John Hancock

Term Paper # 104230

History > U.S. Before 1865
History > U.S. Birth of the Nation 1750-1800

John Hancock

An analysis of John Hancock's historical significance as a political leader.

1,414 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, although he played a crucial role in the division of the Thirteen American Colonies from the British Empire, John Hancock is not granted the same historical prominence as many of the other Founding Fathers. In particular, the paper looks at how John Hancock's pivotal place in the events leading up to the American Revolution and its aftermath are less clearly understood. It attempts to show that despite the gap between the historical evidence and the public's knowledge, it is evident that John Hancock's political and social leadership made him a significant figure in the tumultuous events surrounding the birth of the American nation.

From the Paper:

"The port of Boston rallied behind Hancock when Liberty was seized. They retaliated by treating British officers in the area quite roughly and forcing many to retreat to ships parked offshore. Hancock's supporters then took the opportunity to drag the Customs Collector's official barge out of the harbor and through the town. They pulled it to Hancock's home and set it ablaze (Lancaster, 1971). What is most significant about this incident is that Hancock could have gotten his ship back from the British authorities at any time by simply paying the very small tax that existed on imported wine. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Eddlem, T.R. (2003, September 8). More than his name on the line. The New American, 19(18), pp. 37-40.
Focus on: John Hancock. (2002, November). The Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved May 18, 2007, from http://www.masshist.org/cabinet/november2002/hancocklarge.htm
Hancock, John (1737-1793). (1998). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale. Infotrac Onefile.
Kindig, T. (2007). John Hancock. Signers of the Declaration of Independence. USHistory.org. Retrieved May 18, 2007, from http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm
Lancaster, B. (1971). The American Heritage Book of the Revolution. New York: American Heritage Publishing Company.