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1-Page Summary of The American Spirit

Learning from History

The history of the United States is a valuable resource because it helps us understand our core values and principles. Small episodes can help us see big themes more clearly. For instance, in 1910, Congressman George Norris led an effort to strip power away from “Uncle Joe” Cannon, who was then the Speaker of the House of Representatives. At that time, the US needed reform; but Uncle Joe was not progressive enough to support such changes. However, Congressman Norris thought differently and fought for this change with his fellow congressmen.

Historian David McCullough has visited all 50 states and found that America is a country of good-hearted people who believe in tolerance and truth. His speeches reflect these beliefs.

The Founding Fathers

The Founding Fathers were extraordinary people. They created the nation that became the United States of America and led it to greatness. Although flawed, they had great character and put everything on the line for their cause. They pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to freedom and self-governance in the Declaration of Independence. The more one learns about them as real flesh-and-blood human beings instead of myths, the larger they become in our eyes.

The first Continental Congress was held in 1774. This congress consisted of 56 delegates who came together to discuss the future of America and its relationship with Britain. John Adams saw this as an assembly of some great minds, but they had a lot to say about things.

John Adams

John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his son John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth US president, embarked on a winter voyage to Europe during America’s Revolutionary War. They were seeking financial support from France in order to help win independence for the American colonies.

John Adams moved into the White House in 1800. At the time, Washington D.C wasn’t a city at all; it was mostly trees and swamps surrounding Capitol Hill and the White House. The only people who were there to greet him upon arrival were his secretary Billy Shaw and servant John Brisling. No band or honor guard welcomed him when he arrived at his new home as president of the United States because no one else had even begun moving in yet either!

Abigail Adams moved to the White House in 1801. It was still under construction, so she had to do her own laundry and make due with a house that wasn’t finished yet. She didn’t enjoy living there very much because their son died and they were no longer president after Thomas Jefferson won the election.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a lawyer, surveyor, meteorologist, botanist and ethnologist. He could read seven languages. He wrote the Declaration of Independence which is considered to be the birth certificate of America. The declaration says that all men are created equal and have certain rights from their creator such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration of Independence was written to explain why the colonies were breaking away from Britain. In that document, Thomas Jefferson wrote that legitimate government is based on people’s consent. This idea was not new; it had never been tried before in history. When writing the Declaration, Jefferson didn’t have any books or other references with him in Philadelphia because he wanted only to say what everyone already knew about government legitimacy and authority.

Dr. Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Rush was a patriot and physician. He signed the Declaration of Independence, served in the Continental Congress, founded America’s first free pharmacy, published its first chemistry textbook, and was an early opponent of slavery. Today his writings are housed at the Pennsylvania Historical Society Library. In 1786 he predicted that “the American Revolution is far from being over.”