The year is 1765 and tensions are mounting between the British government and the colonists.
There was only one way to settle the conflict...
with a rap battle!
Introducing...from across the sea... King George III!
King George III, that's my name, you see?
Trying to deter you from your liberty.
From afar, I reign over all the colonies.
While from my throne, I levy taxes while across the sea.
The French-Indian war has left me in debt.
Now I'm looking to the colnies to reap some assets.
That is the reason for the Stamp Act, you see?
Why you gotta take it all so personally?
Let's not forget, I'm your ruler, despite,
the fact that I'm a monarch far removed from your sight.
The Stamp Act is law and you should be more contrite.
Your insubordination could ignite a real fight.
Obey me, bow down, yield to my power!
If you refuse to obey, then our relations will sour.
I'll send out British cavalry within the next hour.
Make you suffer the wrath of my English gun powder.
I'm the rightful ruler, I am the king!
Perpetuating power of the monarchy!
Colonies ain't nothing but my property,
with fake subjects showing fake love to me!
I'm the rightful ruler, I am the king!
Perpetuating power of the monarchy!
You're part of my empire, why you wanna be free?
The name's King George III and you will bow to me!
 
Straight outta Virginia... it's Patrick Henry!
H-E-N-R- to the Y! The name is Patrick Henry and I will defy
any senseless taxes Britain tries to enforce.
I'm through with attempts at making peaceful discourse!
Straight outta Virginia, and I'm full of charisma.
A politician discontent with current conditions.
Bringing settlers to a frenzy with my moving oration,
Sparking a movement to create a new nation.
Relentlessly pursuing liberty with no timidity,
The taxes passed by British Parliament have no validity.
You're rulin' from Britain, got no jurisdiction.
The Stamp Act's resulted in colonial friction.
You're tyranny's ending, a new nation's ascending.
Why should we pay for your deficit spending? Uh!
So listen up to this declaration, these words will echo like an affirmation.
A reflection of colonial frustration, no taxation without representation
So listen up to this declaration!
These words will echo like an affirmation!
A reflection of colonial frustration!
No taxation without representation!
 
 
 
Vexation is brewing with the colonies amassing.
We want to have a say in any laws that you are passing.
Can you hear the commotion from across the ocean?
We're on the edge of revolution, it's the only solution.
So call me daddy cause I'm a Founding Father!
Spittin' rhymes so tight, committin' verbal slaughter.
I made my point, I'll let you catch your breath,
Now give me liberty, or give me death!
Give it up for... George Washington!
We're on the brink of war, British troops are preparing
To settle the score, their war anthem is blaring.
While our Continental Army's in complete disarray.
Made up of militias from every which way.
Great Britain is boasting it's whole war machine,
Meanwhile the colonists' forces are incredibly lean.
They needed a leader, someone to unite them.
Boost soldiers' morale, and fight alongside them.
So I come in! The name's George Washington!
Equipped with knowledge galore from the French-Indian war.
I took over the army and led with aplomb,
Conditions were treacherous, but I kept my calm.
The war raged on, we lost more than we won.
The Brits unleashed fury, we were overrun.
But I led with courage, maintained my resolve
Even in the face of British assaults.
On a dark winter's night, I crossed the Delaware river
with shivering soldiers intent to deliver
a surprise attack on the Britsh forces in Trenton,
a pivotal battle. And oh! Did I mention
that the Battle of Trenton turned the tides in our favor.
Under my command, we emerged top contender.
We rode that momentum 'til the end of the war
when we were triumphant, our freedom secured.
Mt. Vernon awaited, I was poised to retire.
to peaceful farm life after years of gunfire.
But the new nation's leaders requested my presence
as they formed a new government since winning independence.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention,
chose me to be president with no apprehension.
Hence my ascendance to the office of president.
I served two terms and I set many precedents.
My countrymen begged me to lead for term three,
but I said, "No thank you, my apologies."
And so I retired as Commander in Chief
and I returned to Mt. Vernon, much to my relief. Peace!
Introducing... James Armistead Lafayette!
James Armistead is my name.
And spying on the British is my game.
I was born a slave, but with my master's consent,
I joined the Continental Army as a double agent.
I served under the guidance of Marquis de Lafayette,
a French officer who helped us to fend off the English threat.
Infiltrating British camps, recruited by Cornwallis
to spy on the Pats and my performance was flawless!
But my allegiance never wavered, I never helped the Brits.
Instead I moved between the camps with secrets to transmit
to Marquis de Lafayette and the Patriot allies,
who used intelligence I shared to plan the Brits' demise.
And because my assistance, my sly persistence,
the Continental Army met the British with resistance
at Yorktown, helping Pats to win the war,
and forcing the Redcoats off our shores.
But at the end of the war, although I was brave,
I was returned to my master, I was still a slave!
Until Marquis de Lafayette petitioned on my behalf,
secured my release with a couple paragraphs.
Hence my master freed me, I was finally liberated!
From the bonds of slavery, for this moment I had waited.
I wanted to pay homage to the Marquis,
who from the beginning was anti-slavery.
So I added Lafayette to the end of my name,
a new last name now that my freedom's claimed.
to honor my French friend from the battlefield,
since thanks to the Marquis my liberty was sealed.
But it's important to know my story is unusual.
Few slaves were freed despite the Constiututional
claim that all men have a right to liberty.
Their freedom wouldn't come for almost one more century!
James Armistead Lafayette.
The smoothest double agent that you ever met.
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me,
and acknowledging my place in history.
I'm out!
 
 
He's very verbose and ready to roast!
It's Thomas Jefferson!
Last name Jefferson, first name Thomas!
I'm a certified genius, I'm just being honest.
Spent time in France, but don't wear a beret.
I founded the college known as U.V.A!
I'm the Founding Father, the principle author
of the Declaration that formed our nation.
I wrote in response to Great Britain's mistreatment.
It's creation was considered an act of treason.
The Declaration of Indepenence
a document revered and cherished with resplendence.
What does it mean? The vocab is dense.
I'm gonna to break it down for you with little pretense.
The first part states men are equally created
Hence the colonists refuse to be abused or subjugated.
Unalienable rights! Now can you picture this?
To life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!
These are basic rights to which all men are entitled!
And under Britain's rule our freedom has been stifled.
Protecting its people is the gov's obligation.
And it if fails to do so, we can start a new nation!
Then comes a list of grievances, that means accusations
About how Britain treated us and harmed our relations.
Here's a few highlights from our list of complaints.
I'm gonna share them with you now with little restraint.
The king removed our reps from their positions
For voicing their concerns and sharing their opposition.
Unilaterally dissolving our state legislatures.
An action like that reflects the king's true nature.
British troops faced no accountability.
They could mistreat our people without fear of culpability.
Committing crimes against us without ever giving pause
because the king refused to subject them to our laws.
You're forcing us to quarter your troops.
Yet another reason that we're staging a coup.
We got our own mouths to feed, we won't obey nor concede.
We can deny you entrance to our properties.
We're fed up with the British occupation.
Redcoats presence on our land is compounding our frustrations.
You don't need to be here in times of peace.
So peace out! Get out! Desist and cease!
You've forced our people out to sea
Enlisted with the British Navy.
Potentially bearing arms against our neighbors and friends.
With my declaration this injustice ends.
We're subject to laws you've implemented.
But when these laws were passed we weren't even represented!
You've denied us input and self-governance.
Now we've had it with King George III's obstinance!
We tried to reconcile, to reach a compromise.
but the king refused to budge, so now we mobilize!
We sign this declaration, an act of defiance,
Now liberty is OURS, you have lost our compliance!
