“July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
-Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3rd 1776
In Pioneer’s ongoing series of blogs here, here, here, and here on curricular resources for parents, families, and teachers during COVID-19, this one focuses on:
Celebrating American Independence!
“[T]he sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people,” President George Washington said in his 1789 Inaugural Address. It had been a long road for the 57 year old Father of the Country, and former military commander of the improbable American cause of independence from Great Britain, the most powerful imperial force on Earth in the late 18th century.
This American Cincinnatus was named after the mythical ancient Roman Cincinnatus who had left the plough and his farm to lead his country in a time of trouble, ultimately restoring order and returning to his farm and citizenship. Washington of Virginia led his rag tag Continental Army from June 1775 to December 1783, and earned a historic victory before ceremoniously resigning his military command. When his adversary, King George III of Great Britain, heard the news of Washington’s resignation after the long War for Independence, he said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”
Consequently, Washington was a man posterity would call the young republic’s “indispensable man.” In an age that was extraordinary deep in terms of accomplished, historic leaders – Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Marshall – every one of his peers recognized that the Revolutionary and Founding eras, were in fact the Age of Washington.
American schoolchildren need to know more about the basic history of and lessons from the American Revolution and War for Independence, including perhaps the greatest leader and hero the country has ever produced, George Washington. To do our small part to help the cause, we’re offering a variety of resources to help parents, teachers, schoolchildren, and citizens better celebrate the Fourth of July!
![George Washington, by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image002-18.jpg)
George Washington, by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire
![Benjamin Franklin, by Ingri D’Aulaire and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image003-20.jpg)
Benjamin Franklin, by Ingri D’Aulaire and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
![What Was the Boston Tea Party?, by Kathleen Krull](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image004-17.jpg)
What Was the Boston Tea Party?, by Kathleen Krull
![Founding Mothers: Remembering the Ladies, by Cokie Roberts and Diane Goode](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image005-19.jpg)
Founding Mothers: Remembering the Ladies, by Cokie Roberts and Diane Goode
![Who Was Thomas Jefferson?, by Dennis Brindell Fradin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image006-16.jpg)
Who Was Thomas Jefferson?, by Dennis Brindell Fradin
![George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image007-16.jpg)
George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer
![Who Was Abigail Adams?, by True Kelley](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image008-19.jpg)
Who Was Abigail Adams?, by True Kelley
![Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Author) and Ted Rand (Illustrator)](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image009-16.jpg)
Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Author) and Ted Rand (Illustrator)
![Who Was Paul Revere?, by Roberta Edwards](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image010-18.jpg)
Who Was Paul Revere?, by Roberta Edwards
![Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution, by Dennis Brindell Fradin (Author) and Larry Day (Illustrator)](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image011-18.jpg)
Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution, by Dennis Brindell Fradin (Author) and Larry Day (Illustrator)
![Who Was Ben Franklin?, by Dennis Brindell Fradin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image012-17.jpg)
Who Was Ben Franklin?, by Dennis Brindell Fradin
![Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, by Selene Castrovilla](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image013-15.jpg)
Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, by Selene Castrovilla
![What Is the Declaration of Independence?, by Michael C. Harris](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image014-17.jpg)
What Is the Declaration of Independence?, by Michael C. Harris
![Who Was George Washington?, by Roberta Edwards](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image015-17.jpg)
Who Was George Washington?, by Roberta Edwards
![Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image016-17.jpg)
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
![Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence, by Dennis B. Fradin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image017-15.jpg)
Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence, by Dennis B. Fradin
![Our Sacred Honor: Words of Advice from the Founders in Stories, Letters, Poems, and Speeches, by William J. Bennett (Editor)](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image018-15.jpg)
Our Sacred Honor: Words of Advice from the Founders in Stories, Letters, Poems, and Speeches, by William J. Bennett (Editor)
![Three Men of Boston, by John R. Galvin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image019-15.jpg)
Three Men of Boston, by John R. Galvin
![James Otis: The Pre-Revolutionist, by John Clark Ridpath](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image020-14.jpg)
James Otis: The Pre-Revolutionist, by John Clark Ridpath
![The Meaning of Independence: John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, by Edmund S. Morgan](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image021-15.jpg)
The Meaning of Independence: John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, by Edmund S. Morgan
![The Radicalism of the American Revolution, by Gordon S. Wood](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image022-15.jpg)
The Radicalism of the American Revolution, by Gordon S. Wood
![The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, by Bernard Bailyn](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image023-15.jpg)
The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, by Bernard Bailyn
![The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution, by John R. Galvin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image024-15.jpg)
The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution, by John R. Galvin
![Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence, by Carol Berkin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image025-15.jpg)
Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence, by Carol Berkin
![The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789, by Robert Middlekauff](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image026-12.jpg)
The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789, by Robert Middlekauff
![1776, by David McCullough](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image027-9.jpg)
1776, by David McCullough
![John Adams, by David McCullough](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image028-9.jpg)
John Adams, by David McCullough
![Washington: The Indispensable Man, by James Thomas Flexner](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image029-8.jpg)
Washington: The Indispensable Man, by James Thomas Flexner
![George Mason: Forgotten Founder, by Jeff Broadwater](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image030-8.jpg)
George Mason: Forgotten Founder, by Jeff Broadwater
![American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image031-8.jpg)
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier
![Abigail Adams: A Biography, by Phyllis Lee Levin](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image032-8.jpg)
Abigail Adams: A Biography, by Phyllis Lee Levin
![Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence, by John Ferling](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image033-8.jpg)
Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence, by John Ferling
![Henry Knox: Visionary General of the American Revolution, by Mark Puls](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image034-8.jpg)
Henry Knox: Visionary General of the American Revolution, by Mark Puls
![Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution, by Charles Rappleye](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image035-8.jpg)
Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution, by Charles Rappleye
![A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic, by Henry Mayer](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image036-8.jpg)
A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic, by Henry Mayer
![Paul Revere’s Ride, by David Hackett Fischer](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image037-8.jpg)
Paul Revere’s Ride, by David Hackett Fischer
![Washington’s Crossing, David Hackett Fischer](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image038-8.jpg)
Washington’s Crossing, David Hackett Fischer
![Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image039-8.jpg)
Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow
![John Adams, DVD Box Set, byTom Hooper (Director), Paul Giamatti (Actor), Laura Linney (Actor)](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image040-8.jpg)
John Adams, DVD Box Set, byTom Hooper (Director), Paul Giamatti (Actor), Laura Linney (Actor)
![History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution: All Three Volumes, by Mercy Otis Warren](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image041-8.jpg)
History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution: All Three Volumes, by Mercy Otis Warren
![1776 (Restored Director’s Cut), by William Daniels (Actor), Howard DaSilva (Actor), Peter H. Hunt (Director)](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image042-2.jpg)
1776 (Restored Director’s Cut), by William Daniels (Actor), Howard DaSilva (Actor), Peter H. Hunt (Director)
![Boston’s Massacre, by Eric Hinderaker](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image043-2.jpg)
Boston’s Massacre, by Eric Hinderaker
![American Tempest: How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution, by Harlow Giles Unger](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image044-2.jpg)
American Tempest: How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution, by Harlow Giles Unger
![Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill, by Richard M. Ketchum](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image045-2.jpg)
Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill, by Richard M. Ketchum
![Saratoga, by Richard Ketchum](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image046-2.jpg)
Saratoga, by Richard Ketchum
![Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution, by Richard M. Ketchum](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image047-2.jpg)
Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution, by Richard M. Ketchum
![Lafayette, by Harlow Giles Unger](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image048-2.jpg)
Lafayette, by Harlow Giles Unger
![Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, by Jon Meacham](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image049-2.jpg)
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, by Jon Meacham
![My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, by Abigail Adams and John Adams](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image050-1.jpg)
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, by Abigail Adams and John Adams
![Liberty! The American Revolution, Thomas Fleming DVD Box Set](https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/image051-2.jpg)