History Plays for the Grammar Grades Part 5

MRS. WAs.h.i.+NGTON: How do you do, boys.

FIRST BOY: George, we want you to come out and play with us.

SECOND BOY: Yes, we want you to be our captain.

THIRD BOY: We will take a walk in the woods.

FOURTH BOY: And maybe have a swim in the old swimming pool.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON: May I go out with the boys, mother?

MRS. WAs.h.i.+NGTON: Yes, George, but don't forget to come in before it gets too late.

_End of Act I._

ACT II.

INTRODUCTION:

When George Was.h.i.+ngton was sixteen, he was made a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. At twenty he was put in Braddock's army and he saved the broken pieces. He was later elected to the house of Burgesses in Virginia.

After Was.h.i.+ngton's brother, Laurence, died, Was.h.i.+ngton received the beautiful Mt. Vernon plantation on the Potomac.

One day while Was.h.i.+ngton was on his way to Williamsburg, he met a beautiful woman named Mrs. Martha Custis, who later became his wife.

The second act will be Was.h.i.+ngton, Patrick Henry and others in the house of Burgesses in Virginia.

(House of Burgesses a.s.sembled. Cla.s.s in House of Burgesses.)

SPEAKER AT DESK: As you know the French and Indian war has left both England and her colonies in debt and King George, thinking only of England, put a tax on tea and a Stamp Act on the Thirteen Colonies.

Through such great men as Samuel Adams and our own Patrick Henry, these Acts have been repealed. Now we are confronted with the trouble in Boston. Shall the people of Boston be slaves or shall the thirteen colonies fight to save that town?

(Exclamations from House). Fight! Fight! No! No! Fight!

SPEAKER: I think Patrick Henry has a resolution to offer.

PATRICK HENRY: Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen: I offer resolutions declaring that Virginia arm herself for the coming war.

MEN OF HOUSE: Why should we fight England? It is the greatest country in the world and it is our Mother Country.

SECOND MAN OF HOUSE: Why not send pet.i.tions to the King asking him to send his two armies out of Boston?

THIRD MAN OF HOUSE: We cannot fight England. Look at Drake. He checked the Spanish Armada on the sea while Raleigh checked the Spanish on the land. If we fight England it will leave us weaker than we are.

FOURTH MAN OF HOUSE: If we fight our Mother Country now it will spoil the little nation we are trying to build up. We are not ready to fight.

PATRICK HENRY: Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER: Mr. Henry.

HENRY: We must fight! I repeat it, Sir, we must fight. An appeal to arms and the G.o.d of Hosts is all that is left to us. They tell us, Sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary.

But when shall we be stronger? Will it be next year, or next week?

Sir, we are not weak if we make the proper use which the G.o.d of Nature has placed in our power. Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable, and let it come!

Our brothers are all ready on the field. Why stand we here idle! Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty G.o.d! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

(Much applause).

_End of Act II._

ACT III.

INTRODUCTION:

The next act will be the second Continental Congress where George Was.h.i.+ngton was elected Commander in Chief of the American army and where Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others were appointed to draw up the Declaration of Independence.

MR. HANc.o.c.k, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: You all know that in the first Continental Congress we pledged to stand by Boston. If General Gage means to make war on that town, let him do it. Is there anything to say on the matter, gentlemen?

FRANKLIN: Mr. Hanc.o.c.k.

HANc.o.c.k: Mr. Franklin.

FRANKLIN: I say that the thirteen colonies should unite in order to fight Great Britain.

HENRY: Mr. Hanc.o.c.k.

HANc.o.c.k: Mr. Henry.

HENRY: I agree with Mr. Benjamin Franklin. I wish to repeat a statement I made once before. The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American. (Applause).

RICHARD HENRY LEE: Mr. Hanc.o.c.k.

HANc.o.c.k: Mr. Lee.

LEE: I make a motion that the thirteen colonies unite in order to fight and that we declare ourselves free and independent of Great Britain.

MEMBER OF HOUSE: We must show reasons for separating from our Mother Country.

ROBERT LIVINGSTON: We must show great men like Pitt and Burke why we want to separate from England.

MEMBER OF CONGRESS: I make a motion that a committee of men be appointed to draw up a Declaration of Independence.

R. H. LEE: I second that motion.

SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that a committee of men be appointed to draw up a declaration of independence. All those in favor say Aye! Contrary minded No!

Aye! Aye!

SPEAKER: I appoint Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and John Adams of Ma.s.sachusetts to draw up a declaration of independence. And now gentlemen, the American Army needs a head.