"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech - 250th Anniversary
Patrick Henry spoke his famous words, “Give me liberty or give me death!” at the Second Virginia Convention in March 177…
Resources
America 250 Highlights
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Walking Tour of Revolutionary Philadelphia
The Museum of the American Revolution hosted a walking tour of historic sites in Philadelphia.
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Roots of the Revolutionary War
Citadel Professor David Preston explored how the April 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord and earlier events led to t…
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Reenactment of 1775 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York held a reenactment of the May 1775 capture of the British-held fort by Ethan Allen …
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Impact of 1775 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Historian Bruce Venter explored the significance of the May 1775 capture of the British-held Fort Ticonderoga by Ethan A…
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Battle of Bunker Hill Commemoration
The National Park Service and other groups held a ceremony in Boston marking the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunk…
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Boston's Freedom Trail
A walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail featured stops at the site of the Boston Massacre, Old State House, Faneuil Hal…
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Mount Vernon Naturalization Ceremony
George Washington’s Mount Vernon hosted a naturalization ceremony during which approximately 100 people took the oath of…
America 250 Coverage
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Paul Revere's 1775 "Midnight Ride''
Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride - Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America, spoke at an event hosted by George Wa…
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2025 George Washington Book Prize Finalists
Finalists for the 2025 George Washington Book Prize discussed their books on the nation’s founding era. The George Washi…
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"Our American Story" Tour Launch
America250 Commission Chair Rosie Rios launched on the National Mall the “Our American Story” project, whose goal is to …
Declaration of Independence
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American Scripture
Ms. Maier talked about her new book, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. The book describes the …
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Reading of the Declaration of Independence
An exhibit at the Newseum in Arlington, Virginia, displayed the Supreme Court Justices reading aloud the Declaration of …
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The Signers
Mr. Fradin discusses his book The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence, published by Walker an…
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Life of President Thomas Jefferson
On the anniversary of American independence, Mr. Barker answered questions about the Declaration of Independence and o…
The American Revolution
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Scott Stephenson on the American Revolution and America 250
Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, discussed the American Revolution and the …
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Filmmaker Ken Burns' Monticello Address
Filmmaker Ken Burns previewed his documentary “The American Revolution” during an address at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticel…
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The Fate of the Day
Author Rick Atkinson talked about the middle years of the American Revolution, from Fort Ticonderoga in 1777 to the sieg…
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First Clashes of the American Revolution
Historians talked about early battles in the American Revolution, including Lexington and Concord, and the invasion of Q…
Vignettes
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Declaration of Independence Collection
David Whitesell showed highlights of the Declaration of Independence Collection at the Albert and Shirley Small Special …
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Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention
National Park Service Park Ranger Matthew Ifill tells the story of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutiona…
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Independence Hall Assembly Room
National Park Service Park Ranger Matthew Ifill told the story of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional…
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Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
Tony Zeiss talked about the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence. Signed on May 20, 1775, it is believed to be the fi…
Forums on the Declaration of Independence
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Reading of Declaration of Independence
The National Archives celebrated the Fourth of July with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by reenactors from…
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Slavery and the Declaration of Independence
The American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted a conversation about slavery and the American Revolution, …
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Declaration of Independence and Colonial America
The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation hosted a day-long conference at the Library of Congress to reflect on the De…
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America's Dutch and English Political and Economic Heritage
The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation hosted a day-long conference at the Library of Congress to reflect on the De…
Books About the Declaration of Independence
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King Hancock
Author Brooke Barbier discussed the life and leadership of Founding Father John Hancock. Despite his famously large sign…
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Give Me Liberty
Historian Richard Brookhiser talked about his book, Give Me Liberty: A History of America’s Exceptional Idea, in which h…
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Dr. Benjamin Rush
Historian Harlow Giles Unger recalled the life of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who es…
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Jefferson
Professor John Boles talked about his book Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty, in which he recalls the life of Fou…
George Washington
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Remembering George Washington's Mother
American University professor Kate Haulman talked about how George Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington, was rememb…
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First 100 Days: George Washington - 1789
American History TV featured a discussion on the early months of President George Washington’s first term in 1789, inclu…
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George Washington's 1789 Inaugural Suit
American History TV visited Mount Vernon’s secured storage area to see the suit coat that George Washington wore in 1789…
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Mount Vernon Tour Introduction
American History TV producers Delia Rios and Kate Michael talked about their experience touring the ongoing preservation…
Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson's Education
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan Taylor talked about his book in which he argued that Thomas Jefferson’s egalitaria…
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Jefferson's Daughters
Villanova University history professor, Catherine Kerrison, explored the lives of Thomas Jefferson’s daughters, Martha a…
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Jefferson
Professor John Boles talked about his book Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty, in which he recalls the life of Fou…
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Thomas Jefferson - Revolutionary
Kevin Gutzman talked about his book Thomas Jefferson - Revolutionary: A Radical’s Struggle to Remake America, in which h…
John Adams
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The Problem of Democracy
Louisiana State University history Professors Nancy Isenberg and Andrew Burstein talked about their book, The Problem of…
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Household Gods
Sara Georgini talked about the religious lives of the Adams family.
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John Adams and the Fear of American Oligarchy and John Adams's Republic
Luke Mayville, author of John Adams and the Fear of American Oligarchy, and Richard Alan Ryerson, author of John Adams’s…
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Dear Abigail
Biographer Diane Jacobs recalls the relationship between first lady Abigail Adams and her sisters, Elizabeth Shaw Peabod…
Benjamin Franklin
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The Greatest American
FreedomFest founder and author Mark Skousen discussed his book “The Greatest American,” about the life and ideas of Benj…
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The Completed Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin
As part of a celebration of the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth, Mark Skousen talked about his book The C…
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Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin
David Waldstreicher talked about his book Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution, publ…
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The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin
Mr. Wood was interviewed about his book, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, published by The Penguin Press. In th…
James Madison
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Dolley Madison, Lucy Hayes and Betty Ford
Katherine Jellison of Ohio University explained that scholars, and even the general public, tend to narrowly categorize …
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Virginia Presidents
This was a look at the eight Virginia-born presidents who led the nation from its 18th-century origins and into the 20th…
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The Other Madisons
Retired pediatrician and geneticist Bettye Kearse investigated her family’s lineage and its oral history that claims the…
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James Madison and America's Founding Documents
Emily Voss talked about James Madison’s role in shaping the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the influence of his st…
Alexander Hamilton
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Fears of a Setting Sun
Syracuse University political science Professor Dennis Rasmussen relayed that some of America’s founders, including Geor…
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1620 - A Critical Response to the 1619 Project
National Association of Scholars president Peter Wood critiqued the 1619 Project. This virtual event was hosted by the N…
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Historian Joanne Freeman on Alexander Hamilton
The National Council for History Education moved their conference online due to the coronavirus outbreak. This session f…
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Alexander Hamilton's Military Career
Historian Damien Cregeau talked about Alexander Hamilton’s military career and his relationship with George Washington. …
Thomas Paine
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Books That Shaped America: Common Sense
In part one of Books That Shaped America, University of Maryland History Professor Richard Bell explored Common Sense, a…
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Descendant of Declaration of Independence Signer Robert Treat Paine
Historian Tom Paine discussed the life of his famous ancestor, Robert Treat Paine, signer of the Declaration of Independ…
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Rise and Fall of Thomas Paine
Historian Richard Bell talked about Thomas Paine’s popularity in 1776 after publishing Common Sense and his reputational…
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Apostles of Revolution
Historian John Ferling recalled the joint efforts of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and James Monroe to sow social and …
Samuel Adams
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In Depth with Stacy Schiff
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian Stacy Schiff joined Book TV to talk and take calls about American histor…
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
Stacy Schiff discussed the life and legacy of American Revolution leader Samuel Adams. This event was part of the 2022 M…
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Figures in American History
Author David Nasaw talked about his book The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy, in…
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In Depth with Pauline Maier
Author and historian Pauline Maier talked about her work and her life and career. She responded to telephone calls and e…
Roger Sherman
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Roger Sherman
From New Haven, Connecticut Christopher Collier talked about the political life of Roger Sherman and his role in craftin…
John Hancock
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King Hancock
Author Brooke Barbier discussed the life and leadership of Founding Father John Hancock. Despite his famously large sign…
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Booknotes+ Podcast - Brooke Barbier, "King Hancock"
John Hancock is one of the most famous signatures in the history of the United States. Most people don’t know much more …
Robert Morris
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Robert Morris's Folly
Professor Ryan Smith talked about his book, Robert Morris’s Folly: The Architectural and Financial Failures of an Americ…
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Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution
Charles Rappleye talked about his book Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution. He responded to telephone ca…
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Founders
Historian Ray Raphael talked about his book Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation (New Press; May 12, 2009). In …
