Five Things You Might Not Know About the U.S. Flag-- Part 3: One of the First U.S. Flags Had the Union Jack of Britain in It

Raised during the American Revolution, the first American flag featured, strangely enough, the Union Jack of Great Britain.

The Continental Colors consisted of 13 horizontal stripes of red and white, to which a canton (the square in the upper left corner in case you're wondering) depicting the British flag.

During the Siege of Boston, General George Washington raised this flag on January 1, 1776.

Its design is a reminder that the Revolution's original goal was not independence from Britain but the restoration of the colonists' liberties under British law.

On June 14, 1777, almost a year after the Declaration of Independence, Congress replaced the British flag with 13 white stars on a blue field, representing the United States as "a new constellation" in the heavens, alongside older nations and empires.

--DaCoot

46 Fascinating Facts About Our 46 Presidents-- Part 1: Washington to Monroe

I'm going to take a break from the Battle of Princeton (and hopefully get back to it in a more timely amount of time than last time) to go through this list from the History Site about our presidents in honor of Presidents Day coming up this Monday.

1.  GEORGE WASHINGTON (1789-1797)  

The first U.S. president and hero of the American Revolution was an enthusiastic dog breeder, particularly of hunting hounds,  to which he gave names like "Sweet Lips" and "Drunkard."

2.  JOHN ADAMS  (1797-1801)

Adams and his wife Abigail exchanged more than 1,100 letters over the course of their lengthy relationship.

3.  THOMAS JEFFERSON (1801-1809)

Jefferson, the principal author of the declaration of Independence, died on July 4, 1826, within hours of  his "frenemy" John Adams.

4.  JAMES MADISON (1809-1817)

Madison was the shortest president at 5'4" and weighed barely 100 pounds.

5.  JAMES MONROE--  (1817-1825)

Other than Washington, Monroe was the only president to ever run essentially unopposed, coasting to re-election in the 1820 race.

--CootPres

Five Lies About Early American History You Might Have Learned in School

From the Literacy Site by Allison Stout.

1.  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED  THE AMERICAS.

2.  THE ENTIRE THANKSGIVING STORY  There is a 4:30 minute video for you to watch.

3.  THERE WERE 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES--    There were only 12 because Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania until 1776.  Delaware may not have been a colony, it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution (hence the nickname "The First State).

4.  THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADDRESSED TO KING GEORGE III.  It was actually an explanation to the world and England that the colonies had to cut ties with England.  And, John Hancock did not sign his name really big so that King George III could read it without his glasses.    He just had an obnoxiously big signature.

5.  THE UNION FOUGHT THE CIVIL WAR TO FREE THE SLAVES.  Lincoln actually wanted to preserve the Union at first and to keep the border states happy.  Abolishing slavery would not go over big in these slave states.

It wasn't until later in the war that the goal began to shift toward freeing the slaves.

--Cooter

Movie Watching on 4th of July-- Part 7: "A League Of Their Own," "Rocky" amd "Stripes"

Movies to avoid the mosquitoes.

"A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN"  (1992)

Tom Hanks makes his second appearance here as a drunken former baseball player who manages a women's baseball team during the manpower shortages of WW II.  Manages the Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

And, you've just got to love his quote:  "There's no crying in BASEBALL!!"

"ROCKY"  (1976)

How much more "American" can "Rocky" get.  Sylvester Stallone was the ultimate underdog and a fairly unknown person as an actor at the time.

The movie, its follow-ups, and he remain a big deal to this very day.


"STRIPES"  (1981)

If "Animal House" made kids want to join a fraternity, then "Stripes" made them want to join the U.S. Army.  It would be hard for Bill Murray not to do well with a whole bunch of misfits.

Rent It, Watch It.  --Cooter

Nine Things You Didn't Know About the Fourth of July-- Part 4:

7.  Celebrating with fireworks is as old as the holiday it self.  At the first celebration in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, 13 cannons were fired, one for each colony.  That night, 13 fireworks were shot off in the city commons.

The tradition of fireworks has gotten bigger since then.  In 1934, American Arctic explorers set off fireworks even though it was 33 degrees below zero.

8.  And today, fireworks are a massive industry.  The American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans spent over $1 billion for fireworks in 2017.  That number has tripled over the last twenty  years.

Judging just by the folks around our subdivision Saturday and last night, I'd say a WHOLE lot of it was spent here.

9.  July 4 is the biggest hot dog day of the year.  Americans consume roughly 150 million hot dogs on July 4, enough to stretch from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles five times.

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, which is a century old, takes place every July 4.  The record, currently held by Joey Chestnut, is 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Have a Dog On Me.  --RoadHot

Nine Things You Didn't Know About the Fourth of July-- Part 3: The Philippines

5.  Calvin Coolidge is the only president born on July 4.

6.  The United States isn't the only country to celebrate independence day on the 4th of July.  The Philippines gained its independence from U.S. colonial control on July 4, 1946, and that day became a national holiday.

In 1962, however, due to rising Filipino nationalism and resentment to prior American colonialism it was changed to June 12.  July 4 is still on the books as "Philippine Republic Day" but is not much celebrated.

--Cooter

Nine Things You Didn't Know About the 4th of July-- Part 2: Three Presidents Have Died July 4th

3.  During the American Revolution, George Washington gave his troops a special treat on July 4.

On July 4, 1778, he ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers.  He also ordered a cannon salute for the occasion.

Drinking has always been a large part of the 4th of July celebration.  In the past it was traditional to drink 13 toasts, one for each of the states that voted for independence.

4.  In a bizarre coincidence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826.  The two Founding Fathers and adversaries died within five hours of each other.  As Adams lay on his deathbed, unaware that Jefferson had already died, his reported last words were, "Jefferson still still survives."

James Monroe was the third president (and only one since) to die on the date, July 4, 1831.

Some Coincidence.  --DaCoot

Nine Things You Didn't Know About the Fourth of July-- Part 1: July 2

From the July 4, 2018 USA Today "9 things you didn't know about the Fourth of July" Caroline Simon.

1.  Congress did not actually vote for independence on July 4.  Twelve of the 13 states/colonies approved an independence resolution on July 2.  New York did not do so until July 9.

Many of the delegates did not sign it until as late as August 2.  John Adams insisted the annual celebration should be July 2 and refused to attend anything on July 4.

2.  July 4th was not an official holiday until almost a century later.  It was not so designated until 1870 and it wasn't until 1941 that it became a paid holiday for federal employees.

Stuff You Didn't Know.  --Coot4

10 Forgotten Americans-- Part 2: Roger Sherman Signed Three Really Important American Documents

7.  ROGER SHERMAN--  Backed equal representation in the Constitutional Convention.  The only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

6.  MARY BOWSER--  Slave.  Union spy.  Served in the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia, and relayed what she overheard to Union lines.

5.  ANGIE TURNER WITTENMEYER--  Social and political activist.  Social worker in Iowa Civil War camp.  Pushed nutritional food to help sick and wounded soldiers recover.  Prominent in  Women's Christian Temperance Union.

--DaCoot

August 2 in History: Declaration, Census, Bad Day for Wild Bill, Black Sox and Gulf of Tonkin

From the Chicago Tribune.

**  1776   Members of the Continental Congress began signing the Declaration of Independence.  (And most people think it was signed on July 4, 1776.)

**  1790   The enumeration of the first U.S. census began.  When it was over, the final total was 3,929,214.

**  1876   "Wild Bill" Hickok was fatally shot from behind while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory.  He was holding two aces and two eights, a combination that became known as the "Deadman's Hand."

**  1921   After two hours of deliberation, the jury in the "Black Sox" trial of eight White Sox players returned a verdict of not guilty in the plot to fix the 1919 World Series.  (However, Baseball Commissioner Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis banned them from baseball for life.)

A real sad day for us Sox fans as we might have had that successful reign that the Yankees had after that.

1964   The Pentagon reported the first of two attacks on U.S. destroyers by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin.  This was a major step for the U.S. escalation in the Vietnam War.

--  SadSoxCoot

History of the Fourth of July

From History site.

Also known as Independence Day or July 4th.  It has been a federal holiday since 1941, but its traditions go back to the 18th century and the American Revolution.

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence and two days later delegates from thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

From 1776 to the present, July 4 has been celebrated as the birthday of American independence with festivals, fireworks, parades, coverts, family gatherings and barbecues.

Happy B-D, U.S.A.!!  --Cootstarsandstripes

North Carolina in the American Revolution-- Part 1

From North Carolina in the Revolution by James C, Crone.

Members if the North Carolina delegation who signed the Declaration of Independence:

William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn

MILITARY

North Carolina militia served within the state, but five regiments with around 5000 men joined the Continental Army.  They served under Washington and Nathaniel Greene with an eight year term of service being from 1775-1783.

BATTLES FOUGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA

Battle of Moore's Creek--  Feb. 27, 1776

Battle of King;s Mountain--  April 1779

Battle of Guilford Courthouse--  March 15, 1781

Battle of Peacock's Bridge--  May 6, 1781

--Cooter

Think Beyond BBQ on This Fourth-- Part 2: A Slave's Story

Not everyone rejoiced this date 239 years ago.  It was a gamble many didn't want to take.  Britain would consider the Declaration of Independence and all its supporters as being guilty of treason, punishable by death.  Others wanted to stay with Britain.

Jehu Grant was a slave and the declaration was written by a slaveholder.  Yet he heard something in Thomas Jefferson's words that weren't intended for him:  "Songs of liberty that saluted my ear, thrilled my heart," Grant said in his petition.  "These considerations induced me to enlist in the American army, where I served faithful about ten months, when my master found me and took me home."

Later he purchased his freedom and unsuccessfully applied for his pension.

Ten Things About Harvard-- Part 2: Eight Alumni Signed Declaration of Independence

Guess I ought to finish this post since it started September 10th.

7. Eight alumni SIGNED the Declaration of Independence, including John Hancock and John Adams.

6. They are well-ENDOWED WITH MONEY, the most of any college. As of 2012, $30 billion.

5. NCAA FIRST-- had the first black player from 1892 and 1893.

Four to Go. --Cooter

These Are Our Reasons for Independence

From the July 4, 2013, Northwest (McHenry County, Il) Herald by Thomas Jefferson et all.

Here is a list of some of the things we're unhappy about and why we chose to do what we did.

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us."

And, the list goes on and on and even had quite a few reasons before these few I listed.

Of course, most will remember the opening words a bit better.  They went:  "When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..."

In Other Words, Our Declaration of Independence.

Happy 235th Birthday, USA: Big John's Big Signature

From the July 1st Yahoo! Shine "The Story of John Hancock's Signature" by Mike Krumboltz.

This story would seem appropriate today, even thought the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence did not take place this date 235 years ago. What did happen today was that the delegates voted to accept it.

Why did John Hancock sigh it so big? Most stories have it was to make sure "fat old King George" could read it without his spectacles.

Actually, this account is not true according to Snopes.com. As president of the Continental Congress (which would also make him our country's first president), he was the first to sign it, as it should be. And he put his name front and center. He did not know that the rest of the delegates, who signed it days and months afterwards (the last signatures coming in late November), were going to sign smaller.

As the custom of the time dictated, the others signed to the right of the text and signing was arranged by state geographic location with New Hampshire being the farthest north, signing first and Georgia last.

Actual signing of the Declaration of Independence began August 4th.

The famous painting of the delegates signing the declaration at Independence Hall was actually a lot of artistic license.

As I have said before, I don't know that I would have signed the Declaration. Putting your signature on it branded you as being guilty of treason with execution your fate if you were captured. Mighty brave men.

Thanks John et All. --DaCoot

In Congress, July 4, 1776-- Part 3

I haven't read it yet, but still have some of the textbooks I used to use, so will find a copy and read it by Sunday. This editorial moved me and sort of shamed me at the same time.

On July 3rd, John Adams wrote his wife Abigail that in the future July 2nd would be "celebrated by succeeding generations...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."

He was wrong about the date but right on the mark with the celebration aspect. I wonder how he knew the country he was starting would one day stretch from sea to shining sea?

From the Tribune: "So, start the parades. Let the 'illuminations' fly. Light the bonfires. And what about starting a new tradition? Find the text of the Declaration of Independence and read it aloud. It takes less than 10 minutes-- though you might want to allow some extra time for the cheers.

Think I'll Do Just That. Where Are Those Old Textbooks? --DaCoot

In Congress, July 4, 1776-- Part 2

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coast, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."

People cheered as our ancestors built a case for independence. At the end came the actual declaration and the resolve.

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

From the Tribune: "The words have astonishing power and eloquence. They stand the test of time. Credit the principal author, Thomas Jefferson."

The second Continental Congress approved the Declaration July 2nd. Jefferson added a few modifications and the second one was approved two days later, July 4th. However, it was signed until August 2, 1776.

By signing this document, these men were putting their lives on the line. I don't know that I would have signed it. I might have supported it, but signing it irrevocably casts your lot. If England wins, and there is no reason to think they won't, you are ruined and perhaps dead. Your family is also put into danger.

Mighty Brave of These men and They definitely Weren't Speaking for All Americans. Many Were Still Loyal to the Crown and Then There Was the Slave Question. --Cooter

In Congress, July 4, 1776-- Part 1

The July 4th Chicago Tribune had an editorial titles "The Declaration."

It related how last year, a group of Midwesterners crowded into a barn while it was raining and a man began to recite the Declaration of Independence.

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people...
"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..."

He read not only the parts we're familiar with, but the whole thing. Most adult Americans probably have not read it since high school. Actually, I taught it in Middle school for the last ten years before retiring, so am very knowledgeable about the document as a result. Otherwise, I wouldn't be.

At first, the crowd was restive, but more and more began tuning in, then pretty much everyone. There was silence, then cheers and fist-pumping when the man got to the part about King George's abuses.

Liz and I definitely celebrated the 4th of July with bands, boating, parades, bars, flea markets, parties and fireworks, but I didn't do this. I think next year, I will get out the copy of the Declaration and read it. That would be the least I could do. As a matter of fact, I think I'll do it this weekend.

God Bless the USA. --Cooter

What Kind of Men Were They? --Part 2

Continuing with the sacrifices of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Again, this had to be one REALLY SCARY thing to do. Not only were these men risking their lives, but all had considerable wealth that they stood to lose.

THOMAS NELSON, JR., of Virginia-- at the Battle of Yorktown, he saw that British general Cornwallis had commandeered his home as headquarters. He urged Gen. Washington to open fire on it. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

FRANCIS LEWIS of New York had his home and properties destroyed. The British jailed his wife where she died in a few months.

JOHN HART of New Jersey was driven from his wife's bedside where she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and children vanished.

And, We Complain About Taxes. I Guess We Don't Have It So Bad. --Cooter