Tag Archive for ‘American Revolution’
After the Veep, who comes next? (Civics Primer Part 3)
Someone asked me recently what Americans need to know about our history and government. The answer is easy. There’s a test for that. It’s called the Naturalization Test, given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and applicants for citizenship must pass it. Could most American-born citizens pass it? In my experience testing audiences with [...]
Bare Arms? Arm Bears? A Second Amendment Guide (Civics Primer #2)
There is little doubt that the Founders and Framers, in a time when there was no standing army, expected men to have a gun at the ready to defend the country. But does that 18th century logic still hold in a country with a standing army, state militias and local police forces? And does the high level of American gun violence (more than 31,000 firearms fatalities in 2006, according to the CDC) mean it is time to reassess an idea that made sense more than 200 years ago?
Jefferson’s Version-A few key differences
Today , July 2d is the day the Continental Congress actually voted in favor of independence for America. It took two more days of debate to approve Thomas Jefferson’s explanation of that vote, the Declaration of Independence. Once again the New York Public Library is displaying a handwritten version of the Declaration, written by Jefferson. [...]
Independence Week: The Most Important Signer You Never Heard of
In another installment of my Independence Week Refresher Course, I focus on a man who most of us never heard of. But the United States of America exists, in part, because of his efforts. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, a few names are familiar. Most Americans, if pressed, can probably [...]
Don’t Know Much About® Independence Week: Declaration 101
In the run-up to the nation’s birthday, here are some more things you “need to know” about the Declaration of Independence and the men who created it. -It’s not a “piece of paper.” The original version of the Declaration was “engrossed” (a word for preparing an official document in a large, clear hand) on parchment [...]
“Self Evident Truths” –The Real National Treasure
As we pursue happiness and work our way towards Independence Day on July 4th, here are a few fascinating facts about the document that created the United States of America and the day that the nation was born. This is the first of a series of blogs about the Declaration. leading up to Independence Day. [...]
Patriots’ Day: It’s Not About the Marathon
As we reach another Patriots’ Day, the day that commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, here’s a little refresher about some of the hidden history of this most important day in American History.
Ghosts of Confederates Past
On April 9, 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
After four years of Civil War, with his Army of Northern Virginia practically starving and reeling under the onslaught of Union pressure from Grant’s superior forces, Robert E. Lee had to contemplate the inevitable
