We are currently studying our absolutely favorite time period in American history, the American Revolution.  We have had a wonderful time learning about key events leading up to this pivotal point of our history.  We have added extra books to our TOG reading list in order to study this period in depth.  Following, are some of our favorite resources. 

To aid us in our studies, is a wonderful book I purchased at the homeschool bookfair last year from HSLDA.  Why America is Free is an incredible book published by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.  We have used it as a spine for all of Unit 4.  The life of a colonial boy parallels the historical events of the 1700's.  The book begins with the typical day in the life of this boy who lives near Williamsburg, Virginia on a farm.   He takes care of the family flour mill while his father goes to fight in the French and Indian War with George Washington.  When the boy grows up, marries and has a family of his own, he is fighting in the American Revolution.  Later he will serve at the Constitutional Convention.  Of all of our books, this has been the definitive book of details of the why's surrounding the events of our country's search for liberty.  The book has simple and clear language with beautiful photographs and pictures.  While reading this book, we feel that we are there.  

Furthermore, we studied how the Great Awakening helped to not only win souls for the Lord, but also Providentially unified the diverse 13 colonies in preparation for the Revolution.  TOG had some great notes on this.  In fact, we changed up some TOG weeks in order to focus on the Great Awakening.  The Light and the Glory has a great chapter on this event.

Then we started reading the biographies of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.  We've heard all the legends.  We've read short stories.  But never have we fully studied them.  Ben Franklin's Almanac is a great book that I am reading now for fun.  It's at a dialectic level and patterned after Poor Richard's Almanac with paragraphs that take only a part of a page to tell something about his life.  This is split into themes: early years, printer, public do-gooder, years in England during the French and Indian War, electrical studies, work on Declaration of Independence, amabassador to France, work on Constitution, etc.  This book is perfectly set up for those teaching UG and D children writing with IEW.  

We studied the different wars within the complex French and Indian War.  We read, Alone Yet Not Alone, a true story about two girls who were captured and their faith in God kept them whole while living among the Indians.  When the Forest Ran Red and George Washington's First War are award winning documentaries aimed at educating high school students about the little studied French and Indian War.  Filmed in several states in the Northeast on location, historical reenactors recreate the events.   Although we were all interested in the DVD's, 12yos was riveted to the screen. It was terrific to have the opportunity to take the events we had read about in a book and see it on screen in the proper setting (Northeastern Woodlands) with the people involved (French, Native Americans (who looked very different from those we have seen on the Central Plains), British Redcoats, Scots (yes Scots in kilts), Virginia militia, colonists, and of course George Washington in his early years.)  I'm glad I recently found these at my recent homeschool bookfair! 

Another favorite biography was that of Paul Revere.  Coinciding with our study of the Boston Tea Party we also read Johnny Tremain, then compared that to the movie version (my all time favorite), which we love.  Both books were written by the same author, Esther Forbes. Also both were beautifully illustrated by Lynd Ward.  While reading Johnny Tremain, I told the dc to parallel the character traits of Johnny and Rab.  We read part I the week we studied the Boston Tea Party.  Then the following week, when we studied the Battles of Lexington and Concord, I told them to note the change in their characters, and to look for foreshadowing.  Because literary devices are not always found in literature, it was a treat to read Johnny Tremain from a literary perspective.  It is truely worthy of the Newberry Award. This book lends much to discussion.  

We have studied the great orator Patrick Henry, listening to the Colonial Williamsburg interpreter give his famous "Give Me Liberty" speech.  We got to meet this interpreter when we were in CW a few years ago.  In fact, that is when we first became delighted with this forefather.  We arrived in CW in the afternoon and had time to buy our tickets for the week and watch the movie, Williamsburg-The Story of a Patriot.  This movie is about a fictional character (who represents the typical gentleman plantation owner near Williamsburg) who must choose between Britain or colonial rights.  He leaves for Williamsburg to attend the House of Burgesses.  When he arrives, he meets Col George Washington, the outspoken Patrick Henry, the quiet Thomas Jefferson, etc.  The meeting of the House of Burgesses is abruptly ended by the Provincial Governor because they are speaking out against the Townshend Acts of 1767.  The movie accurately showcases key events in the unfolding drama of the decision for independence in 1776.  I bought a copy of the movie knowing we'd be watching it several more times for school.  While visiting Williamsburg, "Patrick Henry"  gave the "Liberty or Death" speech by special request in the gardens behind the Governor's Palace.  By the end of the speech, I was ready to join the militia!  There are some interesting interviews with this actor where he talks about this speech and how he is delighted that the audience is always spellbound.  DS is currently memorizing the final paragraph of this speech.

Due to a busy schedule, we expanded our TOG weeks to allow time for our in depth study. We split week 31 into 3 weeks, with an entire week devoted to the Declaration of Independence.  We listened to Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, Thomas Jefferson read the Declaration of Independence aloud.  We also began our biography of Thomas Jefferson.  We learned about the committee of 5 men that was formed to write the declaration.  Of them, three were the most influential. Thomas Jefferson did the writing because he was well liked, had great rhetorical skills and had already proven himself in writing clearly about the problems with England.  John Adams was instrumental in keeping things moving along, when the other delegates kept stalling the issues.  Benjamin Franklin's humor kept the seriousness of the business at hand from getting too heavy.  In fact, one of the reasons they did not want him to write the declaration, was because the delegates feared he'd throw in a few jokes in this monumentous and important document! 

One movie we did not watch, was 1776.  I had purchased that a few years ago and was embarrased by the adult humor.  If only that was never put in.  Because of this, I always questioned the veracity of the movie itself.  After reading numerous sources, I now find that movie is quite accurate.  Jefferson was a very quiet man, who moped in session while his draft of the Declaration was edited to pieces by the other delagates, who quibbled over ever phrase.  Adams was not the most liked man in the sessions, but he kept everything moving along.  The movie also showed wonderful interpretations of his correspondence to his wife near Boston.  1776 is a musical, and John and Abigail would sing their letters to each other in the movie.  It was quite effective and you could see the love for each other that has become famous. 

However we did access The Declaration of Independence on line at the Charters of Freedom.  There is terrific information here, as well as an interactive opportunity to sign one's own name to the important document!  One gets to choose their handwriting style and then type in their name.  When "submit" is clicked, a warning comes up, that all signers of this document will be considered traitors and could be hung.  Want to proceed?  We did this site a few years ago and my dc had to stop and think.  At that time dd could not sign it.  This time they had no fear.  But it gave us time to talk what these men actually did when they signed the Declaration.  They risked their very lives and fortunes.  Included are biographies of the signers and what happened to them during the war.

This week we are studying all the battles from Saratoga to Yorktown.  Our literature book this week is a gem given to me by my MIL.  It is an autographed copy of Guns on the Heights.  It is the story of a Quaker family during the Battle of Saratoga.  MIL lives near the battle site and took dh and I there when we were first married.  At that time, I did not understand the significance of the battle site, even though I read all the signs.  I was impressed though by the view from the hill overlooking the Hudson River.  MIL has suggested we take the dc  but I kept postponing it until they had studied it.  I knew they wouldn't enjoy the tour until then. Well, now I understand!  And the dc are learning too!  The British tried to control the entire Hudson River system extending from Canada into New York, hoping to block New England from the Southern Colonies.  Although the Continental Army had been struggling, the Battle of Saratoga was a major victory, largely due to that scoundrel Benedict Arnold!  We've also been reading the biography of Benedict Arnold and no wonder he became a traitor!  Today, one will not see his name on any monument.  But at the Saratoga Battlefield, is good deeds are mentioned but are nameless on a monument.  Also at West Point, where he served and nearly turned over to the enemy, there is a plaque to him as to all the other generals who served there, but it is nameless.  How sad for a man who was greedy, selfish and prideful.  Anyway, Saratoga became the turning point in the war and that caused other countries like France to join in the war effort against England.

Fri night we watched the movie, Drums Along the Mohawk.  I found this movie at the homeschool bookfair.  Starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Cobert, the movie was made in 1939.  I couldn't believe how young Henry Fonda looked!  Gil marries Lana, a well young lady with social upbringing in Albany, NY, in 1776.  They move west along the Mohawk.  They deal with Indian uprisings, prompted by the British.  We were delighted to see the German General Herkimer whom we read about in the Battle of Oriskany this week!      

Another terrific biography we have been reading is about "the boy" Lafayette.  I remember when we were at Mount Vernon a few years ago he was mentioned by the tour guides with great fondness.  Now I can see why. 

This afternoon as we discussed the Battle of Yorktown, we listened to Colonial Williamsburg's "George Washington" being interviewed about the upcoming Battle of Yorktown.  

sigh

It is with sadness that we are closing out our study of the American Revolution.  As we move on to a new topic next week, we hope to culminate these studies by making a trip to some of the historical places of the American Revolution this summer.