People began moving to America for various reasons after it became a real possibility to make a life here. The real Founding of America as a new nation began with the French and Indian War in 1763. George Washington played a major part in that war as a member and leader of the Virginia militia, which was subject to the British General.
Then the Revolutionary War essentially began with the shots fired at the Battle of Lexington in 1775. George Washington was appointed to be the first Commanding Officer of the United Colonial Army soon thereafter.
It seems that my own life has had some parallels with John. We are about the same general size. Of course, I am much more handsome than he. If you’ll recall, John went to college at his family’s insistence. Well, his fathers. He went to Harvard College, which at the time trained students to become ministers, teachers, or lawyers.
Gouverneur Morris (yes, that was his name) was named as the scrivener, or the man to put the concepts that were agreed upon in the meetings, into final form. In plain English. It was his intention to write the new document so it could be easily understood by a person with an eighth grade, or similar, education.
The parents of Benjamin Franklin don’t receive much fanfare, notoriety, or acclaim about the lives they lived. Ben talks a little about them in his Autobiography. One of the things they taught Ben was to obey the commandments of God. As a result, he did honor them. After all, Honor thy Father and Mother is the first commandment with a promise—that your life may be long in the land.
This home is where the Henry’s lived when Sallie Henry, Patrick’s first wife, became ill and eventually died. She died about 5 weeks before Patrick gave his immortal speech “Give Me Liberty.” Patrick had to ride horse-back from Scotchtown to Richmond, Virginia, a distance of about 28 miles, (just over a half hour by car—but Patrick went on his horse!) to attend the meeting where this speech was given.
The love story between Tom and Martha is so beautiful and enduring that it will be difficult to put any feeling into it in these few words. Jefferson was a young lawyer in Virginia, having earned his degree after 5 studious years. He graduated from William and Mary College in Williamsburg. His mentor was William Wythe, one of the signers of Tom’s Declaration of Independence.
When things were getting rough in the Colonies, there were a few men who stood up for things they believed in. It started with Patrick Henry in his speech as he was first elected to the house of Burgesses. Thomas Jefferson, his friend, listened in at the door of the Capitol in Williamsburg, as Henry made his speech, from notes written in the flyleaf of Jefferson’s loaned book!