“Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; this is all we can expect – We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our own Country’s Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions – The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny meditated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”
― George Washington
“May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately… These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
[Letter to Roger C. Weightman on the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, 24 June 1826. This was Jefferson’s last letter]”
— Thomas Jefferson (Letters of Thomas Jefferson)
The words of the founders, the fighters, and the new American citizens…these are the important works to read and collect. I hope you’ll be inspired to pick up some (or all) of these titles and preserve the story of the American Revolution.
The List
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- 1776 by David McCullough A classic and exciting tale of the beginning of the War of the Revolution!
- Eyewitness to the American Revolution: The Battles and Generals As Seen by an Army Surgeon -An amazing firsthand account of the Revolution as seen by one man.
- The Revolution Remembered: Eyewitness Accounts of the War for Independence – Such a fascinating collection of testimonials from many average revolutionary soldiers!
- Letters From an American Farmer and Sketches of Eighteenth Century America by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur – a snapshot of real life!
- Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the Revolution – as cool as it sounds!
- Memoirs of Benjamin Tallmadge – Benjamin Tallmadge was the head of George Washington’s Spy Ring.
- The Writings of Samuel Adams, Vol. 1 (1764-1769) – This and two other volumes are a treasure from the leader of the Sons of Liberty.
- The Life of George Washington, Volumes 1 and 2 – The first two volumes in a 5-part series by John Marshall, friend to George Washington.
- John Adams by David McCullough
- John Quincy Adams: Diaries Vol. 1 1779-1821 -Our sixth president grew up in the middle of the Revolution under his father John and his mother Abigail.
- Able and Mighty Men – Biographies of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence. A Knowledge Keepers Exclusive!
- Paul Revere’s Ride – the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Common Sense by Thomas Paine – Who can beat Thomas Paine for eloquence?
- George Washington : Writings – not an exhaustive collection, but an important one.
- The Founders and the Bible by Carl J. Richard – Gets to the truth of the faith and Christian lives of our founders.
- THE REVOLUTIONARY WRITINGS OF JOHN ADAMS – Second president and mover of the Revolution.
- The Question of Freemasonry and the Founding Fathers by David Barton – Very interesting (and short) book that digs deep into the question of whether our founders were freemasons.
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – A classic work by one of the most interesting founders.
- Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters – a treasure trove of Jefferson’s documents.
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