1.  "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

   These famous lines were spoken by Patrick Henry at a meeting of the Virginia Convention in Richmond in March, 1775.  Henry had long argued for a break with England.  In the speech which ends with these lines, he called for war against the British to protect the rights of the colonies. 

2.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it...."

   These are the most well known lines in the Declaration of Independence, and are among the most important lines ever written in the history of mankind.  With these words, the American government was established on a foundation that, in earlier centuries, only dreamers could have imagined would ever become reality.  They remain an inspiration today not only to Americans, but to people around the world.

3.  "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

   This passage is the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, which was written in Philadelphia in 1787.  Its opening words, "We the People," testify to the fact that the new form of government continued the ideals of the Revolution.  But the Constitution is also a practical document that creates a careful balancing act among different parts of the governing system.

Copyright 2006 by David Burns
www.fasttrackteaching.com

1.  The Liberty Bell.  It was mounted in the Philadelphia State House (renamed Independence Hall) and was rung shortly after the Declaration of Independence was approved.  The bell was originally cast in England, then melted and recast in colonial America.  As such, it is a good symbol of the fact that our ideas of liberty are essentially English traditions refined and recast in the Revolutionary years. 

2.  A Continental (American) soldier placing gun powder on the pan of his musket, to prepare it for firing.  Muskets of that time were notorious for missing their targets.  Some Americans in the frontier regions had better guns with rifled barrels that were far more accurate. 

3.  An early drawing of one side of the Great Seal of the United States.  The Latin words across the bottom declare "A new order for the ages."  The words at the top say "He smiles upon it," expressing the belief that God approves of the new form of government being formed by the 13 states.  The pyramid, with 13 rows of stone, represents the 13 colonies that have joined together.  The date on the bottom in Roman numerals is 1776.  (The other side of the seal shows an eagle and the famous words, "E Pluribus Unum,"  meaning, "Out of many, one."  It can be seen on page 3 - 24 of the workbook.)

Copyright 2006 by David Burns
www.fasttrackteaching.com

   These famous quotes are posted here for users of our book, Fasttrack to America's Past, and to help all teachers and students of American history.  You may download this page to transparency film, to paper, or to computer media for noncommercial educational use only, provided:

• You make no changes, additions, or alterations of any kind.
• You leave the copyright and source information visible and legible on all copies.

   Copyright 1998, 2006 by David Burns.                     www.fasttrackteaching.com