Categories for American Revolution
American Revolution
Books the Founders Read: Sidney’s Discourses Concerning Government
In this new series, I’ll highlight books that the Founding Fathers read, owned, wrote about, and were influenced by— works that were important in the creation of the United States… Read More
American Revolution
Books the Founders Read: Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England
“In America the law is king,” Thomas Paine declared in Common Sense. The Founding Fathers’ most important and widely-owned law book was William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. John… Read More
American Revolution
The Society of Cincinnati
In 1783, hard on the heels of the American Revolution, a group of Continental Army and Navy officers founded the Society of Cincinnati. Read More
American Revolution
Forgotten Founders: Thomas Paine, Part 3
Before the battle of Trenton the half-clad, disheartened soldiers of Washington were called together in groups to listen to that thrilling exhortation… The literary musket reaches its mark… The great… Read More
American Revolution
Forgotten Founders: Thomas Paine, Part 2
In Part 1, I explored the controversy over whether Thomas Paine was a Founding Father. This post is about Common Sense, his most famous work and the most influential, brilliant, and… Read More
American Revolution
Forgotten Founders: Thomas Paine, Part 1
Should an independancy be brought about…, we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it… Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: John Dickinson, Part 3
In Part 1, I introduced you to John Dickinson, the “Penman of the Revolution” who became a Forgotten Founder by refusing to vote for independence. In Part 2, I showed… Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: John Dickinson, Part 2
In Part 1, I explained why John Dickinson, the “Penman of the Revolution,” became a Forgotten Founder. In Parts 2 and 3, I’ll show you some of Dickinson’s most important… Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: John Dickinson, Part 1
John Dickinson, the “Penman of the Revolution,” was the most prolific and influential political writer of the period and a famous defender of American rights and liberties. Thomas Jefferson wrote… Read More
American Revolution, History
Forgotten Founders: George Mason, Part 2—1787
In Part 1, I introduced you to George Mason and his 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights and Virginia Constitution, and their extraordinary influence on the Declaration of Independence and the… Read More