Posts Tagged ‘Mount Vernon’
Merry Christmas, Grandfather
In 1809, a clever lad wrote to his grandfather wishing him a “Merry Christmas”. Thomas Jefferson was pleased to receive the letter and most taken with the new phrase popular in the new country, “Merry Christmas”. Christmas observances in colonial and revolutionary America (1630s-1830s) were very different from our current practices. How one observed Christmas…
Read More1788–89 United States Presidential Election
The 1788–89 United States presidential election was the first quadrennial (every four years) presidential election, was held from Monday, December 15, 1788 -TO- Saturday, January 10, 1789, under the newly ratified 1788 Constitution. George Washington was unanimously elected for the first of his two (2) terms as President and John Adams became the first Vice…
Read MoreThe Winter Patriots: A Revolutionary War Tale
A Conquering Wind… For more than a year 13 colonies stood in rebellion to their government an ocean away. The Americans in revolt were rebels, the Declaration of Independence made them revolutionaries. Thirteen colonies were now a union of states, then in union they claimed independence, disseminating copies of their great declaration in the…
Read MoreWashington: From Major to President
George Washington began his military career at age 21 in 1753, earning his stripes in the French and Indian War fought on American soil by the French and British each using natives to their advantage. Washington quickly proved himself an able leader, good strategist, and clever diplomat moving up in the ranks and getting noticed.…
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