Joy Hakim

A History of US

From Colonies to Country

1735-1791

It really didn't make sense for a nation far across the ocean to control the fate of people living on the American continent. Many realized that, but Tom Paine put it into words. This book, perhaps the key book in the whole series, tells the story of the American Revoution. Lots of nations have had revolutions, but few have handled the rebuilding process as well. A group of "founders" realized that it wouldn't be easy for people to run their own government, so they designed a remarkable constitution. Nothing like it had ever been written before. Its ideas would change the whole world. In this book you will find their stories and others that may surprise you. You'll read about two Spanish explorers who set out on July 4, 1776 on a journey that covered an enormous expanse of western land and about a rich landowner and fur merchant whose wife was a Native American hero. This is a hero-filled volume.

Quotes

"A firebrand can be a hothead: someone who sparks a revolution, someone who lights a fire in people's minds and hearts... Historians say the American Revolution had three firebrands: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine..."

"The British didn't just sit around and let the colonies rebel. They sent an army to put down the revolution."

"The Americans on Long Island were trapped by British troops drawn up between them and their retreat across The East River. They had to fight their way back through the enemy. One rebel said later, 'When we began the attack, General Washington... cried out, "Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!"'"

"This is what happened: James Madison served in the first Congress and he wrote the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. They are called the Bill of Rights."