VLS Resources
On This July Day in American History
July 1, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the first income tax bill, levying a 3% income tax on annual incomes of $600-$10,000 and a 5% tax on incomes over $10,000. Also on this day, the Bureau of Internal Revenue was established by an Act of Congress. July 2, 1776 – The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted…
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia to Jane and Peter Jefferson. His father was a Virginia planter, surveyor, and slave owner. At age fourteen, Jefferson’s father died, and Thomas inherited some thirty enslaved individuals. Jefferson fully embraced the lifestyle of an affluent member of the planter class, and over…
The Great Seal of the United States of America
OBSERVE REVERSE Do you know why they chose these images? OBVERSE: The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E. Pluribus Unum (meaning…
If You Know Mr. Madison’s Constitution, You’ll Want to Preserve It
March 16 was the birthday of a little man who made a huge impact on America. At 5’4” and not much over 100 pounds, James Madison—our fourth President (1809-1817)—was the smallest of America’s Founders. But he was a Constitutional giant. Madison didn’t write the Constitution single-handedly; it was the product of argument and compromise among…
As We Celebrate This July 4th Please Pray for Our Nation
Oh God our creator, from your provident hand we have received our right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and duty to worship. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in…
OUR FLAG – The Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen strips, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue…
Celebrating Flag Day June 14, 2023 aka Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes
“During the night of September 13, 1814, the British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry in the harbor at Baltimore, Maryland. Francis Scott Key, a 34-year-old lawyer-poet, watched the attack from the deck of a British prisoner-exchange ship. He had gone to seek the release of a friend, but they were refused permission to go ashore until…
Benjamin Banneker – America’s First Clock
Known as the first African-American scientist, Benjamin Banneker invented a wooden clock that struck on the hour. He built the clock in 1753 a the age of 22 and scholars believe he modeled it after a borrowed pocket watch, which he studied after taking it apart piece by piece. He built his wood clock entirely…
On This October Day in American History
October 3, 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Birthday – October 4 – Artist Frederic Remington (1861-1909) was born in Canton, New York. He studied at Yale Art School then traveled extensively throughout the American West in the late 1800’s sketching cowboys, Native Americans,…