The Paxton Boys

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to explain what happened during the "Paxton Boys" massacre and march on Philadelphia in 1763. It touches on religious issues like Quakers versus Presbyterians, economic issues like poor versus wealthy, racial issues like whites versus Indians, and political issues like the frontier versus the politicians in Philadelphia.

From the Paper:

"During the early morning hours of December 14, 1763, a group of men (approximately fifty) from Paxton, Lebanon, and Hanover Counties (Pennsylvania) brutally attacked a group of Moravian Indians at Conestoga Manor in Lancaster. This group of men have since been known by the infamous title of "The Paxton Boys." The attack was not carried out during the passion of the moment, but instead, was pre-meditated and planned for quite some time. When these frontiersmen arrived at Conestoga Manor they did not find a large group of Indians as first suspected. Rather, they found a group of six--three men, two women, and a child (Vaughan, "Philadelphia Under Siege"). In a savage fashion all six of the Indians, including the two women and the child, were scalped. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barber, Rhoda. "Recollections Written in 1830 of Life in Lancaster Country 1726-1782 and a History of Settlement at Wright's Ferry, on Susquehanna River," The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 3 Feb 2006. http://www.hsp.org/files/barberpaxtonexcerpt.pdf
• Barton, Thomas. "The Conduct of the Paxton-Men, Impartially Represented: With Some Remarks on the Narrative." A Journal of Mid Atlantic Studies. 1 Feb. 2006. http://cip.cornell.edu/Dienst/UI/1.0/Summarize/psu.ph/1134145951
• Bonomi, Patricia U. "Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America." History E-Book Project. 1 Feb. 2006. http://ets.umdl.umich.edu/cache/heb01333.0001.001/00000184.tifs.gif
• Butler, Jon. "Becoming America: The Revolution Before 1776." History E-Book Project. 1 Feb. 2006. http://ets.umdl.umich.edu/cache/heb01017.0001.001.00000131.tifs.gif
• Cuming, Fortescue. "Early Western Travels." Early Encounters in North America. 1 Frb. 2006. http://www.alexanderstreet4.com/cgibin/asp/philomain/getobject_?c.96:2:2:3./projects/html

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