Happy 250th Birthday, America!

In honor of America’s Semiquincentennial, I’ve rounded up seven previous blog posts that focus on various aspects of the American Revolution. Some are from the very early stages of Traveling through Reading, while others are much more recent.

You’ll travel throughout the colonies, meeting the individuals who loom large in our nation’s founding and discovering places often overlooked. No matter the level of fame today, each person, place, and occurrence all had a part to play in creating the United States of America out of thirteen loosely tied colonies.

The Signers

In Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence, authors Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese provide a brief biography of all fifty-six signers.

Today, visitors can walk the same cobblestone streets that the signers walked in Philadelphia. Inside Independence Hall, you can step into the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and imagine the arguments for and against a split from Great Britain. Just across the street is the Liberty Bell. Originally it hung in Independence Hall, but has been moved to a spot where all visitors can see it up close.

Military Drill for Independence

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge by Paul Lockhart is an insightful look into Baron von Steuben, the man credited with training the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1778. For many Americans, this is where Steuben’s story ends. Lockart’s biography details the rest of Steuben’s major contributions that had a lasting impact on the American military.

Valley Forge is located about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Visitor Center provides an overview of Valley Forge and numerous artifacts from the winter encampment. Throughout the park, you can visit replica cabins that soldiers would have stayed in, the home Washington used as his headquarters, and the plain where Steuben trained and drilled the army.

            
“The ‘Cockpit’ of the American Revolution”

The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front, edited by James J. Gigantion II, explores the impact of the Revolutionary War on New Jersey. Readers gain insight into the personal, economic, and military impact on the residents—for both patriots and loyalists.

Red Bank Battlefield Park is one of the many locations in New Jersey that commemorates where the America forces fought for Independence from Great Britain. Located on the Delaware River, the patriot forces fought Hessian soldiers. The original owners' home is open seasonally and provides a glimpse into Colonial life.

The Glorious Cause of America

In 1776, author David McCullough unpacks all that happened during one pivotal year. He splits the book into three parts that move the reader from London to Colonial America. For me, the most impactful part of 1776 was McCullough's description of the Continental Army: a collection of rag-tag volunteers who morphed into a disciplined fighting force. 

Nestled amongst numerous other Philadelphia sites important to the story of 1776, the Museum of the American Revolution is a fully immersive museum that takes full advantage of technological advancements. It covers the entirety of the American Revolution, transporting visitors across geography and leaving them with a greater appreciation for the everyday patriots committed to independence. 

Chain Defense

Chaining the Hudson by Lincoln Diamant highlights an important part of Revolutionary War history: defending the Hudson River, north of New York City. Failure to defend it would split the northern colonies in two and cut off supplies.

Fort Montgomery is on the northern edge of Bear Mountain State Park, in New York. The area includes a small indoor museum, detailing the significance of the Fort to the defense of the Hudson, original stone foundations and earthworks, and recreated structures.

And, just as a reminder, the last two published blog posts were the first in this mini-series:

• Evolution of the Revolution
• The Flag Seamstress

The Glorious Cause of America

“We are in the very midst of a revolution,” wrote John Adams, “the most complete, unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of nations” (136).

The Book

It is incredible to think of all that happened during one pivotal year and author David McCullough uses 1776 to unpack a variety of perspectives and events.

The book is split into three parts: The Siege [of Boston], Fateful Summer, and The Long Retreat. To help provide background, the first part begins in London as King George III opens Parliament in October 1775. McCullough takes the time to describe the character of King George III, the perspective of Great Britain, and the various voices raised regarding potential war with the Colonies. I found this first chapter helpful because I honestly didn’t know much about this part of history. The second chapter introduces the reader to the Colonies and the Continental Army laying siege to Boston. Throughout the rest of the book, McCullough intertwines the stories and perspectives of Great Britain and the Continental Army.

What struck me the most were McCullough’s descriptions of the Continental Army, which at the beginning really wasn’t an army. It was a collection of rag-tag volunteers who lacked discipline and uniformity, whose camp was plagued with filth and sickness, and who was constantly in danger of losing men whose enlistment was up. It made me marvel at the eventual success and that it held together long enough for success. In fact, 1776 was not a year of military victories for General Washington and his men. The one constant was the courage and perseverance of those who truly believed in the fight for independence.

1776 builds upon what we learn in school to help provide new perspectives and a greater understanding. It dives deeper into one year, but doesn’t overwhelm the reader. There are numerous mini stories that help to place the reader in the story and McCullough uses them to introduce us to average people (Loyalists, Hessian soldiers, Patriots, and members of the Continental Army).

The Place
The Museum of the American Revolution is a welcome addition to Philadelphia’s list of landmarks; a museum that houses the artifacts and walks a visitor through the story of American independence. It is a fully immersive museum that takes full advantage of technological advancements. Artifacts and reproductions are interspersed with touch screens to help visitors learn more. The story told by the Museum of the American Revolution covers all the subplots from start to finish, leaving visitors with a greater appreciation for the everyday patriots committed to independence.

Nestled among numerous other sites important to the story of 1776, the Museum of the American Revolution is easy to get to by car or public transportation. When I visited, we took the PATCO Speedline from South Jersey and walked to the museum. There are also several parking garages in the area. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum.

One of the gems of Philadelphia is the close proximity of the landmarks. Carpenters Hall (the location of the First Continental Congress) is across the street from the museum. A short walking distance away is Benjamin Franklin’s home and Betsy Ross’s home. Even if you do not have time to tour these places, it is still a neat experience to walk through so much history.