Posts Tagged ‘american revolution’
Vermont Court Pierces Sovereign Immunity
COURTS, PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY REPORT Our U.S. legal system came to us from medieval England, where no one could ever sue the King. The American Revolution replaced the King with representative government, but the doctrine of “sovereign immunity” still exists. Government is immune from claims against it, except where authorized by special laws. [...]
The Declaration of Rights of the Stamp Act Congress
October 19, 1765 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS The members of this congress, sincerely devoted, with the warmest sentiments of affection and duty to His Majesty's person and government, inviolably attached to the present happy establishment of the Protestant succession, and with minds deeply impressed by a sense of the present and impending [...]
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. John Hancock was president of the Congress and Charles Thomson was secretary. A copy of the Declaration, engrossed on parchment, was signed by members of Congress on and after August 2, 1776. On January 18, 1777, Congress ordered [...]
The Remarkable Marquis de Lafayette
By Phyllis Schlafly Today is the birthday of one of the genuine heroes of the American Revolution, who was also one of history's most unique and remarkable individuals, the Marquis de Lafayette. Born September 6, 1757, his father died before he was two years old, his mother died when he was 12, and he inherited a fortune. He joined the French [...]
The Federalist Papers, No. 45: James Madison
Liberty Letters, James Madison, Federalist No. 45 Saturday, January 26, 1788 HAVING shown that no one of the powers transferred to the federal government is unnecessary or improper, the next question to be considered is, whether the whole mass of them will be dangerous to the portion of authority left in the several States. The [...]
Don’t Shoot Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!
American Minute with Bill Federer "Don't Shoot Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!" was the order given JUNE 17, 1775, by Colonel William Prescott to troops on Breed's Hill, adjacent Bunker Hill, guarding the north entrance to Boston Harbor. They were aiming at 2,300 British soldiers, under General Howe, marching at them with bayonets [...]
Concord 1775: Be On the Defensive
The American Revolution, Democratic Thinker Ralph Waldo Emerson, in an addendum to an address commerating an anniverary of the town of Concord, relates the observations of his grandfather, William Emerson— minister at Concord—, during the morning of April 19, 1775. But then, let me drop this one Word.—Let every single Step taken in this [...]
Thomas Paine: The American Crisis I
Liberty Letters, Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776 THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this [...]
Old Hickory, and Carrying a Bullet
American Minute with Bill Federer "Old Hickory!" During the Revolution, young Andrew Jackson refused to polish the boots of a British officer and was slashed on the arm with a sword and jailed. His mother died of prison fever while caring for captured American soldiers. Jackson carried a bullet in his body from a duel defending his wife's [...]
On American Independence
Liberty Letters, 1776, Samuel Adams OUR 1 forefathers, ’tis said, consented to be subject to the laws of Great Britain. I will not at the present time dispute it, nor mark out the limits and conditions of their submission; but will it be denied that they contracted to pay obedience and to be under the control of Great Britain because it [...]
A Need for Repentance
American Minute with Bill Federer Following the hated Stamp Act of 1765, the British committed the Boston Massacre in 1770, firing into a crowd, killing five. Colonists responded with the Boston Tea Party in 1773. In retaliation, the British blocked Boston Harbor in 1774 to starve the city into submission. The President of the Massachusetts [...]
Democratic Thinker: Novanglus Essays No. 9: John Adams
The American Revolution—The Novanglus Essays John Adams, under the signature of Novanglus, published a series of essays in Boston just prior to the start of the armed conflict in America. An answer to the Massachusettensis essays, Adams laid out the American position on the natural rights of individual Americans and the rights enjoyed by all [...]
Democratic Thinker: Novanglus Essay No. 8: John Adams
The American Revolution—The Novanglus Essays John Adams, under the signature of Novanglus, published a series of essays in Boston just prior to the start of the armed conflict in America. An answer to the Massachusettensis essays, Adams laid out the American position on the natural rights of individual Americans and the rights enjoyed by all [...]
Cornwallis, and the Surrender of Chesapeake Bay
American Minute with Bill Federer British General Henry Clinton ordered General Cornwallis to move 8,000 troops to a defensive position where the York River enters Chesapeake Bay. General Washington, joined by French General Rochambeau's 6,000 troops, hurriedly marched to trap Cornwallis against the sea. French Admiral de Grasse left off [...]
Marquis de Lafayette, Friend of America
American Minute with Bill Federer Born SEPTEMBER 6, 1757, his father died before he was two-years-old and his mother died when he was twelve, leaving him to inherit their fortune. At 14-years-old, he joined the French Military and, at age 16, became a captain. He married Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles, whose family was related to King [...]
It Having Pleased Divine Providence–The Treaty of Paris
American Minute with Bill Federer "In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity." Thus began the Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War. The Treaty continued: "It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent Prince George the Third...and of the United States of America, to forget [...]
Treason of the Blackest Dye Discovered By God
American Minute with Bill Federer One of America's greatest generals for capturing Fort Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen and leading the charge at Saratoga, he felt unappreciated, so AUGUST 30, 1780, General Benedict Arnold conspired with British General Clinton to surrender West Point for 20,000 pounds, equivalent to one million dollars today. The [...]
The Miracle Fog at Brooklyn Heights — American Minute
American Minute with Bill Federer AUGUST 27, 1776, British General Howe trapped 8,000 American troops on Brooklyn Heights. Desperate, Washington ferried his army all night across the East River. Morning came yet half his troops were still in danger. A fog allowed the entire army to be evacuated. Never again did the British have such a chance [...]
John Paul Jones Raids the English Coast.
Weekly Story During April, 1778, John Paul Jones of the American warship, Ranger, raided the English coast—burned the docks at Whitehaven—captured the Drake—escaped the Britsh fleet—all before sailing to France. The raid forced the British to deploy warships along their coast, keeping them away from America, and encouraged the French [...]
Samuel Adams — Candidus, 14 October 1776 — Democratic Thinker
Background of the American Revolution Prior to the Revolution, Samuel Adams sends another of his firey letters—under the psuedonym, Candidus—to the Boston Gazette, advancing his belief in Liberty. The truth is, All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought. Article Signed “Candidus.” ————— Boston [...]
Samuel Adams: Oration — Democratic Thinker
American Revolution In 1776 a pamphlet appeared in London of an oration said to have been delivered by Samuel Adams on August 1, 1776, at the State House in Philadelphia . Said also to have been reprinted from Philadelphia, no American copy has been found. If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the [...]
Wisdom, Duty, and Action — John Dickinson
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, John Dickinson It certainly is not a wise man, who folds his arms, and reposes himself at home, viewing with unconcern, the flames that have invaded his neighbors house, without using any endeavors to extinguish them. ... When the slightest point, touching the freedom, of one colony, is agitated, I earnestly wish [...]
Independence Resolution — Richard Henry Lee
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, 7 June 1776, Richard Henry Lee Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of a right, ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved, from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally [...]
The Trouble With Democracy — John Adams
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, John Adams As to the trouble with democracy, American Founder John Adams noted: "From the beginning I saw more difficulty from our attempts to govern ourselves than from all the armies and fleets of Europe." The solution sought for and achieved was a republic. Liberty Letters is a project of The Moral Liberal [...]
American Revolution, Part II — Benjamin Rush
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, 4 July 1787, Benjamin Rush We have changed our forms of government, but it remains yet to effect a revolution in our principles, opinions and manners so as to accommodate them to the forms of government we have adopted. Liberty Letters is a project of The Moral Liberal . Compiled, and edited (with occasional [...]
A Question of Freedom or Slavery — Patrick Henry
American Minute with Bill Federer The Declaration of Independence accused the King of "giving his Assent to their acts of 'pretended Legislation.'" Britain imposed the 1764 Currency Act, 1764 Sugar Act, 1765 Stamp Act, 1765 Quartering Act, 1766 Declaratory Act, 1767 Townshend Act, 1773 Tea Act, 1774 Boston Port Act, 1774 Justice Act, 1774 [...]
The Hard Work of Liberty — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Quote of the Day Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. -- Thomas Paine The Liberty Letters is a project of The Moral Liberal and the Center for Moral Liberalism. Daily Founding Era quotes, with occasional commentary from editor in chief, Steve Farrell. Help support The Moral Liberal with your purchase of Steve [...]
In Hope of Kindling a Fire in Others — Moses Mather
Founding Era Political Sermons, 1775, Moses Mather At a time when we are called upon to surrender our liberties, our religion, and country; or defend them at the point of the sword, against those, that were our friends, our brethren, and allies (whose swords, and ours, till lately were never drawn but for mutual defence; and in joint [...]
Heaven Ordained Prayer At The Continental Congress
American Minute with Bill Federer Jacob Duche' was born JANUARY 31, 1738. An Anglican minister, the Continental Congress had requested he open their first session with prayer. Conscious of impending British attack, Rev. Jacob Duche' read Psalm 35: Plead my cause, Oh, Lord, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me [...]
Declaration of Colonial Rights: Resolution of the First Continental Congress
Liberty Letters, Oct. 14, 1774, First Continental Congress The Congress met according to adjournment, and resuming the consideration of the subject under debate -- came into the following resolutions: ________________________ SULLIVAN'S DRAUGHT ... Whereas, since the close of the last war, the British Parliament, claiming a power of right to [...]
A Plan For Colonial Union — Benjamin Franklin
Liberty Letters, 1754/66, Benjamin Franklin ________________________ LETTER I CONCERNING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IN CHOOSING THE RULERS BY WHOM TAXES ARE IMPOSED TUESDAY MORNING SIR: I return return you the loose sheets of the plan, with thanks to your Excellency for communicating them. I apprehend that excluding the people of the colonies [...]
America's Catholic Patriot — Bishop John Carroll
American Minute with Bill Federer JANUARY 23, 1789, John Carroll founded Georgetown University. He was brother of Daniel Carroll, who signed the U.S. Constitution and gave the land where the Capitol is built. He was cousin to Charles Carroll, the wealthiest man in America and the longest living signer of the Declaration of Independence. John's [...]
Albany Plan of Union — Benjamin Franklin
Liberty Letters, 1754, Benjamin Franklin This popular woodcut was seen often during the later colonial era, and urged the colonists to overcome their parochial interests and form a strong union. Not until the Revolution, however, did unity outweigh long-standing suspicions. In the early 1750s, rivalry between England and France over who would [...]
The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved — James Otis
Liberty Letters, 1764, James Otis Of the Political and Civil Rights of the British Colonists Here indeed opens to view a large field; but I must study brevity—Few people have extended their enquiries after the foundation of any of their rights, beyond a charter from the crown. There are others who think when they have got back to old Magna [...]
Virginia Declaration of Rights — George Mason
Liberty Letters, June 1776, George Mason (Principal Author) A declaration of rights made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention; which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government. SECTION I. That all men are by nature equally free and independent [...]
The American Crisis 13b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Sept. 9 1783, Thomas Paine A Supernumerary Crisis IN "Rivington's New York Gazette," of December 6th, is a publication, under the appearance of a letter from London, dated September 30th; and is on a subject which demands the attention of the United States. The public will remember that a treaty of commerce between the United [...]
The American Crisis 13 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, April 19, 1783, Thomas Paine Thoughts on the Peace, and the probable Advantages thereof "THE times that tried men's souls," are over — and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished. But to pass from the extremes of danger to safety — from the tumult of war to the [...]
The American Crisis 12 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Oct. 29, 1782, Thomas Paine To the Earl of Shelburne MY LORD, — A speech, which has been printed in several of the British and New York newspapers, as coming from your lordship, in answer to one from the Duke of Richmond, of the 10th of July last, contains expressions and opinions so new and singular, and so enveloped in [...]
The American Crisis 11b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, May 31, 1782, Thomas Paine A Supernumerary Crisis. To Sir Guy Carleton IT is the nature of compassion to associate with misfortune; and I address this to you in behalf even of an enemy, a captain in the British service, now on his way to the headquarters of the American army, and unfortunately doomed to death for a crime not his [...]
The American Crisis 11 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, May 22, 1782, Thomas Paine On the present State of News SINCE the arrival of two, if not three packets in quick succession, at New York, from England, a variety of unconnected news has circulated through the country, and afforded as great a variety of speculation. That something is the matter in the cabinet and councils of our [...]
The American Crisis 10b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, March 5, 1782, Thomas Paine To the People of America -- On the expenses, arrangements and disbursements for carrying on the war, and finishing it with honor and advantage. WHEN any necessity or occasion has pointed out the convenience of addressing the public, I have never made it a consideration whether the subject was popular [...]
The American Crisis No. 10 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Thomas Paine On the King of England's Speech OF all the innocent passions which actuate the human mind there is none more universally prevalent than curiosity. It reaches all mankind, and in matters which concern us, or concern us not, it alike provokes in us a desire to know them. Although the situation of America, superior to [...]
The American Crisis No. 9b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Oct. 4, 1780, Thomas Paine The Crisis Extraordinary. On the Subject of Taxation. IT IS impossible to sit down and think seriously on the affairs of America, but the original principles upon which she resisted, and the glow and ardor which they inspired, will occur like the undefaced remembrance of a lovely scene. To trace over [...]
The American Crisis No. 9 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, June 9, 1790, Thomas Paine HAD America pursued her advantages with half the spirit that she resisted her misfortunes, she would, before now, have been a conquering and a peaceful people; but lulled in the lap of soft tranquillity, she rested on her hopes, and adversity only has convulsed her into action. Whether subtlety or [...]
The American Crisis VIII — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, March 1780, Thomas Paine Address to the People of England "TRUSTING (says the king of England in his speech of November last,) in the divine providence, and in the justice of my cause, I am firmly resolved to prosecute the war with vigor, and to make every exertion in order to compel our enemies to equitable terms of peace and [...]
The American Crisis VII — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Nov. 21, 1778, Thomas Paine To the People of England THERE are stages in the business of serious life in which to amuse is cruel, but to deceive is to destroy; and it is of little consequence, in the conclusion, whether men deceive themselves, or submit, by a kind of mutual consent, to the impositions of each other. That England [...]
Betsy Ross Remembered
American Minute with Bill Federer A 3-cent stamp honoring Betsy Ross was issued in Philadelphia, JANUARY 2, 1952, commemorating the 200th anniversary of her birth. Born a day earlier, January 1, 1752, to a Quaker family in Philadelphia, Betsy was the 8th of 17 children. She apprenticed as a seamstress and fell in love with upholsterer John Ross, [...]
The American Crisis VI — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, October 20, 1788, Thomas Paine To the Earl of Carlisle, General Clinton, and William Eden, Esq., British Commissioners at New York. THERE is a dignity in the warm passions of a Whig, which is never to be found in the cold malice of a Tory. In the one nature is only heated — in the other she is poisoned. The instant the former [...]
The American Crisis Vb — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, March 21, 1778, Thomas Paine To The Inhabitants Of America WITH all the pleasure with which a man exchanges bad company for good, I take my leave of Sir William and return to you. It is now nearly three years since the tyranny of Britain received its first repulse by the arms of America. A period which has given birth to a new [...]
The American Crisis II — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Thomas Paine, 1777 To Lord Howe "What's in the name of lord, that I should fear To bring my grievance to the public ear?" Churchill UNIVERSAL empire is the prerogative of a writer. His concerns are with all mankind, and though he cannot command their obedience, he can assign them their duty. The Republic of Letters is more [...]
