The Role of Matthew Thornton “Friends and brethren, you must all be sensible that the affairs of America have, at length, come to a very affecting and alarming crisis.” Some of the first words of the Revolution spoken by Matthew Thornton. Newly appointed President of the Provincial Congress, Matthew Thornton was a known leader, driven by religious freedom and justice. Migrating from Ireland to escape persecution, Thornton was in America was to be free, and when the British conflicted with this he was not going to merely observe. From serving the Royal army, to signing the Declaration of Independence, Thornton was a patriot, serving America for what it was supposed to be. Although a lesser-known name, Matthew Thornton’s role in the American Revolution was nowhere close to irrelevant. Matthew …show more content…
This position opened the door that allowed him to begin his growth of political presence. During the following years, he held many political roles under the Royal Government; this allowed him to see the wrongdoing of the government. Because of his denunciation of the Stamp Act, and his insight of the Royal Government, in 1775 Thornton denounced the “unconstitutional and tyrannical Acts of the British Parliament.” Alongside the flee of the Royal Governor, Thornton was elected President of the New Hampshire Provincial Congress, as well as being appointed Chairman of the provincial committee of safety(Adams 21). Ultimately, this time in Thornton’s career served as the launching point of his role in the Revolution. As the Revolution began, so came Thornton’s most attributed roles. Continuing his service as the President of New Hampshire, his personal morals really pushed through in his role. Thornton pushed citizens to remember their religion, and to practice pure unaltered religion despite other thoughts. In addition, Thornton was a just man who did not want violence, so he greatly advocated for protesting via