James Otis and Mercy Otis Warren

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James Otis and Mercy Otis Warren

Students will be able to explain the importance of landmarks in their community and why James Otis Jr. and Mercy Otis Warren are honored in the Town of Barnstable through observation, inference and discussion.

Location

Barnstable , MA

Type of Landmark

Building

Topics

18th century
American Revolution
Politics

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Be able to explain the importance of landmarks in their community
  • Understand why James Otis Jr. and Mercy Otis Warren are honored in the Town of Barnstable through observation, inference and discussion about their statues.

Materials

Suggested Instructional Procedures

  1. Prior to instruction, make sure that the students have an understanding of the following vocabulary words; landmark, statue, dedicated, portray
  2. This activity is to be done in small groups, preferably in groups of four.
  3. Each group is given a worksheet and photo sheet of either James Otis Jr. or Mercy Otis Warren.
  4. Instruct students that, as a group, they are to look closely at each of the different pictures of the statue that they are studying.
  5. Then they are to read directions on their worksheet and answer each question carefully and completely.
  6. When the allotted time is up, the James Otis Jr. groups are to meet and discuss their findings as are the Mercy Otis Warren groups.
  7. Each group is to compare their answers and see where they had similarities and differences.
  8. Finally, the teacher will bring the groups back together and discuss and go over their findings.
  9. Next, the students, with the teacher recording on the board, will create a statement which will declare and explain the importance of these two landmarks in their community and why James Otis Jr. and Mercy Otis Warren were honored by the Town of Barnstable.
  10. Finally students will copy this statement in their Social Studies journals. They will also make a reflection about this activity. Students will write about what they learned when they took the time to reflect, analyze and discuss what they saw in the statue that they observed.

Vocabulary

Landmark: A recognizable landscape, building, or monument that helps to define a community.

Statue: A work of three dimensional art made out of stone, typically depicting a person or animal.

Dedicated:- Given over to a particular purpose.

Portray: To communicate an idea or thought through things such as symbolism or imagery.

End of Lesson Assessment

After copying the class-created statement in their journals, students will then make a reflection about this activity. Students will write about what they learned when they took the time to reflect, analyze, and discuss what they saw in the statue that they observed. This activity is a called a quick-write. Students have about three minutes to brainstorm and five minutes to write. When the time is up, the teacher can either grade the journals quickly with either a check plus, check, or check minus grade. Or the teacher can collect the journals and grade them later. The key is to get the reflections graded quickly so that the students receive quick feedback.

Background Material for Teacher

Background information about these landmarks:  The statue of James Otis, who was a recognized Revolutionary War patriot, was created by David Lewis of Osterville. It was erected on July 4, 1991. Soon a committee was later formed to fundraise for a statue of Mercy Otis Warren. It was also commissioned from sculptor David Lewis. The effort to erect a statue of Mercy Otis Warren was successful, and the statue was erected in the village of Barnstable, in the town of Barnstable on the Barnstable Superior Courthouse lawn. It was dedicated on July 4, 2001.

Further Information about the James Otis Jr. and his statue:

James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer, a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Assembly, and an early advocate for separation from the British Crown. His views on taxation led to the American Revolution. His assertion that "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became a rallying cry for the Patriot movement in America.

A 7' high bronze statue of James Otis, Jr. stands on a granite base placed on a brick platform. Otis is wearing a long frock coat, vest and shirt with ruffled collar and sleeves. He is wearing a curled wig and gesturing by holding his right hand aloft, as if making a point during a speech. He is holding a scroll in his left hand. The statue was created by David Lewis and dedicated on July 4, 1991.

The north face of the base is inscribed:

JAMES OTIS JR.
THE PATRIOT
WEST BARNSTABLE
1725 - 1783

ADVOCATE - ORATOR - STATESMAN

PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS SAID IN PART
OF OTIS'S FAMOUS WRITS OF ASSISTANCE
SPEECH IN BOSTON FEBRUARY 1761
"AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WAS THEN AND THERE BORN"

 

 

Further Information about Mercy Otis Warren and her statue:

Mercy Otis Warren was a poet, playwright, historian, political writer, and advocate for the American Revolution. She was born in Barnstable, MA in 1728, married James Warren, moved to Plymouth, MA and had five sons. Leading up to the American Revolution, she had correspondence with Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Hannah Winthrop, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and John Adams, who became her literary mentor. With her writings, she became the poet and a historian of the Revolutionary era. Her works were published anonymously until 1790. She wrote several plays. The Adulator (1772) was directed against Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts and foretold the American Revolutionary War.

A 7' high bronze statue of Mercy Otis Warren stands on a granite pedestal. She is dressed in a long period gown with large ruffles on the sleeves. In her raise right hand she is holding a book. In her left hand she is holding a quill. The statue was created by David Lewis and erected in 2001 by the Mercy Otis Warren Memorial Committee.

The front side of the pedestal is inscribed:

MERCY
OTIS
WARREN

BORN W. BARNSTABLE
1728 - 1814

CHAMPION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS
PLAYWRIGHT - POET - HISTORIAN
PATRIOT

MASS. DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION