Discover the youthful courage that fueled the American Revolution!
A large part of my library is of writing from the time of the American Revolution. There is no better story of freeing oneself from tyranny. You may not know how young many of the rebels were when they challenged the superpower that was England.
Notable Figures from Oldest to Youngest
- Benjamin Franklin: My all-time favorite, he was 69 when the revolution started!
- Samuel Adams: He was dirty and Hancock had to buy him a suit. He was 52.
- George Washington: At 43, Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in June 1775. He wore his uniform to the convention.
- Paul Revere: He was 40 when he rode to determine if the British came by land or sea.
- John Adams: At 39, Adams was the leading advocate for American Independence. He also drafted the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. He was Washington’s VP from 1797 to 1801.
- Patrick Henry: At 39, he said “Give me liberty or give me death.”
- John Hancock: Known for signing his name large, at age 38, Hancock knew that he would be hanged if he were captured.
- Thomas Paine: at 38, this rabble-rouser wrote “Common Sense” in 1776. Paine was a pamphleteer who wrote so people could read. He was also one of the reasons we have a republic.
- Henry Knox: At 25, he was the first U.S. Secretary of War.
- Deborah Sampson: At 21, she disguised herself as a man and served in the Continental Army.
- Nathan Hale: At 20, he famously said: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
- James Monroe: Eighteen when the revolution broke out, he became the fifth president of the United States.
- Marquis de Lafayette: At 18, this Frenchman joined the Continental Army, bringing his bravery and leadership to the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. He also fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, helping to rally American troops and counter a British attack.
- Joseph Plumb Martin: At 15, he enlisted in the Continental Army. He later wrote a book of his firsthand account of war.
Celebrating 248 Years of American Independence
248 years! I am proudly American. I am also proudly post-political. If you happen to be infected with the Blue Team beliefs, I still love you. If you are fixated on Red Team Beliefs, you are welcome to sit down and share a meal and a conversation.
The Genius of Our Government System
The genius of our government is that no one can do too much too fast. In the past, the conservatives would ensure we maintain our traditions and our laws. In that same past, the liberals pushed for change. No one can take over the government, as it is broken into so many pieces that there will always be tension. There will always be tension between parties, between both wings of Congress, and between the three branches of government.
Reflecting on the Founding Fathers and Their Legacy
We could do well with a Franklin, a Washington, a couple of Adamses, and for my money, a Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson.
