Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis: A Rallying Cry That Changed History
On December 19, 1776, as the War for Independence stood on the brink of collapse, Thomas Paine published The American Crisis. Beginning with the immortal line of “THESE are the times that try men’s souls,” it was no mere essay – it was a...
Forgotten Foundation of the Revolution: Letters from a Farmer
John Dickinson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania rank among the most important essays espousing the cause of liberty during the American Revolution. Yet, today – few people have read or even heard of them. Written in response to the Townshend Acts,...
The Sermon That Laid the Groundwork for the American Revolution
“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” Just after the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, a committee of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin worked to design a great seal for the United States – and their proposal included that...