History Matters

One of the most common questions about the Declaration of Independence is, “If we celebrate Independence Day on July 4, why wasn’t the Declaration signed until August 2?” The answer reminds us that great achievements often take time. The Declaration of Independence was written throughout June 1776. Thomas Jefferson prepared […]

As Americans celebrated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in early July 1776, the war for that independence was already spreading across the colonies. While many people think of the Revolution’s largest battles taking place in New York, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, Maryland experienced its own major clash only […]

In the summer of 1776, America stood at a turning point. The thirteen colonies had declared their independence from Great Britain, but that bold decision guaranteed war. As thousands of British soldiers and sailors gathered around New York City for a massive invasion, British leaders made one final attempt to […]

When we think of the heroes of the Revolutionary War, names such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Patrick Henry usually come to mind. Yet one of the most influential voices of the Revolution never served in the army or held political office. Instead, she fought for liberty […]

On July 2, 1776, while delegates in Philadelphia were voting to declare the American colonies free and independent from Great Britain, another event of enormous importance was unfolding nearly one hundred miles away. In New York Harbor, the first ships of a massive British invasion fleet began to arrive. While […]

One reason the Declaration of Independence has remained one of history’s greatest political documents is its remarkable wording. Thomas Jefferson did not simply write a list of complaints against King George III. He carefully chose words that expressed universal principles of liberty and human rights—principles that could inspire people far […]