VLS Resources
On This September Day in American History
September 2, 1789 – The third Presidential cabinet department, the U.S. Treasury, was established by Congress September 3, 1783 – The Treaty of Paris was signed by John Adams, Ben Franklin and John Jay, formally ending the American Revolutionary War between Britain and the United States. September 5, 1774 – The First Continental Congress assembled…
Sons of Liberty 1765
The Sons of Liberty were loosely organized revolutionary bands in the 13 Colonies. They were first formed in the 1760s. In 1765 the British began taxation of colonists in order to pay the costs for maintaining 10,000 British officers and soldiers living in the colonies. The motto for the Sons of Liberty became: “No taxation…
The 13 Colonies – A New Beginning
The English North American colonial period dates from 1607 to 1732. By 1750 the population of these colonies, sharing their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, grew to 1.17 million people, integrating many communities with different ideas on how to navigate their circumstances. The New England Colonies settled with the main purpose of practicing their religious…
On This August Day in American History
August 1, 1779 Birthday – Star-Spangled Banner author Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) was born in Frederick County, Maryland. After witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry on the night of September 13-14, 1814, he was enthralled to see the American flag still flying over the fort at daybreak. He then wrote the poem originally entitled…
On August 7, 1792
The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple…
Would You Be Brave Enough to Sign Your Name to the Declaration of Independence?
Portrait of John Bernard Hancock Courtesy of History on the Net When was the last time you signed a petition or a letter of support or clicked a thumbs up on an online message? Did you want a street light at the end of your block, or want the City Council to approve a greenbelt?…
On This June Day in American History
On June 17th, 1885 The French gift to the United States “The Statue of Liberty” arrived in New York City abroad the French ship Isere.
Recognizing America’s Founding Father’s
The term “Founding Fathers” was first coined in Chicago in 1915 at the Republican National Convention. Warren G. Harding used the phrase in his keynote address. The phrase took hold and now serves as a clearly defining representation of who our founding fathers were and what they believed. Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the…
Patrick Henry and the Bill of Rights
This portrait of Patrick Henry (Catalog Number INDE14066) was executed by an unidentified arist before 1878. The portrait, a copy of Thomas Sully’s 1815 protrayal of Henry (now at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) was acquired by the City of Philadelphia between late 1876 and early 1878. Patrick Henry proclaiming “Give Me Liberty…