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The able doctor/ America swallowing the bitter draught

By edan Dahan

edanpic.jpg

We use many different formats to express ourselves in this world. In today's world we use phones and our different platforms to express our own opinions our current problems in our world. We've been doing this for nearly forever, different platforms for the same thing, sharing the message of people's causes. This painting is no different, as it also is packed full of commentary of the world that the artist once lived in. With this picture history is held and by looking at it we can explore events and people's reactions to them at the time, like a small bit of time travel. 

The date is December 17, 1776. This is the night of the Boston Tea Party, where men dressed as Indian's snuck into a British trade ship at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. Here American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor. This was the first act of defiance against tyrannical British rule in the colonies. A declaration of war  in the kings eyes, and act of freedom in the eyes of the colonist. This can be credited as one of the reasons that caused the revolutionary war, but just as importantly caused another reason that lead to that war. That reason being Britain's counter to the rebellious colonist activities, the 5 Intollerable acts. This is what Britain would believe would bring an end to the rebels, but all it did was ignite the flames of revolution even brighter.

Parliment

Historical Backround

Tea picture.jpg
Intolerable_Acts_thumb.1.png

These acts are the main focus of the image above.

Each Act was created in order to stall/prevent rebellion. It all began with the tea, so restrictions we placed upon the colonist. Many were angered by these further constrictions, and like the artist who made The Able Doctor, or America Swallowing the Bitter Draught, but they had to stay anonymous due to British prosecution. This didn't destroy the flames of rebellion, it just strengthened it. 

Symbolism

Parliment

5 Intollerable acts

Lady Liberty

Lord North

Boston tea

Britainnia

Lord Mansfield

Scotts w/ sword engraved " Military law"

France/Spain

Meaning

us vs.png

VS

 Collection online- The able doctor, or America swallowing the bitter draught, The British Museum, 2017 ,

                http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?                                                          objectId=1452655&partId=1, accessed 6 October 2018

 

The able doctor, or, America swallowing the bitter draught, Library Of Congress,                                           

                2018, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97514782/, Accessed 6 October 2018

 

Boston Tea party, History Editors, History, 2017, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party

                accessed 6 October 2018

 

Lord North satirized in 1774 as ” The Able Doctor “, Boston Rare Maps, https://bostonraremaps.com/terms-conditions/, accessed 6 October 2018

This art's meaning comes from knowing the history. Since this was anonymous, it was probably a protest against the intolerable acts. The image shows the % intolerable acts as the plan 5 intolerable acts let them hold down Lady Liberty, meaning us, and other important people not caring. It even calls out Lord North for punishing for tea.

Sources:

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