caution, as a result of the casualty rate of Bunker Hill, is often contributed to how the colonial military was able to retreat, escape, and continue to fight another day.
Cartoon shows a man with feathered cap labeled "Ameriquain" (representing America) cutting the horns off a cow labeled "Commerce d'Angleterre" (representing British commerce) which is being milked by a Dutchman labeled "Hollandois," two men labeled "Francois" and "Espagnol" (representing France and Spain) are standing toward the rear of the cow holding bowls of milk. In the foreground, on the left, lies the British lion asleep, a small dog is standing on the lion's back urinating. A distraught Englishman labeled "Anglois" is standing to the right of the lion. In the background, across an expanse of water, is a city labeled "Philadelphia," to the right of the city is a ship, the "Aigle" (i.e., Eagle) laid-up in dry dock, Admiral Howe is sitting at a table, out of sight of his flag ship, with his brother General Howe, a keg is on the ground to the right and wine bottles on the ground to the left of the table. Includes an explanation in French printed separately and pasted below the print.
Print shows a representative of the British crown in America for peace negotiations (identified in the text as Edmund Burke, though possibly Lord North), he is wearing a crown with olive branch on his head and carries a "Conciatory Bill" in a pocket. He is riding a donkey and is being driven from the American shores by several men, one wearing a feathered headdress. The figures are numbered and a corresponding legend, in French, appears below title inscription.
Print shows a satire expressing a Continental European view of the American Revolution, showing Father Time using a magic lantern to project the image of a teapot exploding among frightened British troops as American troops advance through the smoke. Figures representing world opinion look on: an Indian for America, a black woman representing Africa, a woman holding a lantern symbolizing Asia, and a woman bearing a shield for Europe.
Print shows a horse "America" throwing its rider, George III.
Cartoon shows "American" snake, the emblem used by Americans as a device on their flag before the adoption of the stars and stripes, with two of three coils around units of British soldiers, commanded by Burgoyne and Cornwallis at time of their surrender. Gillray is lampooning the British war effort. The verse printed below the image reflects the widespread sympathy in England for the American cause.
Cartoon shows three Natives, representing America, murdering six loyalists, four are being hung, one is about to be scalped, and the last, appealing to Fate, is about to be killed by an ax-wielding Native.
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