Hello 7th Graders!

I've dusted off this blogger just for you! Today we're going to continue our exploration of the American Revolution as seen through the lens of musical theatre. You'll be looking at several songs and answering questions based on them. The songs (with lyrics) and questions are all provided for you here, but you'll have to do some research to define some key vocabulary, and some of the questions will require to use not just the song lyrics provided but your knowledge of Social Studies as well. I encourage you to take out your Social Studies textbooks to help you with these answers.

First, we'll be looking at "But Mr. Adams" from the musical "1776". Then, you'll have a choice to work on either "The Lees of Old Virginia" from "1776" or "What Comes Next?" from "Hamilton". Both of those songs can be found by clicking on the appropriate page in the sidebar.

Now....

"But Mr. Adams"

"1776" is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The musical revolves around the Second Continental Congress and their decision to declare independence from Great Britain. In this song, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston must decide which one of them will write the Declaration of Independence. They are each less than enthusiastic about this.

Lyrics:
Franklin:
Mr. Adams, I say you should write it
To your legal mind and brilliance we defer

Adams:
Is that so? Well, if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir

Franklin:
Yes, I know 

Adams:
So I say you should write it Franklin, yes you 

Franklin:
Hell, no! 

Adams:
Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you
but, you, but, you, but 

Franklin:
Mr. Adams, but, Mr. Adams
The things I write are only light extemporania
I won't put politics on paper; it's a mania
So I refuse to use the pen in Pennsylvania 

Others:
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, refuse to use the pen 

Adams:
Mr. Sherman, I say you should write it
You are never controversial as it were

Sherman:
That is true 

Adams:
Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir

Sherman:
Yes, I do 

Adams:
So I say you should write it, Sherman, yes you 

Sherman:
Good heavens, no! 

Adams:
Yes you, Roger Sherman, you
but, you, but, you, but 

Sherman:
Mr. Adams, but, Mr. Adams
I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette
I don't know a participle from a predicate
I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut

Others:
Connecticut, Connecticut, a simple cobbler he 

Adams:
Mr. Livingston, maybe you should write it
You have many friends and you're a diplomat

Franklin:
Oh, that word! 

Adams:
Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it 

Others:
He's obnoxious and disliked; did you know that? 
Livingston:
I hadn't heard 

Adams:
So I say you should write it, Robert, yes you 
Livingston:
Not me, Johnny! 

Adams:
Yes you, Robert Livingston, you
but you but you but 

Livingston:
Mr. Adams, dear Mr. Adams
I've been presented with a new son by the noble stork
So I am going home to celebrate and pop the cork
With all the Livingstons together back in old New York

Others:
New York, New York, Livingston's going to pop a cork 

Jefferson:
Mr. Adams, leave me alone! 

Adams:
Mr. Jefferson, dear Mr. Jefferson
I'm only 41; I still have my virility
And I can romp through Cupid's Grove with great agility
But life is more than sexual combustibility

Others:
Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili...

Jefferson:
Mr. Adams, damn you Mr. Adams
You're obnoxious and disliked; that cannot be denied
Once again you stand between me and my lovely bride
Oh, Mr. Adams, you are driving me to homicide!

Others:
Homicide, homicide, we may see murder yet!


(Additional dialogue between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson can be found at 3:30 in the video. Relisten to this part of the song to answer the questions about the relationship between those two men,)

Questions:

1. Vocabulary to Define: extemporaneous, predicate, diplomat
2. What reasons does John Adams give for why each man should write the Declaration of Independence?
3. What reasons does each man give for refusing to write the Declaration of Independence?
4. In this scene which two characters have the most antagonistic relationship? How do you know this?
5. Characterize John Adams. Create a web using at least three characteristics with quotes from this song to support these characteristics.
6. How does the music contribute to the mood of this song?
7. What do you think might have happened if Thomas Jefferson continued to reject John Adam’s pleas to write the Declaration of Independence? Use your knowledge of Social Studies to help support your answer.