Tag Archives: John Hanco-ck

The Declaration of Independence

February 29, 2016 americanadmin Leave a comment

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

The colonists’ original goal in fighting the British was to gain more freedom, while still remaining loyal to the Crown. By the spring of 1776, most of them believed they needed to be independent of Great Britain. In June of 1776, the Continental Congress selected a committee of five men to write an official declaration of independence. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to draft this historic document, which was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Facts about Declaration of Independence- Image of Thomas Jefferson

Fun Facts

The committee of men who drafted the Declaration of Independence knew that they were committing treason and could be executed for their crimes.
Thomas Jefferson was very well-educated. He was a gifted writer, as well as a scientist, inventor, lawyer, architect, and musician. He knew about Greek and Roman history and had studied the writings of men, such as John Locke.
John Locke believed that government is a contract between leaders and people. If the government wasn’t working, the people had the right to choose a new government. Jefferson believed in these ideals.
Jefferson was troubled by slavery, but didn’t know how to find a solution for it. He even kept slaves himself. In the Declaration of Independence, he wrote a list of complaints against the King, including his belief that the King made slavery possible. The Continental Congress removed that line.
John Hanco-ck, President of the Continental Congress, signed his name first. His is also the largest signature, supposedly because he wanted King George to be able to read Hanco-ck’s name without his glasses.
The Declaration of Independence was written on parchment with iron gall ink. The Founding Fathers were somewhat careless with it, rolling it up and carrying it with them from place to place. Today, it is displayed in a bullet-proof case filled with argon gas to preserve it.
The Declaration of Independence has inspired people worldwide to view themselves and the role of government in a new way. This document gives people hope and dignity.

Vocabulary

1. Draft: to write

2. Execute: to intentionally kill someone as a punishment

3. Dignity: self-respect

Questions and Answers

Question: Did the Declaration of Independence give equal rights to everyone?

Answer: Although the Declaration of Independence declares that all “men are created equal,” they were not all given equal rights. Black men, poor men, and all women were denied the right to vote. Only educated men with some wealth could choose leaders. The Founding Fathers believed that poor men could too easily be bribed or persuaded by wealthy men. Do you think this was fair? Why or why not?

Learn More

Visit the History Place to see a photo of the original draft and hear an audio version of the Declaration of Independence.

Colonial Period, The Revolutionary War

Thomas Paine

February 29, 2016 americanadmin Leave a comment

You’ve probably heard of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, John Hanco-ck, and George Washington – all men who played a vital role in the Revolutionary War, but what about Thomas Paine? Most of the Founding Fathers were highly educated, wealthy men who held prominent positions. Thomas Paine was a man of the people. His fiery pamphlet, Common Sense, inspired people everywhere to fight for the cause of liberty.

Image of Thomas Paine

Fun Facts

Thomas Paine was born in England in 1737. He failed in school and later became a tax collector. He was fired twice from this job. He came to America in 1774 and studied journalism.
Paine joined the Continental Army, but wasn’t a very successful soldier. Then he wrote a short political pamphlet, Common Sense, which urged Americans to seek freedom from Great Britain.
Paine’s writing was simple and easy to understand. Americans hadn’t been thinking about independence from Great Britain, but Paine’s writing inspired them. More than 150,000 copies were sold in just a few months.
George Washington used Paine’s words to rally troops. He said, “These are the times that try men’s souls. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
Thomas Paine played a vital role in the American Revolution, but his later writing angered people and made them forget the good work he had done during the Revolutionary War.
Paine wrote papers against organized religion, which made him very unpopular. He was thrown in prison and almost executed in France for his political views during the French Revolution.
Paine died in 1809. Only six people attended his funeral.

Vocabulary

1. Prominent: important, visible

2. Pamphlet: a short booklet or paper containing only a few pages

3. Unpopular: disliked by most people

Questions and Answers

Question: Did anyone else encourage the colonists to seek independence from Great Britain?

Answer: Samuel Adams had been urging Congress to seek independence for several months, but he wasn’t as skilled at reaching the common people.

Learn More

Visit Scholastic to learn more about Thomas Paine.

Colonial Period, The Revolutionary War

The First Day of the Revolutionary War: Lexington and Concord

February 29, 2016 americanadmin Leave a comment

Although the colonists were angry with the British for increased taxes and interference, most still felt some loyalty to the Crown. Originally, many Americans wanted to remain part of the British Empire, with more freedom. That view changed quickly when they realized King George wasn’t interested in compromise.

The First Day of the Revolutionary War- Image of Lexington and Concord

Fun Facts

The British began to worry about the colonists’ strength and stockpile of weapons.
In April, 1775, General Gage sent 700 redcoats from Boston to Concord, Massachusetts to seize weapons and arrest Patriot leaders, such as Samuel Adams and John Hanco-ck.
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode on horseback from Boston to Concord to warn the Patriots that the “British were coming.”
At dawn on April 19, 1775, church bells rang as an alarm that British troops had arrived. Minutemen arrived, prepared for battle. The British fired on the Minutemen, killing eight Americans at Lexington.
The British marched on to Concord, where Minutemen fought them fiercely and drove them back.
The British retreated, with the Minutemen shooting at them all the way back to Boston. 273 British and 95 Americans died. The Revolutionary War had begun.
The Second Continental Congress sent a document called the Olive Branch Petition to Parliament. This document detailed the things Americans were unhappy about and asked for a solution. King George responded by sending 20,000 troops to America. He said that the rebels must be put to death.

Vocabulary

1. Compromise: an agreement in which all sides get something they want

2. Stockpile: a large collection of gathered materials, usually reserved for emergency use

3. Minutemen: Americans who had been trained and prepared to be ready in a minute to fight

Questions and Answers

Question: Did Paul Revere really make a midnight ride?

Answer: On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere did ride from Boston to warn the Patriots in Lexington and Concord. He and William Dawes were captured by British officers before they arrived. A young doctor, Samuel Prescott, actually rode all the way to Concord to deliver the message. The incident was mostly forgotten until American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride” 80 years later.

Learn More

Visit NPR to hear Paul Revere’s Ride read by historian, Jayne Triber.

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