Making a connection to history through literature By

Making a connection to history through literature… By Nadine Uremovich

Summary of Johnny Tremain • Esther Forbes gives readers a glimpse into the life of American colonists during the beginning of the American Revolution in her 269 page historical fiction novel, Johnny Tremain. Johnny is a rebellious young man who joins the Sons of Liberty and participates in events such as The Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, and the Battle at Lexington and Concord.

The Lead Characters • Johnny Tremain A very talented fourteen-year-old silver-smith apprentice. He burns his hand loses all hope of becoming an artisan. As he struggles with how he will fit into society, he meets Rab. They become good friends, and Rab introduces Johnny to the Sons of Liberty. Johnny and Rab play important roles in gathering and transmitting information for the Patriots.

The Lead Characters • Rab Silsbee A calm and reflective sixteen- year-old newspaper printer. Rab prints the Boston Observer, a newspaper that propagates the Patriot cause. When he meets Johnny, he does not offer pity like many others. He accepts Johnny’s disability and helps Johnny realize that his crippled hand does not define Johnny. Rab draws Johnny into the Patriot cause.

Supporting Characters The Lapham family • Mr. Lapham – Master Silver-smith • Mrs. Lapham • Madge Lapham – Oldest daughter • Dorcas Lapham – 2 nd daughter • Cilla Lapham – 3 rd daughter, Johnny’s friend. She adores Isannah. • Isannah Lapham – Youngest daughter. Becomes tied to the Lytes

Johnny’s Blood Relatives • Lavinia Lyte Tremain – Johnny’s mother, she died when he was young. She taught Johnny how to read. • Charles Tremain – Johnny’s father, he died before Johnny knew him. • Jonathon Lyte – Wealthy Boston merchant and Johnny’s great uncle. • Lavinia Lyte – Jonathon Lyte’s spoiled daughter. She takes Isannah from the Lapham’s.

The Whigs Johnny meets up with some of the most famous revolutionaries. Their fictional roles in Johnny Tremain align with history.

Samuel Adams Sam Adams organized the Sons of Liberty. He published many articles opposing British tax policies.

John Hancock One of the wealthiest men in Boston. Like many of the wealthy, he opposed the new taxes that the British were imposing on colonists.

Doctor Joseph Warren A doctor who became involved in the Patriot cause. He joined Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. He sent Paul Revere on his midnight ride.

Paul Revere A member of the Son’s of Liberty. On a midnight ride, Revere informed colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were coming.

James Otis An advocate for colonial rights. He became mentally unstable when he was attacked for propagating the Patriot cause in a newspaper article.

What can we learn from Johnny? • The types of jobs people had in the 1770 s • How people learned their trade • What education was like • Social Class • What life was like in the 1770 s • How the conflict affected colonists • Literary Connections

Working for a living Some of the colonial occupations are stated outright and some can be implied. – – – Silver smith Butcher Clockmaker Tailor Barber Bookbinder Doctor Printer Cobbler Carpenter Farmer – – – Captain Sailor Porter Rigger Doctor Merchant Lawyer Clerk Coachman Minister/deacon Constable Can you think of any other colonial jobs?

How did people learn their trade? • It was very common for people to start out as an apprentice.

What is an Apprentice? • Johnny Tremain was a silversmith’s apprentice. • In 1773, it was common for people to serve a master as an apprentice in order to learn a trade. An apprenticeship is like going to technical college. • An apprentice served his master for seven years. After seven years, his educational debt was paid and the apprentice could be his own master.

Education • None of the children in the story went to school. – Colonial governments did not require children to go to school.

Reading • Aside from the master, Mr. Lapham, Johnny was the best reader in the house. Mr. Lapham required the children to read verses from the Bible. • When Johnny read, he never stumbled on words, and he liked to listen to the words roll from his lips. He was a very dramatic reader. How did Johnny learn how to read? – The book says that his mother made sure that Johnny knew how to read before she died.

Literacy • Who was Johnny’s mother? – Because she taught her son how to read, that tells us something about her background. • Johnny’s mother must have come from a wealthy family. – Only wealthy families educated their children. Any ideas why?

Social class • Upper class – Could afford to sustain the family without the labor of their children. – Children from wealthy families received a formal education. • Everyone but the Upper Class – Needed the labor of their children to financially sustain the family. – Children learned the family trade and household chores. – No time for school. • The characters in Johnny Tremain – Were not wealthy. The children learned the family trade and household chores.

Life in the 1770 s • Land Travel – Horse and wagon – Walking • Transatlantic travel – Ocean vessel How is that different from today?

Home life In 1773, there were a lot of animals in the city limits – Horses provided transportation and performed a lot of heavy work. – Hens and cows for eggs and milk – Cats took care of rodents • How is that different from today?

Shopping • Did you notice that when Johnny was looking for work that there were a lot of different types of shops? – – – People went to the butcher for meat The cobbler for shoes The tailor for clothes The clockmaker for a clock The carpenter for furniture How is that different from the way we shop?

Tories and Patriots • Tories – Colonists who supported King George. – Merchant Lyte was a Tory. • Whigs – British colonists who opposed English imperial policy (e. g. Stamp Act, Townsend Act) – Paul Revere, James Otis, John Hancock, and Joseph Warren were Whigs.

The power of print • The Whigs were very effective at using the printing press to propagate the Patriot cause. – Literate adults could read the articles. – Illiterate adults took meaning from political cartoons. What forms of media shape our world view today?

A cause worth fighting for • The Sons of Liberty met in secret to avoid British persecution. • The Sons of Liberty were wealthy colonists who risked losing all of their wealth in order to be relieved of British tyranny. • Printers, carpenters, butchers, and farmers transformed into soldiers. Many gave their lives for freedom.

Conflict and colonists • Colonists formed militias to stand up against the British soldiers.

The Turning Point • It is important to remember that it took a long time for the colonists to rebel. Forbes is writing about a turning point.

Important Literary Details • Johnny starts out as a promising silversmith who is wounded by the silver which he loves. • The colonists start out as a promising extension of England until suppressed by the country they love. • In the end, Dr. Warren cuts the scar tissue on Johnny’s hand to free him from his wound. • The American colonists cut ties with the English monarchy.

References • Forbes, E. Johnny Tremain. 1943. Dell Publishing: New York, NY. • Images – http: //etc. usf. edu/clipart/sitemap. htm

The End