The Paxton Pamphlet War

In the summer of 1763, Pennsylvania frontiersmen were fighting a war with the Indians. Predominantly Scots-Irish settlers had been encouraged to settle in western Pennsylvania but many simply scwatted on the land they chose without permission from the local Indians.

The frontiersmen were trying to rebuild their lives. They had lived through the seven years war which began in 1756. More than 500 settlers had lost their lives before the hostile Indians and their french ally’s had been pushed back from the frontier.

The hostile Indians didn't accept defeat at the hands of the Royal Government. In June of 1763 the Ottawa Indians commenced a series of attacks throughout the Ohio valley and into Pennsylvania's western frontier. The settlers there suffered even more than they had from the seven year's war.

More than 1400 terrified refugees moved east toward Shippensburg. They were given help from other settlers who housed them wherever they could, many times barns and stables. The Quaker Government gave no aid to the refugees or moved to assist them. However, they did use State funds to aid “anglicized” Indians.

In October of the same year the German settlers in the North east of Pennsylvania came under attack from the Delaware Indians. Here, the Indians were extremely cruel so as to make the settlers so fearful they would never return. Many bodies showed evidence of torture.

The frontiersmen and other settlers were very embittered and focused their anger on the Indians and the Quaker Government as well

On December 14^th about 50 frontiersmen bent on revenged rode to Conestoga were they killed six Indians, then to Lancaster where they killed 14 more. Having heard that some had escaped and were being sheltered in Philadelphia. The Vigilantes, now called the “Paxton Boys” marched toward Philadelphia. They stopped at Germantown when two government representatives came to meet them. It was agreed that most would return to their homes leaving two to air grievances to the government The Quaker Government which they mostly ignored.

Thus began the Paxton Pamphlet war. Both sides airing their grievances to the public in the form of printed pamphlets. The Paxtonians had two main issues; they believed that the Quakers only used religious pacifism as an excuse to leave the frontier undefended thereby saving money on defense. The second issue being that they felt they were not being adequately represented in legislature.

The Quakers on the other hand believed that because the Frontiersmen were not taxed, they did not contribute to the expense of a defensive force.

These Pamphlets became very popular and could be found in any place were people congregated, such as taverns and coffee shops. The paxtonians used satire well and struck a chord with the public. Both sides used cartoons, poems, mock epitaphs, prayers, mock sermons and speeches, both sides taking cheep shots at the other. In the end the pamphlet war resolved nothing,but it may be seen as less violent method to air grievances.

Sources:

Sam Huston State University. "The Paxton Boys and the Origins of the American Revolution." Studythepast.com. http://www.studythepast.com/history571/stevenfrank/index.htm (accessed October 9, 2011).

Olson, Alison. "The Pamphlet War over the Paxton Boys." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 123 (1999), http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.fau.edu/stable/20093260?&Search=yes&searchText=boys&searchText=pamphlet&searchText=war&searchText=paxton&list=hide&searchUri=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=the+pamphlet+war+over+the+paxton+boys&acc=on&wc=on&prevSearch=&item=2&ttl(accessed October 9, 2011).