Paxton Boys

(noun)

The Paxton Boys were Scots-Irish frontiersmen from along the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania who formed a vigilante group to retaliate against local American Indians in the aftermath of the French and Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion.

Related Terms

Examples of Paxton Boys in the following topics:

  • Discontent on the Frontier

    • In December, a vigilante group made up of Scots-Irish frontiersmen, the Paxton Boys, attacked the local Conestoga, a Susquehannock tribe who lived on land donated by William Penn to their ancestors in the 1690s.
    • Although there had been no Indian attacks in the area, the Paxton Boys claimed that the Conestoga secretly provided aid and intelligence to the hostiles.
    • On December 14, 1763, more than fifty Paxton Boys marched on the Conestoga homes near Conestoga Town, Millersville, murdered six people, and burned their cabins.
    • Nineteenth century lithograph of the Paxton Boys' massacre of the Indians at Lancaster, published in 1841

  • The Western Lands

    • In December of 1763, following the end of the French and Indian War and the signing of the proclamation, a vigilante group made up of Scots-Irish frontiersmen known as the Paxton Boys attacked the local Conestoga, a Susquehannock tribe who lived on land negotiated by William Penn and their ancestors in the 1690s.
    • Although there had been no American Indian attacks in the area, the Paxton Boys claimed that the Conestoga secretly provided aid and intelligence to the hostiles.
    • On December 14, 1763, more than 50 Paxton Boys marched on the Conestoga homes near Conestoga Town, Millersville, and murdered six people and burned their cabins.

  • The "Color Line"

    • Du Bois would go on to be a prominent leader in the pursuit of African-American civil rights.
    • Du Bois and his supporters opposed the Atlanta Compromise, an agreement crafted by Booker T.
    • Du Bois in 1918.
    • Du Bois was a prominent advocate for African-American rights in the twentieth century.
    • This book by Du Bois infamously proclaimed the problem of "the color line. "

  • Military Segregation

    • Du Bois had supported Wilson in the 1916 presidential campaign and in 1918 was offered an Army commission in charge of dealing with race relations—Du Bois accepted, but he failed his Army physical and did not serve.

  • Women and Education

    • Northampton assessed taxes on all households rather than just those with children and used the funds to support a grammar school to prepare boys for college.
    • Sutton paid for its schools by means of taxes on households with children only, thereby creating an active constituency in favor of universal education for both white boys and girls.
    • In many areas, writing was taught mainly to boys and a few economically privileged girls.

  • Roosevelt, Wilson, and Race

    • Du Bois urged blacks to register to vote and to remember their treatment by the Republican administration when it was time to vote for president.
    • Du Bois campaigned for Wilson and in 1918 was offered an Army commission in charge of dealing with race relations; Du Bois accepted, but he failed his Army physical and did not serve.

  • Social Justice

    • African American boy selling The Washington Daily News - sign on his hat reads, "Have you read The News?

  • American Imperialism

    • In the background, an American Indian holds a book upside down, a Chinese boy stands at the door, and a black boy cleans a window.

  • Jackie Robinson

    • In Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn describes the Dodgers during these years, including Roy Campanella, Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, and Duke Snider.

  • Theodore Roosevelt and Race

    • Du Bois urged black people to register to vote and remember their treatment by the Republican administration when it was time to cast a ballot for President.