Skit Preview

 Acting out the injuries of King George III has taught us a lot about the patient sufferance of the American Colonists and the usurpations and tyranny of England over them. We have also learned a lot about each other...it has been very entertaining!

Here are a few pictures previewing our skit with more to come!

King George getting into character.

 The king's butlers looking the part.

     Congratulations to Lilly for being the first to memorize the Declaration of Independence!  She will receive a copy of  Our Constitution Rocks! by Juliette Turner.

Homework:

1. Memorize:   "We therefore ... declare that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.  And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
2. Please have the Life of Washington by Josephine Pollard read by this Thursday Dec. 6th! 
3. We still need to film the last section of our skit so bring your props.

Presentation: Brayden

 Devotional: Davin 

The Need for Heroes

Can exemplary Heroes help us to develop and maintain a self-governing character?

Did George Washington really pray at Valley Forge?

Mr. Isaac Potts, who oversaw the grinding of the grain for Washington's army was an eye witness to this occurrence:

     

     "It was a most distressing time of the war, and all were for giving up the Ship, but that great good man.  In that woods.... I heard a plaintive sound as of a man at prayer.  I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and cocked hat on the other.  He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was a Crisis, and the cause of the country, of humanity and of the world.  

     Such a prayer I never head from the lips of a man.  I left him alone praying.  I went home and told my wife, I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before.  We never thought a man c'd be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. She also was astonished.  We thought it was the cause of God, and America could prevail."

     "....The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf.  And it is my earnest prayer that we may so conduct ourselves as to merit a continuance of those blessings with which we have hitherto been favored." George Washington, September 28, 1789

    

For our devotional Tim shared Red Skelton's inspiring message about the Pledge of Allegiance.

Homework: 

1. Opinion Paper: What made Washington a great man? How can you become more like him?
2. Bring props for our video skit.
3. Continue memorizing the Declaration of Independence. For memorization techniques click here.

Devotional: Brayden

Presentation 11/15: George and Tyler

A Land of Liberty

A Land of Liberty

I beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters.  1 Nephi 13:12

Christopher Columbus

None come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord...this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  1 Nephi 1:6-7

And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters. 1 Nephi 13:13

Pilgrims

And if it so be that they shall serve [God] according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them;  2 Nephi 1:7

The Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord and the power of the Lord was with them.  1 Nephi 13:16

George Washington at Valley Forge

...the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. 1 Nephi 13:19

Revolutionary War

It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.  And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. Doctrine and Covenants 101:80

Do you need help memorizing the 13 original colonies?  click here.

Homework:
Read The Life of George Washington by Josephine Pollard
No Opinion papers due this week

Updated Presentation Schedule:
11/8 Tyler
11/15 George
11/29 Lilly
12/6 Timothy
12/13 Brayden

Devotional Schedule
11/8 Timothy
11/15 Kaylee
11/29 George
12/6  Davin
12/13 Genevive

Presentation Ideas

1. Navigation Acts
2. Proclamation of 1763
3. Sugar Act/ Writs of Assistance
4. Stamp Act / Quartering Act
5. Sons of Liberty
6. Townshend Acts
7. Battle of Golden Hill (New York)
8. Boston Massacre
9. Tea Act of 1773
10. Boston Tea party 
11. Coercive Acts ( Intolerable Acts)
12. First Continental Congress
13. Committees of Correspondence / Committees of Safety
14. Massachusettes Circular letter
15. Minutemen / Militia
16. Currency Act

Additional Ideas:

Tory / Tories / Loyalist / Redcoats / British Soldiers / Hessians / American Loyalists

King George III

French and Indian War 1690-1760

Weaponry of the Revolutionary War

Early Documents (Magna Carta / Mayflower Compact / Petition of Rights-1623 / English Bill of Rights-1689)

American Colonial Fashions (dress)

Paul Rever's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Battle of Bunker Hill / Fort Ticonderoga / Crown Point

Second Continental Congress-1775

Declaration of Independence

Family member Revolutionary War experience

Resources and sources of wealth in the colonies

• Presentations should be about 7-10 minutes long.
• Props, handouts, visual aids or demonstrations are encouraged

U.S Heritage Award

U.S Heritage Award

Our kids can not only earn their keys and ribbons for completing assignments in our Key of Liberty class but they can also receive the U.S Heritage Award medal for completing the requirements below. We worked on some of them today by playing "U.S History Bowl" which made it fun.

REQUIREMENTS: To earn the United States Heritage Award you must: 1. Tell when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. 2. Tell when the Constitution of the United States was signed. 3. Know the first two verses of the national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.”     Tell who wrote it and when. 4. Know the Pledge of Allegiance. Explain what it means. 5. The United States Flag:     a. Tell what the thirteen stripes represent. Please list all thirteen.     b. From 1795 to 1818 there was something different about the US Flag.         Find out what it was and why it was changed.     c. Explain three proper ways of displaying the United States flag.     d. Tell how you show respect for the United States flag. 6. Do one of the following:     a. Find out what the parts of the flag are called. Draw a picture         showing the following: • Canton • Flag Staff • Fly •Grommet • Field (or     Ground) • Peak • Fly End • Union • Hoist • Truck • Finial • Halyard     b. Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :         Why America Is Special To Me,         What It Means to Be An American,                   What It Means To Be Free, If I Were President. 7. Make a list of the 50 states of the United States of America. 8. Name the current President, Vice-President, and the Speaker of the House. 9. Name the two Senators for your state and the representative for your     congressional district. 10. Render a service that benefits a neighborhood or community.

     Can you believe a 14 year old girl wrote a book explaining each Article and Section of the Constitution in her own words?  Meet Juliette Turner at http://www.constitutingamerica.org/. Read her book  Our Constitution Rocks!

     We will be making a video in which our class will get a chance to recite parts of the Declaration they've memorized.  We divided the kids into groups and each group chose two injuries of King George listed in the Declaration that they will act out for the video.  We will then send the video to http://www.constitutingamerica.org/ to introduce our amazing class!  

Homework:

1.  John Adams colloquium postponed until November 1st.
2. Opinion paper: What is more important, your family or your country?

Presentation: Kaylee

Devotional: Timothy

A Declaration

John Adams

When attending Harvard as a young man John Adams often felt discouraged.

    . "I feel my own ignorance.  I feel concern for knowledge.  I have a strong desire for distinction...I never shall shine, 'til some animating occasion calls forth all my powers."  

Could he be searching for his life's mission? Perhaps the spirit of God is nudging his heart in preparation for "some animating occasion"? In the Doctrine and Covenants section 101 one can see that the Lord was clearly involved:

"...I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up..."

John Adams defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.  "It's of more importance to community, that innocence should be protected, than it is , that guilt should be punished."

His mission first began to unfold as a lawyer with the intent to use "...all [my] knowledge, well digested and ready at command, to assist the feeble and friendless, to discountenance the haughty and lawless, to procure redress to wrongs, the advancement of right, to assert and maintain liberty and virtue, to discourage and abolish tyranny and vice."

John Adam's mission expanded to include a passion to fight for the independence of America from Great Britain

He would give the most powerful and important speech in Congress to persuade the delegates to vote for independence. Although no notes were kept of the meeting Monday July 1, 1776, John Adams would recollect :

"[I was] carried out in spirit, as enthusiastic preachers sometimes express themselves."

Thomas Jefferson would record that he spoke,  "with a power of thought and expression that moved us from our seats." 

 Richard Stockton praised him as, " the man to whom the country is most indebted for the great measure of independency...He it was who sustained the debate, and by the force of his reasoning demonstrated not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure."

When one does not fulfill their mission humanity suffers.

What is your mission?  How can you prepare?

Homework:

1. Book Colloquium is this Thursday Oct. 25th. 
2. Memorize, memorize, memorize!!
3. You can enter the We the people contest by writing a song or essay.  The official rules for 2013 entries will be posted November 1st!

Devotional: Lilly

Presentation: Kaylee 

Revolution

     "But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced.  The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people."

                                                                               ~John Adams

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Can you find at least two other sources that support or add to the facts in this documentary?

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  

There are several myths about Paul Revere's Ride worth exploring.  

Under People's Law, government is kept under control of the people. Power is maintained in the balanced center with enough government to maintain security, justice and good order but not enough government to abuse the people.

"Under Ruler’s Law, problems are always solved by issuing more edicts or laws, setting up more bureaus, harassing the people with more regulators, and charging the people for these “services” by continually adding to their burden of taxes.”

5000 Year Leap, W. Cleon Skousen

Homework: 

1. Opinion paper:  Define the word stubborn. Is it good to be stubborn?
2. Continue reading: John Adams the Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution (Colloquium 10/25)
3. Memorize Declaration of Independence

Presentation: Jeremy

Devotional: Tyler

Unalienable Rights

What are your God-Given Rights?

Unalienable Rights

The right of self government

The right to bear arms for self-defense

The right to own, develop, and dispose of property

 The right to make personal choices.

The right of free conscience

The right to choose a profession

The right to choose a mate

The right to beget one's own kind

The right to assemble

The right to petition

The right to free speech

The right to a free press

The right to enjoy the fruits of one's labors

The right to improve one's position through barter and sale

The right to contrive and invent

The right to explore the natural resources of the earth

The right to privacy

The right to provide personal security

The right to provide nature's necessities-air, food, water, clothing, and shelter

The right to a fair trial

The right of free association

The right to contract

                                                                                      W. Cleon Skousen,   The  5000 Year Leap

Is Liberty possible without the exercise of conscience?

• Conscience is a person's "internal monitor" that dictates when a person has infringed on another person's inalienable rights

     Several families were invited to a party at a farm. There was a beautiful play area on the farm with a jungle gym, basket ball hoop and volley ball net.  Despite the variety of activities available, several children thought it would be more exciting to play in the nearby orchard. While playing in the orchard the children damaged the sprinkler system. As a result the farmer had to repair the sprinklers with his own time and expense.  The children’s pursuit of happiness infringed on the farmers “inalienable rights.” The next time the families came to the farm, strict rules were made and enforced to constrain the families in one area with the orchard totally off limits.  Since the boundary was not controlled by conscience, it had to be controlled by an external force.  Joseph Andrews, A Guide for Learning and Teaching The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

"Conscience is the most sacred of all property." James Madison

Homework: 

1. Read John Adams the Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution, by Leonard Falkner (Colloquium 10/25)
2. Opinion Essay:  When is it right to defend your Liberty with guns?
3. Continue memorizing the Declaration of Independence. You can register free to make a test here. 

The Development of American Character

The question "Why are Americans losing their freedoms?" led into a discussion about the Tytler Cycle.


What stage of the cycle are Americans?  How can we as individuals prepare for the next step in the cycle?

"Effective resistance to usurpers is possible only provided the citizens understand their rights and are disposed to defend them." (The Federalist, No.28, Alexander Hamilton)

  


The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty book colloquium

      The Pilgrims established  the tradition of American Character in this choice land. The American Character is the self-governing spirit rooted in religion and morality.
   
     Overcoming difficulties strengthens character.  Some people are more concerned about avoiding the discomfort of hardship or finding someone to blame rather than learning a lesson from each experience.  What adversity do you have in your life? How can you use it to strengthen you?

     "A ship, like a human being, moves best when it is slightly athwart the wind, when it has to keep its sails tight and attend its course.  Ships, like men, do poorly when the wind is directly behind, pushing them sloppily on their way so that no care is required in steering or in the management of sails; the wind seems favorable, for it blows in the the direction one is heading, but actually it is destructive because it induces a relaxation in tension and skill.  What is needed is a wind slightly opposed to the ship, for then tension can be maintained, and juices can flow and ideas can germinate, for ships, like men, respond to challenge."                          James A. Michener