Young People's Take on History

A Fight For Recognition

Written by Skylar H.

During the time of the 1770s, many important objectives were obtained. One of the main ones, equality.

To this day, the signing of the Declaration of Independence has been one of the most meaningful and practical documents to have been put into place. This contract is now seen to be a crucial part of our country's upbringing and has been for decades.

When people think of the word equality most will automatically single out the word equal or think of something to do with everybody (everybody meaning men and women). So, why was the Declaration written by only men, pertaining to strictly the male population? And, were there any women who sought out an opportunity for justice?

The 18th century didn’t consist of the inclined way of living for women. This time was home to an abundance of sexism where men were seen as majorly superior to women. Women were not allotted the opportunities to work and/or participate in government or other common careers while men could do all of the above.

An average day of a female in the 18th century consisted of staying home with the children, cooking, cleaning, and making sure everything was prepared for their husband for when they returned. Through this time, women were known as ‘dependents’ and given little to no educational circumstances in view of the fact the only thing they were obliged to know was basic house and child care.

However, one woman in particular, by the name of Mary Katherine Goddard(MKG), was determined to make a change within this so-called ‘sexist’ time. MKG is considered to be different during this time attributable to her upbringing. Born into a family of wealthy Connecticut printers, MKG was taught what other girls her age weren’t even allowed to be thinking about. She acquired the knowledge of literature, mathematics, science, French, and even Latin through the teachings of her mother and a schoolhouse located in New London in which she was only allowed to be in after all of the boys had gone home for the day.

Shortly after Giles’s (MKG’s Fathers) death, the rest of the Goddard family moved to Providence where MKG’s brother, William, had priorly been sent to start a printing business of his own. Years later, the family was newly located in Philadelphia, MKG’s mother, Sarah, had passed and William had ended up in jail. MKG was now left in charge of the printing business that her brother had started and carried it all the way to the success it is now known for today.

MKG took over The Maryland Journal just around the time colonists were geared toward revolution against the British. She began to post issues on the Boston Harbor and endorsed women activist movements such as homespun. As MKG continued publishing, the company became more well known and started to grow outward. It was soon adopted by the Continental Congress and Benjamin Franklin was appointed postmaster general.

After becoming more and more public, MKG was named Baltimore’s postmaster, making her the only female employee in the U.S. when the nation was born in 1776. Because The Maryland Journal was now a major part of citizens' lives, when it came to printing the Declaration of Independence, it was the obvious choice to get the news out. Once MKG found out about this information, she immediately saw it as her opportunity to make history. Because she was the owner of the company, there had to be credentials to her or her company somewhere on the document in order for her to make money.

Instead of doing the crediting she usually does at the bottom of her printings 'M.K. Goddard' , she printed her whole name 'Mary Katherine Goddard' straight across the bottom. The document was supposed to strictly have the names of the men who were a part of the team that created this new way of life. But, because MKG’s name was printed at the bottom due to certification purposes, she fought to say that she, a woman, also signed the Declaration.

To sum up everything that has been stated thus far, life for women during the 18th century is something today’s population of women don’t have a clue about. They had limited abilities and weren’t able to make the changes they deserved to make. Although this was the case for the majority, some women, such as MKG, decided to step up and fight for the freedom and equality they deserved. In today’s society, people are looked up to when they decide to fight for their personal beliefs and it didn’t start recently, it started with our ancestors who changed the world into what we know it to be today.

The Surprising History Of Connecticut's State Song

Written by Jay M.

Do you know what Connecticut's State Song is? Believe it or not, it's "Yankee Doodle", which surprisingly was a tune used by the British to make fun of the colonists.

However, instead of using words we would use today to make fun of someone, this song uses terms such as macaroni and doodle. So, read on if you want to find out what in the world a doodle is, why the British thought a type of pasta was an insult, and why Connecticut chose a song originally meant to mock colonial soldiers as a song to represent them.

Thomas Meskill, the predecessor of the then-governor, Ella Grasso, was the first person to request a state song. This was because he started growing tired of Yale's song, "Boola Boola, which was played whenever he would appear at Official Functions as Governor. In 1977, the Connecticut State Assembly started to look for songs to represent the state and to give governors some variety in their "Official Songs".

The famous tune, "Yankee Doodle", from the Revolutionary War was decided upon to become the state song. While this song did have connections to Connecticut, it was originally used by the British to mock the colonists. It was, however, chosen by the state House of Representatives on the 16^th of March, 1978, because of a ragtag militia in Norwalk.

In 1755, Col. Thomas Fitch, who was the son of then-governor Thomas Fitch, Sr., assembled with his militia at Fitch's Yard before heading to New York to meet the fight alongside them during the French and Indian War. The Norwalk women came to send the soldiers off, but they were shocked at the men's lack of proper uniform and stuck a chicken feather in the men's hats using some quick improvisation.

When they arrived at Fort Crailo, the British started mocking the colonists which caught the eye of Dr. Richard Shuckburgh, an English Army Surgeon who was stationed there. He wrote the famous lyrics, "Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni", set to a tune called Lucy Locket.

So what do macaroni and doodle mean, and where did Dr. Shuckburgh come up with the name "Yankee Doodle". The term Yankee was a popular term that was used to refer to colonial Americans, and the word Doodle was a term that was used to call someone a fool, which was used by the British to make fun of the colonial soldiers, whose manners and overall appearance didn't match that of the British Army's strict standards.

The word macaroni did come from pasta, which was a new and exotic food from Italy, which started to gain popularity in England. In the 1760s, a young group of British noblemen founded a private club called the Macaroni Club They dressed in highly fashionable clothes, and they wore extravagant headwear as well. The British mocked the Americans using the term macaroni, implying that the feather in their cap was a failed attempt to replicate the high level of fashion. While this song was originally used by the British to mock the colonists, the Americans turned it into a song of defiance adding verses to it that mocked the British and hailed George Washington as the commander of the Continental Army.

By 1781, "Yankee Doodle" turned from being an insult to being a song of national pride, and eventually, the British abhorred the song, as it was a constant reminder of their losses during the Revolutionary War.

Nathan Hale: A Spy During the American Revolution

Written by Cameron S.

The American Revolution is a war that lasted over eight years from April 19, 1775, to September 3, 1783. In this war, in order to get an advantage over Great Britain, George Washington used spies to learn about Great Britain's war strategy.

One of the spies was Nathan Hale. Hale was born on June 6, 1755, in Coventry, Connecticut. When Hale was young he joined the Connecticut militia and then the Continental Army under George Washington's command. During his time in the Continental Army, Hale rose to the rank of Captain.

Washington learned the value of spies during the French and Indian War and decided to form his own team of men who could gather intelligence about the British during the American Revolution. Washington instructed Thomas Knowlton, America's first Intelligence Officer, to create a team of spies. As the first official spies in the American army, this group became known as "Knowlton's Rangers", and its members were volunteers.

Washington needed information on the strength of the British forces and asked Knowlton to find a volunteer to cross enemy lines and gather information. Because spying was considered dishonorable and punishable by death by hanging, finding a volunteer was difficult. Despite the potential consequences, Hale volunteered to spy on the British.

Hale left the American camp on Harlem Heights and traveled to New York City. Traveling through the British camps, he pretended to be a schoolteacher from Connecticut looking for work. Along the way, Hale gathered information and made drawings and notes about the British forces' strategy and tactics.

During his mission, Hale was identified as a spy and was captured on September 20, 1776, while sailing across Long Island Sound. Hale was taken to General William Howe, a commander for the British forces. Howe was told that Hale was a suspicious character and had been caught trying to escape to the American side. Howe's men searched Hale and found the papers describing the information Hale gathered while spying on the British forces.

Howe charged Hale with spying, turned him over to Provost Marshal, William Cunningham, and sentenced him to be hanged the next morning. Before Hale was hanged, Cunningham asked if he had any final words. Hale replied, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." The hanging occurred around 11 in the morning on September 22, 1776. Hale was only twenty one years old when he died. The exact location of his hanging is unknown but is suspected to be somewhere in downtown Manhattan.

Nathan Hale is very important to the history of the United States. He was a Connecticut state hero who went above and beyond on his military duty and volunteered to risk his life serving as a spy for the patriot cause – the nation's freedom from Great Britain. Hale has become a legendary symbol of the spirit and resolve of the American Revolution and is remembered by the words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."