Primary sourceBook1774
The Patriot
Samuel Johnson · 1774
Samuel Johnson's 1774 political pamphlet addressed to the electors of Great Britain, urging careful choice of representatives. It attacks Whig patriotism.
Johnson's own 1774 pamphlet attacking Whig patriotism, showing his political writing.
About this source
What it is
This is a political pamphlet by Samuel Johnson, dated 1774. It is addressed to the electors of Great Britain and opens with a verse from Milton. It discusses the duties of voters at a time when a general election had arrived, and it is preserved as a text on Wikisource.
Why it matters
The pamphlet was written during an election period, when the right to vote and the choice of members of Parliament were fiercely debated. Johnson's work on this subject shows how a leading writer of the age addressed the public on the meaning of political freedom and responsibility.
Look closer
- What does the Milton verse at the start suggest about the author's view of liberty?
- Who does Johnson address, and what does he expect those readers to do?
- How might a supporter of the Whig side have answered this pamphlet?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Samuel Johnson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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