by Julianna Dotten

It was daring … and perhaps a bit audacious. But without it, there would be no America.

The Declaration of Independence lit the final spark of the American Revolution. Though the war had smouldered for over a year, the leading figures of the day — men of singular bravery, wisdom, and faith — finally accepted Richard Henry Lee’s proposal. The colonies would declare independence. One after another, each of the thirteen colonies dared to stand up against the greatest empire of the day: Britain. They stood for faith and the right to religious liberty. They stood for family and an economic context ripe with the promise of prosperity. And they stood for freedom — the privilege to work hard, raise children, and worship God without fear of tyranny.

This July, we celebrate the 240th year since Jefferson penned those legendary words: “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.”

The world has never been the same.

Today, we stand on their shoulders as we seek to raise another generation of Peyton Randolphs, George Washingtons, and Patrick Henrys. This week, we have the opportunity to pass on the heritage of their fortitude and vision to our children.

So pick up a good read-aloud on the time period and let your family’s imaginations (and crayons!) run wild as you travel back to the days of stockings, quill pens, and muskets. And don’t forget the mob caps!

Read my post on Family Fourth Activities Here

Check out some of these suggested resources to help you get started:

Historical Fiction Books:

Reb and the Redcoats by Constance Savory
Guns of Providence by Douglas Bond
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Six Silver Spoons by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Buttons for General Washington by Peter Roop, Peter E. Hanson

Biographies:

John Adams by David McCullough,
Life of George Washington by Anna C. Reed
Thomas Jefferson’s America by Jim Weiss (audiobook)
The Bulletproof George Washington by David Barton
George Rogers Clark: Frontier Fighter by Adele deLeeuw
Master George’s People: George Washington, His Slaves, and His Revolutionary Transformation by Marfe Ferguson Delano
The Black regiment of the American Revolution by Linda Crotta Brennan
Give Me Liberty by David J. Vaughan
American Patriots by Rick Santorum
Patrick Henry in His Speeches and Writings and in the Words of His Contemporaries compiled and annotated by James M. Elson

Children’s Books:

Mary Geddy’s Day by Kate Waters
By the Sword by Selene Castrovilla
Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas
Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff
Noah Webster: Weaver of Words by Pegi Shea and Monica Vachula
Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ted Rand
Henry Knox : Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot by Silvey, Anita
Hornbooks and Inkwells by Kay, Verla
Yankee Doodle by Steven Kellogg
Jack Jouett’s Ride by Gail E. Haley
D Is for Drums: A Colonial Williamsburg ABC by Kay Chorao
When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney

Crafts:

Mob Cap instructions from Colonial Williamsburg
Make a Quill Pen
Revolutionary War Coloring pages

View Original Documents from the Library of Congress:

Declaration of Independence
Original from Journals of the Continental Congress

I’d love to hear from you! What resources have helped your children get excited about the American Revolution?

About the Author: Julianna Dotten

Julianna (far right) feels very blessed to have been homeschooled and discipled by godly parents. She currently works as the CHEC Marketing Assistant and enjoys serving in her family and church. Most of all, her desire is to seek the Lord wherever He has put her.

Please note: Links are provided as a service and do not necessarily reflect the views of CHEC.