Although the war was over, things were far from peaceful. As a new country, America needed to figure out foreign relations as well as how to deal with Loyalists still residing within the country.
America Triumphant and Britannia in Distress - Anon., 1782, Library of Congress
A few other details to notice: the shield sitting next to America is embossed with a snake and the flag behind her has 13 stars and stripes. She is also leaning up against a bare pine tree--a consistent symbol in this era of political cartoons.
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America Triumphant is showing the victory of America and the resurgence of trade. This print is excellent in that the entire explanation is written within the words at the bottom of the cartoon. Follow the numbers with the explanation for a detailed analysis.
[Transcript of words at bottom of image] |
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After the war, Patriot mobs "menaced Loyalists who tried to return home" (Taylor, 324). Lord Shelburne was Prime Minister and is blamed for many problems in the British Empire at this time. They said he stood by as Loyalists were lynched and tormented. He is the one who is mentioned in the words above the lynching branch.
Loyalists had been stripped of property, money, titles and many even lost their lives. They were loyal to the crown, but had lost nearly everything in return. America is often pictured as a Native American. This may be the reason for the depiction of the acts of scalping and lynching of the Loyalists by the Natives. Also pictured is the ever present pine tree. In this case, the pine tree looks as though it is nearly dead. This has the dual purpose of referring to the British Empire in collapse and the lynching itself. The words at the bottom is a play on words: "Is this a Peace, when Loyalists must bleed? It is a Bloody Piece of work indeed". This last portion is in an effort to get the viewer to think more deeply about the juxtaposition of peace with the terrorizing of the Loyalists. |
The Cruel Fate of the Loyalists - William Humphrey, 1783, The John Carter Brown Library: Image Collections
In Albany, New York, a public meeting resolved 'never to be at peace with those fiends, the Refugees, whose thefts, murders, and treasons have filled the cup of woe.' The state's governor, George Clinton, vowed that he would 'rather roast in hell to all eternity than . . . show mercy to a damned Tory.' Returning Loyalists got beatings, coats of hot tar and cool feathers, and a parade before their hooting neighbors. In the southern backcountry, Patriots lynched eight returnees at Fishing Creek in South Carolina" (Taylor, 324). |
Proclamation of Peace - Anon., 1783, British Museum
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The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was finally negotiated and signed September 3, 1783. The Herald is holding an olive branch and her horn is declaring the peace proclamation. The date on her banner is when the heralds went throughout London declaring peace.
First in line is America. He is holding the staff and cap of Liberty while holding a tomahawk in the other. He is joyously dancing near the chains that have fallen from his feet all the while proclaiming "I have got my Liberty and the Devil Scalp you all". Next to America stands France holding the hand of Spain while trying to calm him with the prospect of the tobacco trade in America. However, Spain seems inconsolable and very ready to "cry for peace". Next in line is an Englishman who still wants to control the Dutchman. He is warning him that he shall 'never know the taste of spice again'. In fact, hostilities continued in the East Indies and peace with Holland didn't come until a year later in 1784. The last line of the verse below the print states "The time may yet come, to repent of your fault." This reflects the widely held belief that eventually, the colonies would come back to the mother-country. Yet, America grew into a mighty nation, and later, a world power with her own territories throughout the world. |
In the final treaty signed on September 3, 1783, the United States, by shrewdly playing off the mutual fears of European powers, gained both independence and concessions that stunned . . . all of Europe. It was the greatest achievement in the history of American diplomacy" (Wood, 88).